ISPS HANDA WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

August 18, 2024

Lauren Coughlin

Dundonald Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Pleased to be joined by 2024 ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open winner Lauren Coughlin.

Lauren, take us through the day, the ups and downs of your round today.

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I mean it was a lot windier kind of like it was on Thursday and Friday again, and yeah, I mean, I started out a little slow. Definitely kind of doing what I didn't want to be doing, which was kind of trying to fight the wind a little bit.

I was able to hang in there and birdie 5 and then birdie 7 and I was able to settle in nicely.

THE MODERATOR: When you go bogey, bogey to start the round, especially leading, final round of play, how do you not let those mistakes impact your round, and how were you able to not let it do that?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I mean, I was of course not happy with it. But I mean, I knew it was playing super tough and that bogeys were unavoidable. I had done a pretty awesome job the previous two rounds not making any.

So I knew that it was fine to make a couple but I could still go make some birdies coming in.

Q. Obviously two very different styles of golf course but the fact that you have already gotten a win this year, did that maybe help you know like, okay, this is what it takes to do it? Did that help you through your round?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, definitely. I think I wasn't quite as thinking about it too much. I mean, last night I was definitely thinking about it, but this morning I was pretty calm about it. Just, again, just trying to stay super present and not think about winning. It's really cliché, but one shot at a time but that's really what I was trying to do.

Q. Now a two-time LPGA winner. You touched on earlier at the start of this year, if you had said that you had won two titles, you just wouldn't believe it. What sort of emotions have been going through this week, and being a two-time LPGA winner, how does that feel?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Pretty surreal. But also awesome.

Yeah, I mean, I've had big goals for this year with Solheim and all that, and so that's kind of what had been on my mind and preparing for and trying to get ready for. I knew I needed to improve and that's kind of what I've been trying to do all along.

Q. How much has Solheim been on your mind the last couple weeks and sort of just making sure that you're prepared for the event?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I mean, the goal is just going to be kind of trying to keep rolling into Solheim. It's still probably three weeks, four weeks away, so trying to keep my game as sharp as I possibly can going into that, and these next few week, especially next week, too, with The Open.

So I think that's kind of where I've been thinking, just trying to keep what's working, working and fine tune maybe things here or there but just keep doing the same things that I've been doing.

Q. Going into next week, having won this week, how important was it for you to do well this week?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, obviously, you come over here to kind of get some reps in the wind and the links and all of that because it's just so different than back in the States. The wind just moves the ball so much more and so starting to get a feel for that was very important to me.

And so obviously to win is just a cherry on top.

Q. And how much have you enjoyed your week in Scotland and sort of playing on Dundonald Links?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, always enjoy Scotland and Dundonald. Troon is a fun place, a fun town. That's where I'm staying this week in an Airbnb. It's awesome. I always enjoy coming over here. I was really excited to get over here for these two weeks. It's been great.

Q. You've had your husband here this week. How nice is it to have family around and that sort of support?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, it's everything for sure. Next week my dad and my uncle are coming. My coach is coming, John Lewellen. It's going to be a fun week.

Q. Ahead of next week, as you just said, your family, your coach there, how much are you going to try to soak in the experience you'll get next week?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I mean, it's a once-in-a-career-type opportunity to get to play The Open at the Old Course. I'm just very excited to get there, and like you said, soak it in and enjoy as much as I can.