U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

July 8, 2023

Allisen Corpuz

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Flash Interview

Q. We're here with Allisen Corpuz, 1-under 71 today. Nice playing out there. Can you talk us through your round?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, started off the round with a few really solid up-and-downs for par.

Chipped in for birdie on 5, which was really nice.

Made a birdie at 10, as well, after the turn.

Played pretty solid overall. Just bogeyed 18 and bogeyed 11.

But overall really solid round today.

Q. How hard is that stretch from holes 8 through 18?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think 8 is just really tough because you have to lay it back so far so that's always going to be a really long approach shot.

Yeah, 9, 10, 11, I think all the way through like 15 or 16 is just a tough stretch.

Really happy with how I played today.

Q. You're in the final group tomorrow of a major championship. What's that mean to you, and how are you going to get it done tomorrow?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, it means a ton. It's just really special to be in the final pairing, and I'm really excited and looking forward to it.

Q. I wanted to ask you about Michelle and growing up in Hawai'i and going to the same high school. Did that mean a lot to you at the time and motivate you in golf? Obviously it's her big week out here. Is it all kind of special that it's here this week?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, I think she was just old enough where I never really interacted with her too much. But she's done so much to put Hawai'i golf on the map, women's golf. I'm just -- yeah, have always been inspired by her.

Definitely grew up watching her kill it out here, and it's awesome to see her transition into the next phase of her life.

Q. What's your relationship like with her?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I've met her a few times, but that's about it.

Q. I also wanted to ask you about your education. Why were the degrees and what you've accomplished on that side, why were they so important to you? Because most people just focus on golf. What was it about you that you took that path?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, so I mean, my brother is in medical school right now, so not that it was a competition, but I think finishing college was always really important to me.

And then when COVID hit and I had the chance to go back for my Masters, I just kind of figured, I might as well take the extra time. Didn't quite feel ready for pro golf at that time and just figured that that extra year would help me develop a little bit more, and I think it's definitely helped a lot.

Q. Big moment tomorrow; I'm curious, take me back to the beginning when you started this game and did you think about being in this position? Were you one of the countless kids who made a putt to win this championship?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I mean, I grew up, my dad got me into golf really young, like four or five years old, and playing with my older brother, as well.

I think a lot of -- I grew up -- I don't think I was ever serious. I had putts to win the U.S. Open, like little tap-ins, but I don't think I ever really thought I'd be in this position. Just really, really grateful to be here, and yeah, hope that tomorrow goes well.

Q. At what point in time did you think you had the game to play out here? When did you think this was a realistic thing?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think just coming into USC, that's just such a golf school and just being able to compete with the team just after my freshman year, kind of seeing how my game stacked up to everyone else, that was when I really thought that I could make it.

Q. You had a really good start to the season over in Asia, got that T3 at HSBC, held your own in a group with Nelly and Jin Young. As the season has progressed, what did that moment do for you or tell you about where you belong in this game?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think that was kind of the first final round where I just felt really comfortable that last round.

Obviously didn't close it out, but still felt like I played a really solid final round in Singapore, and just haven't been able to take that with me for the rest of the season.

Q. What's been different in your game this season? You've played really well and kind of had stop and starts at points, but what do you feel like has been hitting different? I know you're a solid ball striker. Is it short game maybe?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Definitely a few new shots that I didn't have last year around the greens. I made a really good up-and-down I think on 3, 4, from the back of the green on 9 today, which might have been hit or miss last year.

That, and I think just being under pressure more often and I guess paying attention more to my rhythm and being able to stay in that.

Q. When you're out there and feeling maybe a little bit of nerves or have a challenging shot like that, how do you and Jay manage to keep everything pretty level?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think Jay is just awesome. He stays really, really calm. I don't know if he feels that way on the inside, but he definitely projects that, and that helps me a lot.

Just try to keep it fun out there at the end of the day. Like just out here to have some fun.

Q. Who is your swing instructor, and was that the same person that taught you the short game shots?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I've been working with Craig Chapman for about eight years now, and then grew up taking lessons from David Ishii in Hawai'i when I was younger.

Q. He's the one that taught you the short game shots recently?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Mm-hmm.

Q. What would it mean to get it done finally?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I don't even think I could put it into words. Major, first win, it would mean a lot.