U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

July 8, 2023

Andrea Lee

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Quick Quotes

Q. You got off to a great start today. Tell me about the front nine.

ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I know that the first seven holes are kind of where you need to score on this golf course. I haven't been able to take advantage of it the last couple of days. I was happy I was able to do it today.

Birdied both of the par-5s and managed to get one close on 7.

Made two really great saves on 8 and 9. I was really happy with the front nine.

It was kind of a tale of two nines out there today. The back nine wasn't so great. I stayed patient and I finished strong, I think.

Q. It seems to be a trend that a lot of players are getting off to a good start today but then having trouble with that back. Why is that so?

ANDREA LEE: Well, the wind is kind of with you or across on the front nine mostly, but then when you get to the back nine it's just completely the opposite way.

There was a lot of holes that were straight into the wind, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 is kind of into the wind, as well. It just makes it all that harder, that much more hard. It's just playing really long.

Lots of long clubs into the greens and even a hybrid.

Q. Is it hard to pick clubs with all the wind change?

ANDREA LEE: Not too difficult for club selection I would say, more just committing to the shot and trusting that it'll go the number that I see.

I actually hit a really good shot on 13, too, but then three-putted, so that was a bit of a bummer.

It's playing really tough, that back nine today.

Q. What do you think are the one or two key holes for the leaders to see coming down the stretch that they're going to have to deal with?

ANDREA LEE: That's a good question. I think 12 is playing really difficult today straight into the wind. That par-3 has been giving I think a lot of people some trouble, especially with that front bunker, and it's firm and it's really hard to hold that green. I think 12 you have to hit a good committed shot into that hole.

Then 14, the par-5, they did move the tee up, but it's still playing really long, straight into the wind. Just got to commit to your number on the third shot and just try and get it up there on that plateau.

Coming down, I think 17, it was playing a little shorter today but just kind of a tough pin location. I hit it a little far and rolled off the back but managed to have a good up-and-down there.

I think all the holes honestly on the back nine are a challenge, and I think anyone who comes out even par or 1-over even is going to gain strokes on the entire field.