DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 20, 2023

Jane Park

Paula Creamer

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here again with Paula Creamer and Jane Park. Probably last round of the tournament unless something crazy happens today, and you've talked about this maybe being your swan song. If it is, how was the experience this week overall for you?

JANE PARK: Overall it was busy, but at the same time it really filled my heart to be able to do this. If it is my last time, then I am very appreciative for the opportunity to kind of rewrite the ending of my golf career, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to play with Paula.

I wish I could have played better, but you know, Paula kept me going. She encouraged me and just made me feel really comfortable out there, so she was an amazing partner.

THE MODERATOR: Not a bad round. 3-under. Paula, who is scoring all the birdies out there? Is that true?

PAULA CREAMER: No, Jane had those birdies on, what was it, 8 -- I mean, 17.

JANE PARK: 17, 18. And then one on 15.

PAULA CREAMER: 15, yeah.

JANE PARK: That was my contribution. That was it.

PAULA CREAMER: And the par on 1. That was the other one.

I hope this is not your last event. I would play with you in a heartbeat next year if you will take me. Please stop saying this is your last one. I'm not ready for it yet.

JANE PARK: She started crying on the last hole. I was, like, please don't cry.

THE MODERATOR: Why do you say that? Why do you want Jane to continue to be out here? Not just because you get to see her, but any other reason?

PAULA CREAMER: Because I know she loves golf, and I know she loves being out here. I know her mind isn't where it was two years ago, but the fact that she's playing in front of her family and her friends, and you know, she is so talented. I don't want it to end for her just personally. I would love for her to --

JANE PARK: Oh, my God.

PAULA CREAMER: -- to keep going if she can. With Grace being here too, it's pretty special.

JANE PARK: Oh, God.

THE MODERATOR: Jane, I've been seeing on your Instagram and all over the people who have driven long ways or just come from all over the place to see you. What does that sort of support just mean to you to see those people, even people you've never met before but you've known through your community?

JANE PARK: Yeah. It just gives me the extra kind of boost that I need to -- I know that my golf game isn't really there, but everyone in our corner and in this little corner just made me feel like it's all right.

Like the golf really is -- it doesn't matter. I mean, it does matter because I really wanted to play well, but you know, our first goal was to have fun. I'm glad I could have fun with Paula, and I'm glad that she can kind of return the favor to me too.

But, you know, expectations were pretty low, but making some birdies out there was great. I got the same feeling of the rush I used to get when I was competing. Yeah, yeah, it was a pretty good day out there.

My goal personally was for us to shoot under par today for best ball, and we did it.

THE MODERATOR: And you did it.

JANE PARK: Yeah, we did it.

THE MODERATOR: Paula, for you having your daughter, Hilton here, I'm curious to know what the interactions between Hilton and Grace have been here.

PAULA CREAMER: Hilton loves Grace. Let's just say that. Whenever they see each other and Grace leaves, Hilton has a meltdown. She definitely does not like seeing her leave.

She was in the -- Grace was in the ball pit in the rain delay, and Hilton just came and full body slam right on Grace. She's not the most gentle. Grace was actually fine with did.

Doesn't have the best body awareness right now. At the same time any time they've seen each other, Hilton just gravitates towards Grace. It's really amazing. I think we have some pretty cool videos and some great pictures too of them together.

JANE PARK: You'll be seeing those pictures soon.

PAULA CREAMER: And that video too of them holding hands, it was really sweet.

THE MODERATOR: Jane, I haven't asked you a lot about Pete this week, but what is having your husband's support out on the bag with you? Did you worry or talk about Grace while you're on the course at all, or has it been more focused on yourselves?

JANE PARK: I really tried not to talk about -- we try not to talk about Grace when we're on the course. I mean, we might talk about, hey, I wonder you what Gracie is doing right now.

The only time we really talked about Grace was when we drove to the range on Wednesday morning, and Grace was having some issues, and we were running kind of late because we had a bit of an issue with her in the room.

But, yeah, that's it. We talked about this new medication she was on, how it might not be helping her, and we need to kind of maybe wean her off of it.

Then I plopped onto the range and hit 15 balls and then went to the tee. So it's been amazing to have him on my bag, not only because he knows my game the most out of anyone, but also because of this big lifestyle change, he is working 35 weeks a year, and I have to stay home with Grace.

We rarely really get to spend time together alone because when he is at home, you know, he wants to take part as much as he can in the care of Grace. And also when he is back, that's also time for me to kind of step away and let Dad and Grace be because I can be very over-parenting and overbearing and no, do this, do this. I try to step away a little bit so they can have their time together.

It was nice just to be us two again just like it was before we had Grace, but it's meant the world that he was -- that, A, Hye Jin, his normal player, decided not to play this week and loaned Pete to me. Very thankful for that.

Yeah, he is a fantastic caddie and a fantastic husband.

THE MODERATOR: Last question from me. If this does happen to be your swan song, which I think me and Paula hope it's not, but I just want to give you the opportunity if there's anything you wanted to say to your fans, the LPGA, anything you want to say about this opportunity.

JANE PARK: Yes. I think I kind of said it yesterday while I was walking with Angela, but the only thing I would really want to come of this opportunity is if we can make -- if we can make the world a bit more inclusive.

Like I said, anyone can become disabled at any point in their life, and disability has been around for forever.

You know, I was very unaware of my innate ablism, not thinking, like, oh, is this place accessible, is this place not accessible? Now as the parent of a disabled child, as a mother you're always thinking ten steps ahead of where are we going, how are we going to get there, what time do we need to leave?

Now after having Grace become disabled, your thoughts change, and the first thing you think about is is this place that we want to go to accessible, is there a changing table in the bathroom, is there an adult changing table in the bathroom? Most places don't have that. That really stifles our plans a lot.

If you don't see disabled people in public, it basically means that the place that you're at is possibly not as accessible as it should be. You know, if you see parks that don't have disabled kids, then it might not be an accessible park.

Those are all things that I think about now, and I feel like if we all collectively fight for a more inclusive future and every child deserves to be able to play whether it's on their hands, on their feet, on a walking or crawling or even in a wheelchair.

I would love for everyone to take a minute and think how can we make this place or whatever place that we're frequenting a bit more accessible?

Yeah, I could go on and on forever about this. Just innately try to be kind and talk about disability because it's everywhere.

THE MODERATOR: Well, thank you, ladies.