AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 4, 2024

Laney Frye

Quick Quotes

Q. Tough 18, but you started off really strong today. Just talk about what was working for you early. Set yourself up for success.

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, I had close looks. I was hitting it well. Didn't miss too many shots in the first couple holes, and just had look after look.

Thankfully rolled them in while the wind was down. So kind of made it a little bit easier on the back nine. Might not be as nervous as we are right now if that hadn't been the case.

Q. How much did the wind impact you are on that back nine?

LANEY FRYE: Oh, it was brutal. I mean, the shots into the wind are so hard to commit to because it's gusting and teetering. If you're straight into and trying to cut it it's going to magnify it. It could also start coming from the left, and like it's a missed green with a perfect shot or it dies and you go way over and you're in a bad spot.

Yeah, it was tough.

Q. You're in a position right now to make the cut. First time making it at this event.

LANEY FRYE: Yeah.

Q. What would that mean to you? I know you can't fully say what it would feel like.

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, any loop around Augusta is going to be a great one. If I get two in the next two days, it's just awesome. I mean, I don't really know what to expect.

Q. What do you do for the next couple hours while you wait for everybody to finish?

LANEY FRYE: I'm going to go see the wind direction on the range and see if it's worth hitting any. There is not a playoff, so just going to take it easy. It's playing hard, are so hopefully it holds up.

Q. Can you take us through the first three birdies?

LANEY FRYE: Yeah. If I can remember.

Q. How long were the putts?

LANEY FRYE: 1 was probably 12 feet; 2 was six feet; and then 3 I had six feet for eagle and missed it.

Q. What did you hit into the second shot?

LANEY FRYE: Hybrid.

Q. What's the best advice you got from Ted on tackling the week?

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, I've been talking to him a lot, especially yesterday. I struggled with my putting and I'm looking for something technical but I think it's more mental than anything.

He told me something that a friend told him in the pro golf world. Somebody said, why not me before every shot. I kind of adopted that mentality. Why not me? Why not now? Could be a great shot. Who is to say it's not.

Q. That helped?

LANEY FRYE: Oh, yeah. Turns it around positive. You're sitting where you don't want to be and why can't you make a birdie from there, you know?

Q. (Regarding the weekend.)

LANEY FRYE: I don't think so. If he did, it would be getting in late Saturday for Scotty.

Q. You are the home town golfer at UK. What does it mean for you to represent Kentucky and the University of Kentucky on this stage and probably for the last time?

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, it's special. I'm proud of Kentucky. Growing up there, I've loved the state and the school. But, yeah, I get texts and like I saw a video and people are cheering for me that I don't even know just because I'm from Kentucky and that's special.

Yeah. I mean, the Kentucky golf world is growing but it's closer knit than a bunch of other states. So it means more.

Q. Looking ahead a little bit, speaking of it just means more, Caesar next week. You guys had the most in the field this week of active players. Going to see a lot of them next week. How does that help prepare you maybe?

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, I think any preparation, any golf in hard conditions is good preparation. I don't know what the conditions are going to be. Hopefully it's in the windy like this. It'll be bermuda. It'll be a great field.

So those things are the same. But just getting to play and compete I think is the best warmup for me personally.

Q. Can you talk about maybe how unique this tournament is where it's probably the only one outside of the Masters where you have to hit a cut line to get yourself in a competitive round at Augusta National.

LANEY FRYE: Yeah.

Q. For players that want to play in the years to come, what are they getting themselves into when they tee it up in it the second round at Champions Retreat?

LANEY FRYE: It's stressful. I try and not look at the leaderboard but it's where your eyes go. You can't avoid it. I think they're strategically placed. On 18 I was staring straight at it the last two days. I'm like, what, leave myself somewhere else.

Yeah, the nerves are real. They're pleasant if you view them as pleasant and try to, but it's tough. You want to get that round at Augusta, the competitive one with everybody there and watching. They get huge crowds, so, yeah, nervous is the only way I can put it.

Q. Is it part of your prep the night before or the weeks leading into this tournament to like realize that you're going to be thinking about that in that second round?

LANEY FRYE: Yeah, I mean, I kind of adopt that year-round. It's like this is to make the cut at Augusta National. This is to win at Augusta National. This morning I was hitting a short putt and told myself, this is to make the cut today.

Then I left myself a four foot -- had to play it on the edge and I should have gone back in my mind. I didn't, but I was like oh, shoot, this is probably to make the cut.

So I think the practice does help because you can make it somewhat real in your mind if you limit the shots you hit.

But it's not quite the same. It helps.