THE ASCENDANT LPGA BENEFITING VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA

October 3, 2023

Cheyenne Knight

Golf Clubs at The Tribute

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back into the media center at the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America.

We are joined by the 2019 champion, Cheyenne Knight. Cheyenne, how does it feel to be back in your home state?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Feels great. This is an event I look forward to every year. I have great memories here. I've become pretty good friends with like the staff out here. They've been great to me and I'm a member here. Don't make it all the way over here as much as I would like; not home that much.

Yeah, it feels great. Course is in good shape considering how hot of a summer it's been, and they worked really hard to get the course ready for us.

Q. You talked about good memories. In 2019 when you won, what do you remember about that win? Anything you'd love to share with us?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, that was my rookie year and it was really hard to get adjusted my rookie year, just to the competition on the LPGA and finding my footing.

So the last tournament I needed a Top 5 finish to keep my job, keep my card, and kind of had nothing to lose.

Yeah, it was so special to win in front of my friends and family. My grandma was there. My grandma is coming back this year, so I'm really excited that she gets to be here and see that.

We play all over the world, so just being able to drive here and stay at my house, just don't get that very often.

Q. Absolutely. It's special to win on tour in general. You're one of the few that can speak on how special is it to win on tour and in your home state?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, I think me and Angela have talked about that a good bit. Some people say it's harder to win in front of your friends and family in your home state because you want it so badly.

Yeah, I mean, having that as my first LPGA win and just like in the home state of Texas, yeah, I mean, it's incredible. Like the tournament at Las Colinas, that was my first LPGA event I've ever played, so I have a lot of history with this event. It was just like picture perfect in 2019.

Q. You kind of mentioned it, but your first win here in 2019, your rookie year. You got your second win this season at Dow. How do you think you've grown as a person and in your game between those two wins?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: I think when I won my rookie year it was kind of like a Hail Mary I guess. It was kind of like do or die. I needed a top finish to keep my card. Like that week I had nothing to lose.

It's just really hard to win out here. There is so much depth. I've been in contention a good bit like earlier in the year and it's just hard to piece it together. And like me and Elizabeth winning, it's just really difficult to win out here, but to win Dow, it's such a unique event.

Getting to play with one of my best friends, to experience that together was really cool. But different than when you're out there by yourself, and being in contention and feeling those nerves. Something you have to get used to and embrace.

Yeah, two very different wins, but like being in contention, there is nothing like it. You can't really prepare for what you're going to feel until you're there in that moment.

Q. First chance getting to talk to you since Solheim. I would be remiss if I didn't ask about it. It was a great week, a long week. How would you summarize it in a few sentences, your first Solheim experience?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Everyone says it's the best week of your life but it really was. It was incredible. I had so much fun with the captains, my teammates, you know, just getting to play in that competitive environment.

I've never really had that many people watch me or cheer me on or not cheer for me I guess. But I think, yeah, first time representing my country. It was a huge goal, and to play under Stacy was awesome.

To hear my name being said representing the United States of America, that's probably my biggest accomplishment thus far.

Q. Did you hear on the final day all the Texas songs everyone was singing as you were teeing up on the first hole? What did that mean to hear -- what's the name of the song?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Deep in the Heart of Texas. Yeah, you're so nervous in that environment. You're ready to hit the first tee shot and get going.

To just kind of hear the people sing Deep in the Heart of Texas and put my name in it was so special, all the way in Spain.

All our fans that came out and supported us -- I played like the last few holes with Leona today and she was like, you guys had a lot of people out there. So big shoutout to all the people that came and represented Texas as well.

Q. Having played in your first Solheim now and another one coming up in less than a year, how big of a goal is it to be on that team again and tee it up for your country again?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, huge goal to make it next year. Definitely got the taste of it this year and definitely want to be back and experience that all again with the girls.

Yeah, kind of left a sour tastes in our mouth kind of ending the way it did. We were so close. That's the beauty of team sports, right, or just sports in general.

Yeah, so I just hope I can keep doing what I'm doing and be our on that team, and getting to play in the U.S. close to Washington D.C. is going to be really cool.

Q. Coming out of the Solheim Cup you played great; you carried your momentum last week into Walmart. Talk about Solheim Cup, Walmart, and keeping that momentum going into this week in your hometown event?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, people thought I was a little crazy to play Arkansas right after Solheim, but I love Arkansas and this tournament just because it's close to home. I play well on these golf courses.

So I think Solheim gave me just kind of like rejuvenated me I guess, because the season is like a really long grind and I wasn't playing too well before Solheim.

So just having so much fun and kind of different environment like finding the joy in all that kind of mentally kind of made me a little bit fresher for Arkansas.

I hope I can carry it into this week. Like my game feels in a pretty good spot, but it's October. We been going since February. So just kind of at the end, and hope I can carry that momentum into this week as well.

Q. We touched on this on media day a little bit, but you probably see it all over the course, her signature is on the back the trophy: Kathy Whitworth. How much does she mean to this tournament and you as growing up here in Texas?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, I played in her junior event growing up in Fort Worth, and just 88 wins, she's a legend. I feel like Kathy Whitworth you don't really need to say too much past her name to know who she is and the legend that she is.

Yeah, she was there when I won. I remember just her like growing up in the junior tournaments I went to and talking to her. You know, like sad that she's not with us, but we honored here at Solheim, and it's awesome to see all the touches that the tournament has done this week to remember her and just the awesome person that she was.

We talked a lot about her legacy at Solheim Cup. We had 88 on our hats for her. You know, she probably had like the worst self-talk on the golf course, but she was such a fierce competitor and could just turn it off and turn it on.

So it's really special and just sad that she's not with us. It's awesome that we can remember her.

Q. Everyone who wins this tournament gets a pair of cowboy boots. Just wondering where yours are? What's happening with those boots?

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: I don't think they started that when I won. Uh-uh, just the trophy.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Cheyenne.

CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Thanks.