LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 23, 2023

Megan Khang

Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Megan Khang after her first round at the LPGA Drive On Championship. What a start you got off to today. What did you eat this morning for breakfast? How did you get off to such a great three-birdie streak?

MEGAN KHANG: It was kind of funny, on 10 I hit a good shot in, probably to about three feet. Nervously knocked it in. Always the first-hole nerves.

Then I told Jack I had a bad dream. I woke up freaking out about putting. He was like, oh, gosh. I was like, yeah, it's okay. We'll figure it out. Funny enough, the next two holes made some pretty long birdie putts and Jack was like bad -- what are bad dreams? I was like, you're right. Let's go out there and kill it.

Was able to hit some really good shots out there and make some good putts, good shots. Obviously like left a few out there, but it leaves room for improvement for next few days.

Q. What would you say the best part your game was? Was it that putting? I think you hit every fairway today, too.

MEGAN KHANG: I would say ball striking was like really well out there. I think we did a very good job on course management. I mean, you get out here and you see how kind of firm the greens can be and you kind of have to play for I guess the fat part of the green and just try give yourself the best opportunity for birdie.

That's kind of what we did, and I think that's the game plan we'll try it to stick with throughout the week. You know, stay patient out there, because I think the greens are rolling so pure that if you trust yourself and give yourself good chances, they're going to do what you want.

Q. How important is course management? What are you seeing out there on this course? I know some players say it's tricky. What are you seeing out there?

MEGAN KHANG: It's definitely tricky. I know some of the longer hitters can probably shortcut some of the corners or carry some of the bunkers; I'm not one of those.

But I think being able to trust yourself and your capability gives you the chance to take a little tighter lines here and there. For me, once I accept, hey, I'm going to have a little longer club in it's not that huge of a deal.

I'm a good enough player to manage myself out there, so just try to stay confident within myself and execute the best I can.

Q. This is your first start here in the States. How excited are you to be back in the U.S. and get into the real swing of things as the season starts for you?

MEGAN KHANG: Definitely. I mean, it's an ongoing joke with my boyfriend and I. I think I posted like a picture at the start of the season last year and I was like, time to get back into the swing of things, and it's literally all he says to me.

Obviously going out to Asia was really fun. No cuts or a little easier on the pressure. But coming back into the States, you know, I'm ready to get after it, have the season really start, and see what this year holds for me.

Q. This is a big year, a Solheim year. How big of a goal is that for you as you're looking at the standings and getting ready for that hopefully?

MEGAN KHANG: You know, I've said this before in years prior to Solheim, before even making Solheim my first time. If I do my job out there on the golf course week in and week out and try to get the win -- essentially everyone tries to go out and get the win; only one person can get it. If I do my job everything else will follow.

As hard as it is, I try to ignore the points. It is a huge year, double the points and also counts for next year's Solheim. So I think golf is stressful enough, and as long as I try not to put added pressure on that, I can play my best and do my best and hopefully try to make that team.

Q. Adding to that, just how gratifying is it to come have a great first round like you did today? How are you looking to keep up this momentum -- and not just today; this is just one round of many -- but into the season, like you said, doing what you came out here today?

MEGAN KHANG: Yeah, definitely. I mean, the off-season was longer than usual for some of us. I was lucky enough to play in Thailand, Singapore, but with having those two weeks off at home and coming back out and seeing that, hey, the game is there, it's satisfying or gratifying that the work that my dad and I have kind of put in in these two weeks and the months prior are kind of paying off and it's showing.

I mean, essentially it's the first day of the whole season in the States, and it's something that we're just going to have to keep working and growing on. I mean, I'm a huge Patriots fan and their saying is always like, the job is not done.