SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ACER

June 7, 2023

Amy Olson

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, I'm here with Amy Olson at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.

Welcome, and we're happy to have you here this week.

AMY OLSON: Thank you. Happy to be here.

THE MODERATOR: First of all, congratulations. This is the second tournament since you announced your pregnancy. What has it been like returning after your announcement?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, it's a lot of fun. Obviously I've been out here for ten years so I have a ton of friends, and everybody is just so excited. Definitely get a little bit more attention I'll say that than a normal week.

But it's been good. It's been a different year for me. I haven't played nearly as much, and so just being at home a lot more and trying to stay motivated and competitive while your body is changing a ton and not exactly knowing what tournaments I was going to be in.

Now it's getting a little bit more clear, so that's helpful.

THE MODERATOR: And how has your practice changed? How has it changed taking care of yourself, too, while playing?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, workouts have change a little bit. There are certain workouts where I noticed, okay, we got to adjust that. We got to do something a little bit different.

But the biggest thing is there is less changes day-to-day than week-to-week, so trying to stay active and just like to swing every single day so that there is not like a long gap between when I play and then I'm like, oh, I'm ten pounds heavier than last time and it's a lot harder to turn.

So definitely just trying to be consistent has been my strategy.

THE MODERATOR: And then you mentioned you have a lot of friends out here, other LPGA moms on the course. Have you received any advice?

AMY OLSON: Oh, yes, and I was texting everybody immediately, like how long did you play until, what week? Everybody is a little bit different, but it was nice to just have a range and an idea of what's possible. Obviously being my first time I have no concept.

I've been picking everybody's brain that has done it before and any advice they have I'm soaking it up.

Q. Amy, for players with limited starts, how important is the economic opportunity of playing their way into a tournament like the U.S. Women's Open with such a large purse?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, that's huge, and this year was a little different. Like I got into Hawai'i and was able to make the cut, reshuffle, but like I still was 176 on the priority list so there was still tournaments I didn't get into, like last week.

So qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open and having the opportunity to play there is definitely huge. The economics is one thing. Honestly, just momentum and being able to stay competitive. As athletes you just want to play, so I mean, that's definitely one of the things I'm looking forward to the most.

Q. How did you react to the news yesterday of the PGA TOUR, PIF, and DP World Tour merging together?

AMY OLSON: I'm going to try to do my best face. It was like -- honestly just very shocked. Definitely didn't see that one coming. Be interesting to see what happens.

THE MODERATOR: Any other questions?

Q. Hi, Amy. Congratulations on all kinds of front.

AMY OLSON: Thank you.

Q. What is your history at Pebble Beach in terms of have you been there before?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, I've never played the course unless on the simulator counts. I did play it last winter on the sim, so I think it'll be a little bit different in real.

But I've been out there. I've been like -- I think in college we stopped by there one time. I think at one point on Tour I stopped by as well.

Just like kind of wandered down to the 18th green to experience the atmosphere. I've really never been on the course that much.

Q. So obviously it's an historical week. It's going to be by all accounts epic. What is the extra amount of -- I don't know, can you put into words what it means that you'll have this special moment carrying your child with you that you'll be able to look back on as the fact that the two of you took part in this?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, I mean, I think that's one of those things that like every -- even just over time it'll grow and become more special. It's one of those memories I'll talk about forever, and the fact that it's at Pebble is really cool.

The fact that there will be two of us walking down the fairway together, that's pretty awesome.

Q. What are your future plans? Do you think you'll be a mom playing on tour? I don't know, how will you make that decision?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, I mean, the way I've approached it is I've never had more than one year of status out here in my entire life, so everything has been year by year. Like I know what I'm going do this year, so I can tell you that this year I'm playing through Pebble and then I won't be out the rest of the year.

Come next year I'll make another decision.

Truly I like couldn't tell you either way. I want to see how it goes. I have been super, super blessed and thankful for everything I've been able to do out here. I love it, and I think I probably will never do what I've done over the last nine years, playing 25 weeks out of year.

But will I ever come out again? Couldn't tell you. Not sure.

Q. Okay. Couple quick ones. Who do you think will be with you that week? How many tickets are you requesting? Kind of a swan song for a little while, right?

AMY OLSON: Yeah. I know my parents are going to be out there; my brother; his wife; my husband; his mom. So we're going to have all the family out, which will be great.

I think there is probably a couple other family members that will make their way out there. Even like some local media from Fargo is going to be out and covering it.

Yeah, no, it'll be really special. I'm not really sure total numbers, but everybody that's there and is a part of it, yeah, it'll be really cool to share with them.

Q. One final thing. Piggybacking on Ken's question, how do you think the news of yesterday will impact the women's game going forward?

AMY OLSON: No idea. I think that only time is going to tell. There is just no way to know. I mean, it was such a shocking thing yesterday, and so who knows what the next curve ball is.

THE MODERATOR: One final question. How excited are you for this week? What are your goals? How are you looking to use this week to prepare to the Women's Open?

AMY OLSON: Yeah, every chance that I get to play I feel especially grateful for I think this year. For me, it's been hard to stay motivated practicing when I don't know what my next tournament is, so it was really nice just playing the qualifier and shooting 6-under. It was just such a confidence boost and motivation for me that like, okay, I'm still doing the right thing.

When you're practicing you don't get to test it. You're wondering, am I still on track? So to me, it's just, again, going to be just verification that I'm doing the right thing. If something is off, then you use that as a learning experience and try to make some adjustments next week.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you so much. Best of luck this week.

AMY OLSON: Thank you.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...