FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 27, 2025

Sarah Schmelzel

Whirlwind Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Sarah Schmelzel our local Phoenix superstar. Really good round today; bogey-free. Just tell me about the day.

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Yeah, got off to a solid start. Was just hitting it really well and I was able to get a few looks early. Got a couple par-5s kind of on that -- I guess on the front nine that are really gettable.

Birdied No. 2, so nice to be 1-under through 2. Hit a good shot on 3 and then just got rolling in there. Rode the momentum all day. Really didn't ever put myself in a position where I was trying to get out of trouble really.

So it was nice, just really easy golf today.

Q. I know playing in your hometown is a lot of fun; also can be like overwhelming because everybody, mostly me, wants to talk to you all day ahead of time. How do you stay focused on your golf?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: I mean, I look at it as such a blessing that I get to play at home in front of my family and friends and that I was once on the other side the ropes watching this tournament as a young girl.

I've stayed the last couple years in a hotel instead of staying at home. It's pretty far from my house, like 45 minutes, so gives me a good excuse to do it, but makes it feel a lot more like a regular tournament rather than being at home.

So I don't know if that's like a little secret that's helped me focus in on this tournament the last two years, but just try to not make it more than what it is, you know.

Q. I think you were talking on the LPGA Podcast about your mindset and how you were trying not to live and die with every golf shot, live and die with every round. How good does it feel to see that kind of mindset pay off and just be able to play free and easy?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Definitely. I have to give huge kudos to my caddie, Shota. We started working together last year at Pelican and then worked together this year obviously. And he's got a great outlook. He never really -- he can get serious and in the moment but never takes anything too seriously.

So along with me working on that on my own and also having him as that sounding board and that positivity around me has really helped.

Yeah, you never know if it's going to yield good results, so it's been nice that it's been working out.

Q. Take us through the last three holes. Ripped off three birdies there to finish it off.

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Yeah, it was nice. I hit a really good shot on the par-3 and then you got the really short 16th and then the reachable 17th. You know, other girls are out there making birdies, so when you step on the tee box you think you have to make one too, so nice when you actually do it.

Q. A great start here. Like Emily said, maybe not a lot of pressure but support that I'm sure you're feeling. How do you take this and keep your head down and keep trying to go low over the next three days?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Same thing as today really. Stay focused on what we're trying to do. We were really good about being where our feet were, focused on the shot at hand, and trying to hit the next shot as good as I could as well.

Same thing. Just staying super process oriented and grateful that everyone is out here supporting me.

Q. I have one more, too. You said that there was going to be a lot of people that came out and were loud. Was that today?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: I did not have noisy ones today actually, which was funny. They were enjoying some beverages, just leisurely walking along and having a good time. So I don't know if the louder ones are coming, but we'll see.