EPSON TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

October 5, 2023

Katherine Smith

LPGA International, Jones Course

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Kate, great day today. Can you just talk us through what happened out there?

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah, it was a slow front nine, but playing with Michelle was fun. She was getting hot out there, so I strung along a few birdies on the back, and then we kind of just both kept it going.

So feels great to get a good start on the week and see a lot of putts roll in for birdie.

Q. Yeah, obviously this is the finale of the season, a lot riding on this week. What's the mindset going into the week, and especially tomorrow as the cut is going to be made after that?

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah, definitely trying to like keep the pressure off. I mean, really I've had a solid season. I've been really happy with it.

I'm kind of just looking at this week as cherry on top and hoping to have the best performance I can. You know, hopefully the preparation and everything going into it was right and see how it goes on Sunday.

Q. Six birdies and nine holes.

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah.

Q. A string of birdies. For you, what's going through your head when you get on a tear like that? That is a really impressive stretch of golf.

KATHERINE SMITH: Thank you. Yeah, I just kind of knew making the turn I needed to be more aggressive with my approach shots. I knew the way I was hitting it wasn't? Going to really get me anywhere, so just try to be a little bit more aggressive and kind of get rid of the self-doubt.

Once you're on the train it's like, ride it. You kind of feel like you can do anything out there with a golf club in your hand, which is fun. Those are the good days.

Q. Rain overnight kind of soften the golf course a little bit?

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah. I mean, it's pretty soft. This place has gotten like I think 16 inches of rain in the last week, so honestly I'm really happy with the shape of the course as far as from practice round day to now. I think they did a great job.

So be fun to kind of see it dry out maybe by Sunday.

Q. (Regarding being a businesswoman, graphic designer.)

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah.

Q. How is that going? I see a lot of stuff on Instagram. How is business?

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah, business is good. It's had to slow down a little bit with me being so busy. It's actually funny. Shane's close by doing broadcasting for the Korn Ferry Championship, so we're kind of in opposite worlds but kind of doing the same thing.

So we're excited for maybe a winter of helping some clients out and doing some design work. It's been fun. It's just nice to be involved in so many different aspects of the golf space.

Q. And for you, obviously people come out here and want to make the LPGA tour, and that's very much on the table for you. Has it been nice to have a little bit of distraction from all the pressure that comes with trying to get an LPGA card?

KATHERINE SMITH: Absolutely. I think people don't really talk about money enough out here. Like, I mean, it's not fun to talk about, but if you can just have that sense of comfort and be like, hey, if I have to spend two or three years on the Epson Tour, if I can afford it, I can make it.

A lot of people don't have the opportunity. Like money buys you time, and I feel like at least my business is giving my more time to be able to see some starts on the LPGA some time hopefully soon.

But, yeah, it's been nice. It's just, yeah, it's a wild experience, but I love playing on this tour and I love being out here, so I definitely want to do it as long as I can and maybe move on to the next level.

Q. Final one from me. Obviously want to have a Tour card in your hand on Sunday, but in that 11 to 35 spot, one of those 11 to 35 spots get a paid-for exemption into LPGA Q-School.

KATHERINE SMITH: Yeah.

Q. As someone that has got close at Q-II a couple times, what would it mean to have no stress, not have to worry about Q-II?

KATHERINE SMITH: It's huge. Epson and the sponsors, like Jody and the staff have really changed our experience. You're not thinking, oh, can I afford Q-Series. You're thinking like, no, it's paid for and I'm going to go try to get my card.

So having such a great second option to top 10 is really nice.