U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

July 9, 2023

Allisen Corpuz

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Please join me in welcoming the champion of the 78th U.S. Women's Open, Allisen Corpuz. Talk a little bit about what's going through your mind right now.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: My mind is racing. Like I said yesterday, this is really a dream come true. It was something I had dreamed of, but at the same time kind of just never really expected it to happen.

Just trying to take it in and enjoy the moment.

Q. Talk about today; were you leaderboard watching? What were you feeling coming down the stretch?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I didn't look at the leaderboard much. I got off to a pretty good start, and I kind of figured just keep my head down, keep playing my game.

Accidentally saw a leaderboard I think on 14 or 15.

Just tried to stick to the same game plan and just told Jay, let's try to make a few birdies coming in and let's just bring it home.

Q. What are some of your early memories of the U.S. Women's Open and what sticks out to you about this championship?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, the big one, of course, is Michelle winning in 2014 at Pinehurst. I remember being at home and just being amazed.

Yeah, just really being inspired by her. Just all the history. I mean, a major championship, it's really cool.

Q. Put it into words what this one means. You came close a few times last year and this year, but to finally get it done, what does it mean?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I feel like everything that's happened this year has kind of prepared me for this moment. It's super special that both of my parents out here this week. I mean, my dad only does KPMG and the U.S. Open, so really nice that he's out here.

I had a ton of family, friends out. I had my aunt and uncle and cousin out earlier, boyfriend's parents, my college teammate. Just a lot of people out here.

It was just really awesome to know that we're at Pebble, such a historic venue, and yeah, just really amazing.

Q. To be a player, I feel like you kind of quietly go about your business, and obviously made some noise this week. What does this tell you about where your place is in this game now?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, I talked to a few people about it even going into today. Was kind of just like, no matter what happens today, it's been a good week. Just go out there, have some fun, and really, really happy that I did win, but even if I hadn't, it would have validated a lot of the work that I've put in.

Q. I noticed you let out a small fist pump on the 15th green after you made that birdie putt. Was that the first time that you let your mind wander ahead of what might be to come?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: My mind kind of drifted to it on and off throughout the day. I made the birdie at 1, 3, and just kind of told myself, stay in the moment. It's obviously not done yet. Still a lot of golf to play.

I think that was the moment when I kind of knew like I just need to get home.

Q. Obviously this would have mattered wherever it happened, right, to win the U.S. Women's Open, but the fact that it happened here at Pebble, when you think back 20, 30 years from now, how much do you think that will factor in? And as sort of a corollary to that, what does it mean for the women's game that viewers are tuning in to watch on a course they're very familiar with watching?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, I think personally when I watch golf on TV it makes it so much more interesting to know the course, and I think, like you said, it helped to get us a lot of viewers this week.

Especially just knowing the history. Tiger just absolutely annihilated this place. Yeah, it's really special.

20, 30 years from now, like you said, I think just the fact that it's a U.S. Open means a lot to me, but knowing that it's at Pebble makes it even sweeter.

Q. What made that little girl fall in love with golf when you were growing up in Hawai'i? What was it that drew you to golf?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Honestly, I sucked. I just wanted to get better. I think that's just kind of who I am like as a person. Just if something can be done better, that's how I want to do it.

I mean, it was an activity that I shared with my dad and my older brother on the weekends at first, so just having that family time and just wanting to get better.

Q. Do you remember anything specifically about sucking?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I mean, no one can hit the ball at first, right? It was like a little driving range, try to get it over the end of the driving range, then try to get it to the first flag so I can fly it, just hitting it a little longer each year. I just had so much fun.

Q. Can you tell us for your background? Your mother is Korean, right?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, my mom is Korean and my dad is Filipino.

Q. When did you study the golf game?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I started when I was like four or five years old. My parents actually live on Kapolei Golf Course on the left side of No. 7. My dad has always been a really big golf fan and just got us into it really young.

Q. You're part Korean, too, right?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah.

Q. What's the biggest obstacle you think you had to overcome in your career/life to get to this point?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I mean, I've been really lucky, I think. As far as this week goes, just yeah, the nerves and kind of really telling myself I belong out here, I'm good enough to compete. That's just been what I've been telling myself for the past two years.

I think getting my Tour card. That's just kind of the beginning of the journey, and you never really know what's going to happen. Just really been working really hard the last few years.

College I think was tough, just having to balance the schedule, both practice and school, and I think that prepared me really well.

Q. There are so many players who just come straight out to the LPGA and skip college altogether. For a junior who's trying to make that decision, what would be your case for going to school?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I mean, school, it's never going to be a bad decision. No matter how good you are, I think golf -- there's always a chance you get injured. You never know what's going to happen. You go to school, at least you'll have the whole team behind you, and I just think it gives you a lot of time to grow.

I was definitely not as smart as I am now at 18, and I know I wasn't ready. I'm sure there are girls that are, but they're very far and few between.

It's just a chance to really grow as a person, have some fun, and then start working.

Q. You talked about learning to be comfortable in contention. How would you compare the comfort level you had at Chevron versus the comfort level you had today?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, Chevron I honestly just wasn't hitting the ball well kind of the whole week, just kind of scraping it around the course a bit and just managed to make some really good putts. My swing just felt really solid coming into this week, so there was just that level of comfort as far as my game went.

I think just being in that position before, instead of thinking, oh, man, I'm in the final group, I don't know what's going to happen. Just go out there, have some fun, and just know like I was in the final group for a reason.

I played really well, and it's going to be a good week.

Q. Are there any journal entries you look back on before the start of this round to help you play so well today?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Not really. I spoke with my mental coach, Bill Nelson, a bit this morning just to try to calm down a little. Really just tried to keep things steady. For me I get a little quick, so really just tried to slow everything down and enjoy the moment.

Q. Something that was pretty noticeable throughout the week was your composure and even-keeled approach. Has that been something you've learned or worked on, or is that how you've been even growing up, and what do you attribute that to?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think I've always had a pretty calm demeanor. Not so much on the inside, but projecting that outwardly. I've always been pretty calm.

I just like to take a bit of time to think about things. That's just kind of who I am.

Q. What was going on on the inside today?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: A lot of emotions. Yeah, just a lot of gratitude to be out here.

Q. When you were young and you started to break some of Michelle's accomplishments, was that ever overwhelming that people were like, my gosh, the next Michelle Wie, considering who Michelle was and the massive amount of attention on her?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, like I said, I never really thought I'd get this far. Just watching Michelle, she's been such a huge role model to me, and it was really awesome to, yeah, break her record for the Public Links.

But I've never really compared myself to her. I've always wanted to make my own name. She's just served as a really big inspiration.

Q. What do you remember about that Public Links when you first got that?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I just remember golf being so hard. The course was really long. I didn't hit it as far back then.

Again, just another really awesome experience.

Q. That final moment obviously is always going to be an emotional one, but what did you and Jay say to each other? Obviously you had some tears, but what were you saying to each other back and forth?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Just that we did it. I mean, I honestly haven't talked to him much since that last putt went in. Kind of got swarmed by my people.

Yeah, really excited for both of us. He works really hard for me and he's one of my best friends at this point probably, so just to be able to share that with him is really special.

Q. I know you haven't had your phone yet, but just wanted to read you a tweet from Former President Barack Obama. Congratulations to fellow Hawaiian Allisen Corpuz for winning the U.S. Women's Open. You make us all proud. What's your reaction to that?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, Barack and Michelle are the two Punahou alum that I get talked to about the most. I mean, he's done a lot in his career. Yeah, that's really special.

Q. Major champion comes with a historic paycheck this week. Is there anything that you're going to buy for yourself?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Not that I know of off the top of my head. I might have quite a few flights, but nothing yet. I just bought a car in January, so I think that was my big purchase for the year.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about your relationship with your caddie, Jay, and how he's helped you over the past year or so?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, we just got randomly connected at the end of January last year and he's just been on the bag ever since. We had a really good first week. He's just really calm, and I think he knows what to say in the right moments for me, especially since we've been working together for about a year and a half now.

He was a pretty solid player on his own, and obviously married to Jennifer Kupcho. I think she gives him some advice to pass on to me. He has some advice for me. Yeah, just kind of has always felt like an older brother to me.

Q. He said there was a final round earlier this year where you were paired with Jin Young Ko and Nelly and he saw your composure really shine through in that round and how it could reflect on a potential major victory. Did that round change anything for you?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I think there's always that added pressure of playing with the World No. 1 and 2. I went into that round kind of thinking, like I'm playing with them?

I think, yeah, just putting myself in that position and just having -- that really felt like the first time that I had a really solid final round. Obviously didn't win but still felt really happy with how the week went. Yeah, I think that definitely helped today.

Q. Can you just give some insight on what you work on with your mental coach specifically?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, lately it's just been about keeping things the same. Just taking a bigger perspective. Like I said, I tend to get a little quick, so really just taking a look at the bigger picture, like this week we're out at Pebble. I'm just really grateful to be able to play professional golf for a living.

Q. You got put on the clock a couple times, correct?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Mm-hmm.

Q. Was talking to Jay out there. How did you handle that, just yourself? I know he was talking to you a little bit about it. But how did you handle it? You kind of came back with the back-to-back birdies once you were off. Tell me about it.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I've had a few instances in the past where I kind of let that get to me. Obviously not happy about it, but just kind of rushed things a little and didn't hit a good shot. I told myself, that's just kind of how the course plays sometimes. You have a tough hole, you fall behind. I just told myself that we'd catch up later and just stay calm, just keep doing everything at the same pace.

Q. Jay said that you were surprised they told you you might get a one-stroke penalty. Is that something you were aware of?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yes, so usually that's a fine for us on the LPGA, so I am assuming that's a USGA thing this week.

I know I'm not a slow player. I think in that particular shot I just backed off because the wind died down. Just told myself, yeah, just keep playing. Don't let your focus get away from that.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations again.