SOLHEIM CUP

September 20, 2023

Allisen Corpuz

Cheyenne Knight

Angel Lin

Finca Cortesin

Team USA

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon here with more team USA members. To my left I have a Cheyenne Knight, in the center Angela Lin, and then at the end Allisen Corpuz. Please let me know if we have any questions, and we'll get a mic to you.

I'll kick things off here with Cheyenne. Your first experience at a Solheim cup. You were a captain's pick this year. How is everything coming together for you this week? What's the experience been like?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: It's been a lot of fun so far already having a lot of crowds and people come out. It's been so much fun with my teammates and I can't wait to get started on Friday.

THE MODERATOR: Angel, for you, you've obviously played in a couple of Solheim Cups before. I want to ask, have any of the rookies on either side of you or any of the rookies, have they asked you any advice on playing in their first Solheim Cup?

ANGEL YIN: I don't think so yet because I think they have it all together. They're very experienced already. Cheyenne, for example, is very experienced. Allisen, very experienced. You guys are rookies, right?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Seeing certain shots.

ANGEL YIN: Yeah, certain shots.

But, I mean, these girls amazing. They have it together. They're actually just like veterans. It doesn't even feel like rookies. They know exactly what's going on, sometimes more than me. So I think teamwork makes the dream work.

THE MODERATOR: Has this experience seemed any different for you than past experiences?

ANGEL YIN: I think so, actually, because the team is very different. Actually, I think this team is quite different. It's a newer generation, up and coming golfers that we're going to see in the next decade. I've only played under one captain, Juli Inkster, so Stacy is my second captain ever, even though I've played -- this is my third Solheim. I think it's pretty amazing to see how different captains and how they run a team. Amazing.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome.

Allisen, for you, you're also a rookie, how has the experience been for you? What has maybe been the most shocking thing that you have learned or experienced so far? How have the expectations lined up?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, just echoing Cheyenne, I mean, it's been such an awesome experience so far. The team's great. The energy's great. I mean, the course is so beautiful. This is my first time in Spain and I think it's just been shocking how beautiful everything's been so far.

THE MODERATOR: I would love to open it up to questions in the room, but I'll ask one from Zoom.

Angel, how would you describe Stacy's leadership style?

ANGEL YIN: What was the question again?

THE MODERATOR: How would you describe Stacy's leadership style?

ANGEL YIN: I mean, I think she really is, like -- I think because she's still playing, she really keeps the team together, and she's very transparent, very good at communicating, she's on top of a lot of things, she is very hands-on, she helps us out. I mean, she's helping out with my swing, which, you know, she sees little things here and there, and then I've seen her look for Danielle's golf bag. She's just the captain of the people.

I think that it's really rare to get someone like that and her assistant captains Morgan, Natalie, and Angela are right on -- like, right next to her helping her out with the entire team, keeping the flow going. I think it's been going so smooth and so great, and then the team dynamic and everything that's been going this week so far, I can't even think of anything to say in the beginning because it's just so amazing. It's just walk in the park because she's making it so good for us.

THE MODERATOR: We have talked about the pod system a couple times. How is it different not having the pod system for you this year when you've maybe used it in the past?

ANGEL YIN: I personally see benefits in both sides, with pod and without pod. This year, seeing it without pod, it's pretty cool because the team's already pretty small. There's only 12 girls. You make it into a four pod, you really don't get to see everyone else. But because there's no pod this week, we get to play with everyone, everyone on the golf team.

It creates more dynamic between all of the team members instead of just the three people you're with. I think that's very special. I think the way she's doing it is making it work fantastic. I don't think people understand how great it's working. Be scared. (Laughing.)

Q. Cheyenne and Allisen, as rookies on the team, could you share the one piece of advice you've received that's really stuck with you?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think for me a big thing is just everyone telling me, you know, this is the best week on the LPGA, just go out there and enjoy it, right? Like, everyone's nervous, it's obviously a lot of energy but at the same time, like, how great is it that so many people are out here to celebrate women's golf and watch us play.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, same thing what Allisen said. Just everyone's, like, just soaking every moment that you have and when you look back on it, you just want to have so much fun. Everyone says it's the best week of the year.

Last week I played a lot with Angela, and she just said, if there's one phrase that you have and just keep repeating it to yourself is to stay grounded because you're going to have big moments and you're going to be nervous and a lot of pressure, so just one thing to really just put it all into perspective.

THE MODERATOR: For Allisen and Cheyenne, what's the most nervous you've ever been on a golf course?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: I don't think there's ever been, like, most nervous. I think anytime you're in contention you're a little nervous. So, gosh, maybe most recently at Dow, like, when me and Elizabeth were in contention, I made a birdie putt on 17 to get, like, a one-stroke lead going to 18. Probably that, but like good nerves, because, I don't know, you're kind of like hyped up too.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, I always kind of get nervous, like, on the first tee. Like, that's what generally happens with me. But I think it's been a process of just really embracing it and, you know, just knowing that it's a good thing.

Q. Have the captains or anyone given you any advice on handling the nerves of the Solheim Cup? We hear that it's the most nerve-racking. Some of the other players have said it's going to be the most nerve-wracking experience ever on the golf course. Do you guys agree with that and how have they told you how to handle that?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: This is my first one, so I have no idea. I was talking to some people and then, you know, it's normal to be nervous, but just embracing the nerves and not dreading them, I guess. But everyone just says -- I know Morgan told me from her first Solheim to her sixth she was still the same.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I think hearing stories from other people about their experience on the first tee and just hearing more about what that's going to be like and just being a little more mentally prepared for that has definitely helped.

Q. Curious, what were you most surprised by when you first saw the golf course?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: People said it was hilly, but it's definitely hilly. I don't know, it's gorgeous, the views, everyone said, and how beautiful it is, but I've definitely been taken away by just how gorgeous everything is and the course is in great shape.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, just echoing what Cheyenne said, just how hilly the course is. But it's been really cool to get out there and just see all the different tee boxes and just kind of be visualizing how they can play it so much differently between matches.

Q. Have you learned anything from your teammates, any interesting learnings you would like to share? Have you learned anything from playing out there as a group?

ALLISEN CORPUZ: I mean, everyone has a different arsenal of shots and just seeing how everyone approaches things differently and how they hit a few of the short game shots. Yeah, just picking up little things here and there from everyone.

THE MODERATOR: I will ask one more of each of you. I'm curious how the team aspect has been for you all this week, how have you guys been -- I know no pods, but what sort of team activities have you been doing and how much have you enjoyed sort of the team aspect of this week?

ANGEL YIN: I mean, it's only Wednesday, but -- okay, I'll share two experiences. We had -- what did we play the other day? That question thing.

Anyway, we played a game and we crushed the caddies. We were just, like, all brains -- yeah, Solheim Cup trivia. You know, that was a highlight because then we got a $20 Starbucks gift card, so going to go get myself a drink after.

The second one was we were out in the city, in Marbella -- I don't even know if I can share this (laughing). Can we? I'm going to look at my captain right now.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: I think you can.

ANGEL YIN: Okay. We were having dinner in Marbella, out close to the water. This guy comes along with a lot of Louis Vuitton scarfs. Due to team bonding, me and Gilly got the same scarf. So now we're matching. Louis Vuitton for 25 Euros. I mean, it was a steal.

THE MODERATOR: I love it. What a steal.

ANGEL YIN: What a steal.

THE MODERATOR: Sorry, two more on the chat.

For Angel, first off, how is the vibe different this year with so many people viewing the Europeans as the favorites to win?

ANGEL YIN: That's news to me because I never heard anything like that (laughing). Actually, I've been hearing that we're the favorites because we're just playing so good. So, I haven't heard that yet. Yeah, I think we're just going to kill it. I mean, I haven't heard anything other than that, other than we're just going to kill it.

THE MODERATOR: For any of you, have you received any cool gifts so far this week? Anything that you've received that's cool that you really are happy to have gotten this week?

ANGEL YIN: The gift of love (laughing).

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Gift of team.

ANGEL YIN: The gift of the team, teamwork, from Stacy, Morgan, Angela and Natalie. Live, laugh, love, everyone. Vamos.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yes, but to second that, we've gotten so much gear in our room. Like every day it's been like such a surprise. Nelly got custom beads for us all so that's really cool. But just every day we get something in our room. But my favorite is the golf bag because I'll have it forever, so really cool.

ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I was going to say the golf bag as well. I mean, Stacy's put so much meaning into everything this week. And, yeah, it's just really special to be able to carry the USA bag.

ANGEL YIN: But before we stop I just want to say experience is priceless, so thank you everyone.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yes.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you so much, ladies, we appreciate you. Good luck this week.