BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 28, 2022

Andrea Lee

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Andrea Lee who is coming off her playoff victory over Gemma Dryburgh to advance to the semifinals tomorrow. I want to know, do you feel like you perform well under pressure or perform better under pressure?

ANDREA LEE: I mean, I feel like I take it the same way either way. I enjoy the spotlight. I don't mind the cameras or anything.

It was just kind of exciting for me, and it was definitely a really, really good match against Gemma today.

It was a fight for sure.

Q. Yeah, Gemma is a great competitor. Were you ever thinking, Gemma, just give up? But she kept hitting these amazing shots, right?

ANDREA LEE: No, you can't really expect your opponent make mistakes. You got to tell yourself that you need to be the one to make the birdies and the putts.

And that's what we both did coming down the stretch. Made some really good par saves. First playoff hole I made probably the best par save that I've ever made. Yeah, was just a real grind out there.

It's tough out here in the afternoon. It was getting windy and the greens were firmer than this morning. Just had to stay really patient.

Q. When Gemma hit the ball into the 18th bunker, did you expect that result or were you sort of happy?

ANDREA LEE: Well, it was definitely unexpected. She hit an amazing shot out of that bunker. I had another opponent during that week that didn't hit as good of a shot; definitely felt that I had the advantage; when she hit that shot I knew it was going to be really close.

Looked about five, six feet and it was. I knew that I had to kind of capitalize on my shot. It wasn't bad. I had probably 15, 20 feet for birdie. I gave it a good run. I thought it was good actually, but just missed low. I fully expected Gemma to make that putt, but there was a lot of break around that hole and, yeah, we moved to extra holes.

Q. Yes, you did. The back nine players have been saying is really hard today. Seemed to work in your favor today. That's where you sort of took the lead. How do you feel about that?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I was down early. I was 3-down through 5 I think and I was still 2-down after 9.

I knew that I had a lot of holes left, a lot of opportunities, and par's really good score out here.

We both shot even par on the back nine, which is really good. Yeah, I mean, played really well down the stretch and just proud of myself for hanging in there.

Q. Yeah, and last question about Gemma. She survived two playoffs already. Did you have that in the back of your mind?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I knew she would be maybe a little bit more tired than me. She went to 22 holes this morning, too. She's a fighter, a grinder, too. She has an amazing short game. Every time I thought she was out of position she would make an up and down.

Yeah, it was a great fight for sure.

Q. Day like today, is it more physically exhausting or mentally exhausting?

ANDREA LEE: I think both. I'm physically tired, I'm really hungry, so get food and try to go to get as early as possible. Yeah.

Q. On your first playoff hole I wasn't able to see, did you get a drop there?

ANDREA LEE: I got a drop because my feet were on the cart path. Was able to get a drop thankfully.

Q. Was that kind of the best shot you expected you could get from there?

ANDREA LEE: Definitely, yeah. It was exactly how I envisioned it. I knew I wasn't going to fly it to the green. It's way too firm. I had to bump something into the rough and kind of die it ask let it roll towards the hole, which is exactly what I did, and I had about seven feet for par and thought I miss it on the high side.

Thankfully just went in.

Q. Your reaction looked like you thought you missed it.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah.

Q. Are you playing the Open next week?

ANDREA LEE: I am, yes.

Q. Is that in the back of your mind, how tired you're going to be?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, for sure. I mean, but I'm in a great position. I didn't expect myself to make it this far at the beginning of the week. No, I'm just going to try to make the most of this opportunity.

I have a chance to win an LPGA event and I'm just going to focus on that first before the Open next week. You know, worst case scenario I can take Monday off and play nine, nine, Tuesday, Wednesday. Just really looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. Sophia and Ally said last year exhaustion is great because it means you're winning.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, exactly.

Q. See you tomorrow.

ANDREA LEE: Thank you.

Q. Do you any experience with either Jodi or Ayaka?

ANDREA LEE: Actually I think I'm going to be playing Eun-Hee. That's what Kay said.

Q. Okay, Eun-Hee. Do you have experience with her?

ANDREA LEE: No, actually. I think I maybe played a nine-hole practice round with her one time. Other than that, not sure.

But, I mean, she must be playing some really solid golf too to be able to get to that point.

Q. She got a big rest today. Does that make you nervous?

ANDREA LEE: No. I mean, I think she's going to be tired, too. I think we're all pretty tired. It's been a long week, so I don't think she has a huge advantage.

But, yeah, I was kind of shocked to see that she won by that much over Madelene, because Madelene has been playing so well.

Q. Yeah. Last question: Solheim Cup captain Stacy Lewis was out there watching some girls. Do you think you impressed her today?

ANDREA LEE: I hope so. That's one of my biggest goals since I turned professional, is to represent the United States on a Solheim Cup team.

No, I really hope I'll be able to play well the rest of this year and until the Solheim Cup next year and go to Spain. That would be awesome.