DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

September 2, 2022

Lucy Li

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Lucy Li, right now the clubhouse leader at 10-under after day two at the Dana Open. Just firing on all cylinders today. What was working so well for you out there?

LUCY LI: Yeah, I was hitting it really good today. Also yesterday. Just got a few more putts to drop today.

Made a few good par saves on my back nine, so that really kept the momentum going.

Q. You got a couple of awesome birdies there in your first nine holes. Take me through some of the highlights when you got things started for yourself.

LUCY LI: Yeah, jeez, I'm trying to remember what my birdie was. I think it was my third or fourth hole. Just hit a good shot in; made the putt. Kind of the same story with all my birdies.

I think probably the best shot of the day was my last birdie, which was the hybrid into 6. I hit it to like a foot. That was a really good shot.

Also my par save on 1 after I chunked it from being in the middle of the fairway. That was really embarrassing, and I'm glad I was able to save the par there.

Q. Those par saves coming down the stretch, I mean, what do they do for your confidence, even after a day like that today?

LUCY LI: Yeah, for sure. I've been working on my short game a lot, so just being able to save those pars gives me a lot of confidence in what I'm doing just in general.

But definitely being able to go two rounds bogey-free, I don't think I've done that in really, really long time, or maybe ever, so that's really a great confidence booster.

Q. Just before we open it up to the major group, this course, Highland Meadows, what is it about it that suits your game so well?

LUCY LI: Yeah, I think it's -- it kind of suits my eye. I wouldn't say it's super narrow, but you have to hit good tee shots and good shots into the green, so definitely good for ball striking.

I've been able to do that well.

Q. You just recently clinched your LPGA tour card on the Epson Tour. How much does that free you up to come out here and play like you did today and go bogey-free for 36?

LUCY LI: Yeah, for sure. It definitely gives me kind of the ability to play free just knowing that I have status next year and kind of focusing on some other goals for me. You know, playing in some more LPGA starts and stuff like that.

So definitely gives me a lot of confidence.

Q. You're a player that burst onto the scene at a really young age. Obviously you've been a professional for a while now. How do you try to stay patient and maintain your expectations? You're working your way to the LPGA Tour and now you finally got there.

LUCY LI: Yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, I think initially when I first turned pro I kind of struggled with that, staying patient. Especially the first year being a little unlucky with COVID kind of slowing me down.

I think the main thing, the number one thing for me why I'm playing better this year is the ability to kind of just when you're on the course just forget about everything and just play your golf.

It was a little bit tough for me because I was so young, but someone called me old this week, which was tough. Just focusing on playing my game and not think about the past or the future. Doesn't really matter when you're out there.

So that's definitely huge.

Q. Along those same lines, you already won twice this year, top 10 last week. Do you feel like being in contention on the weekend, you might be the 36 hole leader, that the nerves won't be as much as they might otherwise be?

LUCY LI: I'm not sure. I've never led an LPGA event before, so we'll see. It's kind of a new experience.

Definitely having those two wins on the Epson Tour gives me that confidence knowing I can play well coming down the stretch. I think it's just really important to treat every day the same, no matter what position you're in.

That's like number one key for me.

Q. You weren't guaranteed this week. You played your way in last week. What were your expectations or goals coming to this tournament?

LUCY LI: Yeah, it was kind of hard to have expectations or goals because it was such a quick turnaround for me. I just played one practice round. I just wanted to play the best that I can.

You know, I was looking forward to going home this week actually, but it's nice to be out here playing on the LPGA. I'm just trying to have a good time.

Q. Just one thing about it has been kind of a crazy schedule for you. We saw you in Northern Ireland; we saw, as Kyle said, the top 10 last week. What was last week like for you to go there to here and still carry the momentum you've been carrying all season?

LUCY LI: Yeah, for sure. I was really excited to play last week in Canada. It was such a great tournament and great course, great hospitality.

So that was one of my goals going into the week, was try to top 10 into this event. I was happy to just sneak in there, so just kind of try to keep it going and keep doing what I'm doing.

Q. What was it like gearing up? What is it like for you to quickly turn and say, oh, my gosh I got play this next week on the LPGA Tour once again? Was it a quick travel schedule? Was it a quick yes, no-brainer for you? What went into that decision?

LUCY LI: Yeah, it was definitely no-brainer for me. I'm just trying to get to play as many LPGA starts as I can this year now that I've got my card, so definitely was an easy decision for me.

I just knew that I had have to -- number one thing was to be rested, and so took Monday off, played 18 on Tuesday, and then just practiced on Wednesday.

So I think that has been really key.

Q. What kind of resting do you do? Is it just propping up watching movies, doing something, taking your kind of aim away from the golf course sometimes?

LUCY LI: Yeah. Rest for me is definitely just lying on my foam roller or back and just watching TV or FaceTiming my brother and cousin. That's pretty much it.