AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 24, 2024

Lilia Vu

Mixed Zone

Q. So are you starting to secretly love this weather now?

LILIA VU: Yeah, if the sun's up, it's a good day. That's all I have to say.

Q. Talk about battling back on the back nine.

LILIA VU: Yeah, the wheels were falling off in the middle of it. I was getting anxious but caddie was able to give me words of encouragement that I'm playing well. It's just a couple bad breaks.

Yeah, I was able to birdie 16, and most importantly par 17, and then finish with a birdie 18 going into tomorrow.

Q. A few bunkers where you had to take your punishment. What's the mindset when that is the case? Do you know that's going to happen at some point?

LILIA VU: Yeah, my caddie definitely did. I was definitely a brat about it because I thought I hit a good shot, and then it happened to roll in.

But it's okay. It's all relative, right? Just try to make up-and-down; if not, move on and try again the next hole.

Q. What does your caddie tell you in those moments?

LILIA VU: He said, "This is links golf. It's a major championship. Of course balls are going to fall into the bunker." I think he was basically saying, like, you've missed every single one past two days, so this is your turn to go in the bunker.

Q. So you're in the final pairing tomorrow with Jiyai Shin. How much do you know about her and what she's accomplished?

LILIA VU: I don't know much but I know whenever she shows up to a major tournament, she's top 10. I'm so excited to play with her tomorrow and see her game.

Q. Talk about how -- keeping yourself in the tournament --

LILIA VU: That was just Cole. He put me in my place a bit. He kind of helped by saying, okay, you're playing really good. This is the best you've played the past two days, actually the past two weeks. So just go out there and keep doing what you're doing.

I was just trying to give myself opportunities for birdies.

Q. You're the first defending champion since Georgia Hall to make the cut. We have not had a back-to-back winner since 2011. Is that a target, obviously? Is that something that weighs on your shoulders?

LILIA VU: I don't think it weighs on my shoulders. I think I came into the week with a good mindset that it's a new week. Just going to show up the same way I do every single week. Trying to play my best and beat the golf course.

Q. What do you do to combat the cold?

LILIA VU: Yesterday I went to the cold plunge and then I did a sauna and cold plunge and back in the sauna. That was a new thing. That was just yesterday. Maybe I'll do that again.

Q. Did it work?

LILIA VU: Yeah, it did work. Definitely lots of hot chocolate.

Q. (Off mic).

LILIA VU: For sure, but I definitely have to get the job done first.

Q. At Walton Heath, a parkland course, and here a traditional links. Says a lot good your all-around game, does it not?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I think it says I'm pretty gritty, and we're able to be creative and see shots that we don't normally see.

Q. A couple years ago when you won, you played it down. Are you starting to feel a bit different now that you're consistently at the top of the leaderboard?

LILIA VU: I think I get in my way sometimes. I definitely didn't feel good about my game coming into this event. I just try my best every single day.

Q. (Where does that come from? Your family)?

LILIA VU: I'm not sure. I would say my grandpa. He's like a quiet, hard worker. He kind of passed that down to me. Hopefully I can say that. Yeah, I would say my grandpa.

Q. (Off mic).

LILIA VU: For sure, yeah, I was definitely struggling in the middle of the round today. I was just like, give me a sign that I'm doing something right.

Q. What was the sign?

LILIA VU: That birdie on 16 (laughter).

Q. (Off mic).

LILIA VU: Oh, you can never be in comfort here, with the wind and how hard it's playing. You just have to be constantly on. With the double greens, you're aiming at towers and bunkers out here. This is not your normal golf tournament. It's been really difficult but it's been really fun as well.