FM CHAMPIONSHIP

August 28, 2024

Lauren Coughlin

TPC Boston

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome Lauren Coughlin to the press center here at the FM Championship. Obviously our inaugural year here at TPC Boston. How excited are you to be participating in this first-time event.

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, it's really cool getting to be up just outside of Boston. It's a great course from what I've seen. You know, always nice to be up in the Northeast. They love their golf up here, so I'm excited for the week.

Q. Obviously FM has done a lot to make this first year really great. Big purse; missed cut stipend, hotel accommodations. How have you been enjoying the hospitality and such this week?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, last night at the pro-am party we got to go to Fenway and see a Red Sox game, so that was pretty incredible.

Yeah, it's nice for a lot of people not to have to worry about paying for a hotel this week. Shuttles to the course, not having to worry about a rental car. That can help a lot of people out.

It's really cool that FM was able to do that for us this week.

Q. Obviously you're in a really good place with your game coming off another win in Scotland. Played at St Andrews and now coming here to Boston. You have a lot coming up and everything coming together. How are you going to take that into an event where I know you have no experience? Nobody does.

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I mean, I think my whole goal this whole year is just trying to keep everything going as best as possible. Keep doing the things that I do every week. Make sure that my putting is in a good place, my swing is in a good place, getting feel for the rough. The same things I do every week.

Yeah, I think I've just been in a good routine so I've just been trying to keep doing everything I've been doing all year pretty much.

Q. It's been 21 days. That's a dream for anybody. For you especially, has it hit you really what you accomplished in like three weeks on the LPGA Tour just yet?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yes and no. I think it like -- Canada hit me in waves I feel like. And then, yeah, to do it again in Scotland was -- I mean, obviously that's the goal, right? I feel like I said it right after Canada, I want to go do it again, I want another one.

Again, as much as I wanted to do it I wasn't really -- didn't think it was going to happen as soon as it did. I did it in a little bit different fashion than Canada. You know, like I was kind of behind on the weekend most of the time, and next thing I know after 17 I have a two-shot lead. It kind of happened so fast.

Whereas Scotland I had a one-shot lead to start the day so I had to sleep on the lead, which was the first time. I felt like I had a little bit of some nerves to start, but was able to get it under control.

Yeah, it's been wild. I think I keep saying like what a ride it's been my whole career, but then the last few weeks especially.

Q. I think everybody has been saying you're one of the hottest players, if not the hottest player on the LPGA Tour right now. Coming into a week where you're unfamiliar, does it help to ride the hot hand as you try to figure out TPC Boston?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I feel like I'm doing what I do every week and trying not to think about that. It's kind of crazy to think that that's what everybody is saying about me, but it's cool for sure.

Again, trying to keep doing what I can control and that's my prep and my routine. If I keep playing well, that's awesome. I'm more trying to think about Solheim as well. Everything I'm doing is in prep for Solheim. I hope I can play well because it will mean that I can hopefully keep it going for Solheim too. That's kind of where I'm focused.

Q. Going to be a rookie on that Cup this year. I know it's a whole different experience when you're a rookie. Got a week off ahead, which is probably a good thing. What are you doing to get yourself ready maybe mentally on and off the golf course to tackle your first Solheim Cup?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, so Tuesday I'm going with couple of my friends to go see Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden, and then I'm throwing out the first pitch at the Norfolk Tides, which is like the AAA team from where I'm from, which is pretty wild as well.

I am really excited to go see Peal Jam. I've never been to Madison Square Garden, so it's going to be an incredible concert. I'm so excited. I wish I could go see them again on Thursday, but I kind of got to go get ready for Solheim.

So my caddie, Terry is going to come up for the first pitch, and then we'll practice Friday, Saturday, Sunday in prep.

Q. Have you picked anybody's brain that you know has been in the first tee environment, been a rookie in the Solheim Cup environment? Have you asked anybody anything so far? Anybody give you really good advice?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Terry has given me some good advice. I kind of told him probably couple months ago, probably right before Canada even when I had a good feeling I was probably going to be on the team. I didn't know at that time. But like that's what I'm really like was worried about, that first tee shot. I've heard how nervous you can be, the adrenaline, this and that.

He kind of gave me some good advice about what Annika did to get ready for Colonial and teeing off in the PGA TOUR event she did. That's what I've been trying to focus on, basically just routine. Make sure your routine is spot on and don't change a thing given the conditions, and you should be able to hit a good shot.

Q. Being in Virginia even, how excited are you just to be there in front of a hometown crowd? That doesn't happen very often in Solheim Cups, to be able to play in front of a hometown crowd. How much more special will that make this moment?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I think I saw a stat that the last time it happened was in 1998, which is wild, that someone played a Solheim in their home state. The fact that I'm going to be able to represent the state of Virginia, my home since I was ten years old, it's so special. I'm really excited. I have a bunch of family coming up and friends. It's going to be a really special week.

Q. Okay, Lauren, let's get real with it. What's your favorite place to eat and where should we go around where you live or around the golf course?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: I don't know much around the golf course.

Q. Come on. You played how many times now?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Once you go see it, there is not much really right there.

Q. How many times have you played the golf course?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: I've seen it four times. I played it in March for the first time. I went again right before Evian; then I went again the week after Evian with Terry; then I went and played with Allisen Corpuz before Scotland.

Q. Can you explain the putting off the bridge concept you guys did that day?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, so when I played in March I played with a former UVA football player and UVA alum who's a member, and he said it's like the thing to do when you bring a guest out, is to see if you can get from one side of the bridge to the other and keep it on the concrete on the other side and not get into the wood clips.

When I did it in March I did it. I was like, Allisen, we got to go do it. We went and tried it. Neither of us got to the other side. It stayed on the bridge, but we didn't hit it hard enough.

Q. Is there anybody that you're really looking forward to maybe playing with in the Solheim Cup potentially?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, I don't really know who I would be getting paired with. Lexi or Nelly would be pretty awesome. I think anybody really. I'm just very excited. Sarah is a really good friend of mine, so getting to play with her could be pretty cool. We played college golf together and have known each other for a long time. That would be pretty special.

I'm ready to play with anybody.

Q. We've chatted about a lot of friends and family are going to come out and watch. I know you have a great relationship with a lot of professional athletes. Anyone going to come watch that we're going to have to heckle a little bit that's a known name?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: I don't think so. No. I think Fat Perez might be coming. I think that's the only one I heard of potentially. I don't know if anybody else is.

Q. Just to bring it back to the FM Championship, goals for the week?

LAUREN COUGHLIN: Yeah, it's my first week with another caddie, so I think just trying to get in a good rhythm with him is going to be my biggest thing.

And then, yeah, I mean, playing well obviously, but that could mean a lot of different things.

I'm just trying to make sure my swing is good after hitting in crazy wind for the last two weeks. I think I've done a pretty good job getting my swing back to normal.

So, yeah, I think that's my main thing: just making sure I can get my swing and hopefully I make some putts.