AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

March 31, 2023

Erica Shepherd

Quick Quotes

Q. You're one of the very few four-timers that have been able to play this event that many times. What's it like to have that much stature in the game?

ERICA SHEPHERD: I didn't really think about it until at the Founders Dinner, they announced it. Me, Rose and Emilia, and putting my name up with those two incredible amateurs made me realize that that's pretty dang good, so it means the world, and just to make the cut and be here and to have been a part of the first one and see how it's evolved over the past few years has been awesome.

Q. How has it evolved?

ERICA SHEPHERD: I just think the first year there was so much hype around it, and we couldn't have had a better first Augusta National Women's Amateur, but just seeing how there's been more TV coverage, more attention every single year has just been awesome, and I think it's really grown the game.

Q. How have you grown as a player over your couple of experiences out here?

ERICA SHEPHERD: I think a ton. Anytime you put yourself under that much pressure, like the first two days to make the cut to play at Augusta National, that's just going to make you so much better. To have had that experience four times has definitely made me better, and to do that at Champions Retreat, like one of the toughest courses that I play, it's been great for my game.

Q. What do you tell people when they ask you about what it's like, the experience out here? What do you tell people when they ask what's Augusta like?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Yeah, definitely a lot of people ask. That's definitely one of the first questions now.

But I'd just say that so much better in person than it is on TV, which is hard to believe. Every single blade of grass is perfect. Hard to have a bad lie, and it's just unbelievable.

Q. What was a highlight of today?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Highlight of the day, I played with my two teammates, Phoebe and Anne, and there was a few shots that I had to back off because I was just laughing so hard. It was just really fun out there.

Q. Having the practice round beforehand, does it free you up to get the nerves and stuff out of the way and focus in?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Totally. I mean, I've played it a few times, so luckily I don't have to really zone in on all the breaks, but yeah, after such a stressful day yesterday, it's definitely nice to have a more relaxing, kind of lower the stress levels before tomorrow.

Q. As the grizzled veteran that you are here, any changes, any difference from the past year that you're seeing today?

ERICA SHEPHERD: As far as the course?

Q. Yeah.

ERICA SHEPHERD: There's a few holes that they've made some changes to. I think No. 11 off the tee is a little different than 2019, but we have a course caddie all day, so they're quick to point out those changes and make it easy on us.

Q. Who was the caddie? I know your brother is caddying for you tomorrow.

ERICA SHEPHERD: My brother. I had Mark, I think he's one of -- been one of the longest running caddies here at Augusta National.

Q. Was he helpful?

ERICA SHEPHERD: For sure. Just not having to have Ethan or have me out there trying to feel out the greens, just getting the knowledge from someone who's seen thousands of putts out there is definitely very helpful.

Q. You said earlier, today was a relief day after the last two days, especially with your teammates and everything, right?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Yeah, especially with the teammates. It was just such a great time. Like I said, the stress after yesterday was I think from about 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. just about max stress level, so just to have today to take a breath and enjoy the moment before gearing up for tomorrow, it's just awesome.

Q. We were just joking a second ago about an ACC title match. Playing with someone that you're at least familiar with and know, does that help at all?

ERICA SHEPHERD: For sure, yeah. I got paired from Emilia for tomorrow, and ever since junior golf she's always -- she's two years older than me, so I always called her my mom in junior golf, so just to have someone like that that I'm super close to and get to play Augusta National with competitively, that's just going to be -- I can't imagine how special it's going to be.

Q. You just said that the stress level yesterday -- have you ever felt stress like that outside of this event before?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Definitely not outside of golf, but golf in general is just so stressful that there's been a few moments like USGA events when you're around the cut line, definitely very similar feeling but more I would say.

Q. You do attend Duke, so no academic pressure --

ERICA SHEPHERD: Academic for me, it never gets all the way up to golf stress, even though it probably should.

Q. Talk about the growth of what you mentioned, not just the course but the tournament since 2019 and people who might not be in the golf world what the buzz is around it this year.

ERICA SHEPHERD: It's incredible to have seen the growth. I think the first year, people were, like you said, a little unsure, but to have Maria Fassi and Jennifer Kupcho just kind of catapult the event the way that they did, I think since then, viewership has to be great to have so much TV coverage, not only here but at Champions Retreat, as well. I think that's even better for the tournament, and I'm excited to see where it's going to go from there.

Q. You mentioned every blade of grass is just immaculate, but for someone your age still enjoying the college experience and having some laughs, how would you describe that regal word on this golf course?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Yeah, I mean, the golf course just speaks for itself. It's hard to explain to anyone else, but yeah, I mean, it's just hard to explain. Once you're here and especially once you see the crowds come in, they're unlike any crowds that I've seen before in women's golf events, so I think that really adds to it, adds to the atmosphere, so I think just that along with Augusta National, just that's all you have to say pretty much.

Q. Obviously last year didn't go the way that you had hoped. (Inaudible.)

ERICA SHEPHERD: Yeah. This time last year was definitely one of the low points in my golf career for sure. I played really bad. I knew how bad I wanted to make the cut because I had the previous two years, and then to just play absolutely like terrible, it was definitely just kind of a moment that made me wake up and realize that this is not what I want.

So I made some changes. I've been working with a new swing coach since winter and just have really tried to do everything I can to best prepare for not just this event but for turning pro in a few months. I'm excited and I'm proud of all the uncomfortable moments that have come along with that.

Q. (Inaudible.)

ERICA SHEPHERD: In my swing, I would say I've started to use my body a lot more. Before I was kind of just a lot of lifting and whatever, but now I'm trying to use more of my body and keep it simple. I'm someone who likes to overthink, so that's been another key thing.

Q. When you kind of consider the evolution of this event, what do you want people to understand about this event?

ERICA SHEPHERD: Going forward I would just hope that everyone understands how awesome of an opportunity it is for us just to be able to have the chance to grow the game the way that we have been and just be able to give back to the game. It's awesome, and just seeing all the little girls out here and inspiring them, I think it's just going to go such a long way.

Q. Can you speak (indiscernible)?

ERICA SHEPHERD: This one for sure was one of the most fun practice rounds I've ever had, but Anne and Phoebe, two of my best friends ever, it was just very lighthearted. They both unfortunately missed the cut, so they were even more a little more carefree than I was, but definitely a lot of laughs, yeah.