NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 25, 2024

Lilia Vu

Pinnacle Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome inside media the center once again at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. I'm pleased ton joined by world No. 2, Lilia Vu. Lilia, first event since the Solheim Cup. What has the last week and a half been like reflecting and looking back on what that experience was like on tour?

LILIA VU: It's been so fun. I mean, I think last week was just digesting what happened on the last day. A lot of it, it almost didn't feel real.

I think it was just the best possible outcome. I know I wasn't playing my best golf but was happy to pull my weight a little bit and halve that match.

Q. I know he talked a lot about your rest, recovery, and everything that you've done leading to the event. What did you do after Solheim to recover in a way?

LILIA VU: I kind of had the next morning to fly out to Miami for a sponsor shoot, but I was able to rest for the next couple days. I still don't feel rested, but taking it pretty light this week.

Q. When you're resting or recovering, do you put the clubs away or is it, I have to keep doing some sort of routine to make sure I'm sharp enough for the next week?

LILIA VU: I try to put the clubs away, but I love playing and practicing. I almost feel guilty when I don't play or practice, so that's been something I had to wrap my head around.

Earlier this year when I took two months off I didn't play for two to three weeks. I mean, I came in blazing hot, so good thing for me.

Q. The clinching moment for Solheim, again, first time we've seen you since then, have you digested that what meant to you and where you put that on the pedestal of your career?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I've always dreamed of being on a winning U.S. Solheim Cup team. I have a picture on my wall at home of the 2017 team that won.

It was just surreal. I didn't think that it would come down to me for some reason; I didn't want it to. I think it's just like a lot of pressure.

But it is what it is, and I just remember the feeling of being on 18 and looking at the leaderboard and knowing that if I walk away with a half point we win this whole thing.

Q. When you you say you have a picture in your home of the 2017 team, where did you get that picture?

LILIA VU: I printed it out. I have a vision board at home of everything I want to achieve. I look at it every now and then.

Q. When did you add 2017 to your vision board?

LILIA VU: I think I added that after I got back my Tour card from Epson. Then I just printed out what I wanted to see and get.

Q. Speaking of Solheim Cup, your teammate today, Ally Ewing, announced this is her final full time season on tour. After spending so much time with her over the past couple weeks, what that announcement means to you and the Tour in general.

LILIA VU: Instant tears. I mean, I wasn't expecting it. I saw it on social media this morning. Obviously not trying to make it about me, but I just got so emotional. Then I hugged her today and was just bawling my eyes out. It's something you wouldn't expect.

She's had such a great year, and I would love to spend more years out here with her. I'm very proud of her. She's like the best person to be around.

Q. I have two questions. You had a big summer after AIG, Olympics, and Solheim. How would you describe the whole summer for you?

LILIA VU: I feel like it was just go, go, go. I wasn't able to kind of be in one place and think about that, just that. It was just very fast. We already in, I don't know, the third or second day of fall already and gearing up the Asia Swing, the second Asia Swing.

So it's been such a great year. I think next year will be definitely more slower paced and kind of being where your feet are. It's been so fun this year, so much travel, Solheim just being the epitome of fun.

I'm very happy with how the year has gone.

Q. We are here in Arkansas this week. What do you remember from playing here previously? I think 2022 was the last time you were here.

LILIA VU: Yeah, I think I just love the energy of everyone that comes out to this event. I think the entire state of Arkansas kind of pushes this tournament forward.

Everyone is so nice here. I think back in 2019 I stayed with a host family and I still keep in touch with them. They actually just had their second baby four days ago. Yeah, I'm seeing them on Friday. I don't know how that's going to happen.

But it's just amazing to build these relationships. I love Arkansas, so it'll be fun.

Q. As someone who watched about 20 hours of Solheim Cup coverage, curious as to how or when someone came and told you we may really need your point. I know you had some quotes about it. Was it an assistant captain? Probably not going to be scoreboards, but how did that come about?

LILIA VU: No one really outright told me that they needed me to kind of halve the point and walk away with a half.

I started pretty well, and then Albane started playing well in the middle of the round. Started making a charge. We were both playing really well, so I wasn't too upset with how we were playing.

It felt like it was over on 16. I kind of hit it through the green, was able to make up and down, and said, okay, we're 2-down with two more holes to go. Can I win the next two holes. Let me just try my best.

Was able to walk away with a birdie on 17 and win that hole, so in my head I was just saying, one more hole; let's just go do it.

And then hit a good drive for once and then that's when I looked at the leaderboard on my left. I saw where we were at, 14 points. I stuck it pretty close, and I think on my way up my caddie said, hey, I think if she doesn't walk away with birdie and we birdie, we win this whole thing.

I told him, okay, we still have work to do. Just don't talk to me. I was so nervous in that moment. It was so loud. It felt like the entire United States was pushing me forward and rooting for me.

Q. Have you talked to Jennifer at all? Kind of stole her thunder. Who knows. But have you talked to her?

LILIA VU: No, we didn't talk about that. We were just celebrating the win. We had such a great time. Jen is one of my closest friends out here. I think we were just celebrating after that.

Q. A big topic of discussion in Solheim Cup was analytics. Do you use analytics when preparing for a regular LPGA event such as this one?

LILIA VU: No. I try to just hit with my caddie tells me, to be honest. I keep it really simple. The less thoughts in my brain the better I play.

I just have Cole, my caddie, for that.

Q. Are you surprised how much analytics have been introduced into the sport?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I mean, it shows true. Stacy used it a lot in Solheim and it worked to our advantage. They even took note of how we played in the practice rounds, so I thought that was pretty cool.

Definitely made sense because with stats that they gathered, Rose had the best game for the golf course. It showed. She was 4-0. Definitely some truth to it, but you never know.

Golf is -- there is so much variability. It's based on how you look at it I guess.

Q. Do you think you'll ever use them more often?

LILIA VU: I'm pretty sure my caddie and my coach and my team do pay attention to the stats and analytics, but they do their best to kind of guide me in the right direction so I don't have to think about it too much.

I'm pretty sure my caddie has mentioned it to me before. I only look where I'm supposed to aim. (Smiling.)

Q. This is also a tournament now in its 18th year. This is your third appearance in the event. To have an event on the LPGA Tour in such a niche community as you talked about earlier, be such a long-standing event on Tour, what does that mean to you use as player as you've come through the Tour?

LILIA VU: I mean, this tournament is so great. Everyone is always super pumped to come here. You know you're going to get big crowds and everyone is nice. They really push forward women's golf, and that's what we need and want more of, right? It's always a tournament of, oh, it's going to be so fun. There are people out there supporting us. You're there for the energy they have for us.

We don't get it as much, but would love to have every tournament be like this tournament.

Q. Just this community in general, what are some of the things you're doing off the course you maybe wouldn't do at a normal event because of how strong this community is?

LILIA VU: I would say it's a really cute community. Definitely visiting different towns like Rogers and Fayetteville and Bentonville. There is really cute stuff.

Tonight I'm going to go eat 20 minutes away. I am excited for that. It's Vietnamese food.

Q. We did find a Texas Roadhouse nearby just so you know.

LILIA VU: I went to it two years ago.

Q. I think just overall, how do you plan to continue the momentum from Solheim Cup into this week? When you look at the course, anything you remember most from 2022 the way you played it in your T16 finish?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I mean, two years ago I think was almost going to withdraw from the tournament. I had my own like back issue, too, but came out blazing hot on Friday. I don't even think I did a practice round or played in the pro-am. I pulled out of that.

So I remember. Good memories up I know my game fits here. I think I'm just going to try to have a good week and stay in high spirits.

Q. You kind of answered this, but what about this course do you think helps your game or what do you need to do well here?

LILIA VU: I think it's not all that easy. You have to hit to spots, and that's the way I like to play. I don't like to be on autopilot and think, okay, if I just aim straight I'll be okay.

There is literally things to aim at. It's not going to be easy. I always enjoy courses like that.

Q. Especially with the weather coming, is that something you've taken into account knowing there is significant rain in the forecast with this course?

LILIA VU: I haven't thought too much about that, but I'll cross that bridge when we get there.