LPGA MEDIHEAL CHAMPIONSHIP

October 8, 2022

Andrea Lee

The Saticoy Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Andrea Lee after round three here at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship. 6-under round today. How hard is that to do here on this course, the Saticoy Club?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, to be honest, I didn't really think I would be able to shoot 6-under at the beginning of the week when I saw the golf course. I played it for first time a few months ago and I thought it was really difficult. Just really hilly, very undulating greens.

I played really well today. Hit a lot of fairways, greens and only had one bogey on the card, but the putter definitely worked better today compared to the last two days.

I was definitely frustrated, but it was nice to see them drop today.

Q. How important is that work you have to do on the greens out here today? I know they're challenging. Is that the most important part of the game out here you feel like?

ANDREA LEE: Definitely. I feel like every week putting is always key to being in contention or potentially winning a golf tournament. Just getting the speeds down and getting used to the greens, which I think I've done finally.

So it was nice to have those birdie chances today.

Q. Yeah, looking at your scorecards from rounds one and two, not a lot of birdies and you really had a lot today, so what have you learned over the past two days about the course and what you need to do really?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I think just being a little bit more aggressive with the putts. The greens aren't as fast as we normally play them so just getting used to that and making sure that the ball actually gets to the hole to have a chance at making putts.

So I think just the speed control has gotten a little bit better.

Q. Can you take us through your front nine? You went bogey-free through the front nine and had a string of birdies, including off the very first hole. What was the preparation like and what was that first nine like?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, just I just felt very relaxed. I have a lot of trust in my game right now. I know I'm hitting good shots into the greens, so I know the birdie chances will come.

But, yeah, I wasn't even thinking about what I was shooting. I kind of lost track a little bit once I got to the back nine what I actually was shooting.

So I think just, yeah, staying super patient and relaxed was probably the key to scoring low today.

Q. Uh-huh. And going into the final round tomorrow, sitting right now several strokes back, do you sort of like that you get to be aggressive tomorrow, not hold back? What's the tragedy overall?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I don't think there is any pressure coming from behind. I definitely felt more nervous I think on the last round in Portland because I was tied for the lead.

Since I'm coming from behind on the last round, you know, I think I'm just going to play aggressive and just try to do what I did today: Just hit fairways and greens and give myself a lot of chances.

Q. How much will that experience in Portland and the win help you tomorrow in terms of confidence?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, after that win just a huge confidence booster to prove to myself that I could get it done out here on the LPGA Tour.

Now that I have a win under my belt, I just felt a lot more relaxed and just having fun out there. I don't have any pressure to prove anything to anyone anymore, so just going out there, having fun.

So, yeah, I think tomorrow I'm just excited to hopefully have another good round.

Q. A little bit of the SoCal magic again this week.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah.

Q. Played well in the home digs.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah.

Q. How much does that help, familiar surroundings, that type of thing?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I love playing in California. Had a pretty good crowd following us today. One of my dad's friends and some of my friends from the area, so it's nice to have that kind of hometown crowd. And it's, yeah, definitely exciting to play in front of them.

Q. Love that. Danielle Kang, friend of yours that just commented on your putting today.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah.

Q. She's right behind you. Probably watched you putt a little bit. What's your relationship with her and being both SoCal golfers?

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I mean, Danielle is kind of like a big sister to me. I think we've gotten more close over the course of this year. She's someone that I look up to, too. She's a major champion, great player, and the fact that she's been able to come back from her injury this year and play so well and almost won in Arkansas is really inspiring.

And, yeah, we have a really good friendship. Yesterday I was joking with her on the putting green that I couldn't putt because I had two birdies yesterday. That's probably why she came up and said what she did.