FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 30, 2025

Lilia Vu

Whirlwind Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Lilia Vu. I think we'll work a little bit backwards. Take me through what you're most proud of today after that playoff.

LILIA VU: Yeah, I'm proud that I kind of stuck to my goal, my weekly goal. The only goal is to be in tune with my body.

I feel like I didn't start off too great in Asia, and this week was kind of a week that I would dedicate everything to being in tune with my body, not having aches and pains, and I got through four rounds of any of that. This is probably the most I've felt like me in the past year and a half, yeah.

Q. And just due to how you're playing and also with the body that I know that you've been working on?

LILIA VU: Yeah, 100%. The first two days I feel like ball striking wasn't great but I was making putts; ball striking kicked in yesterday, so that kind of scared me. I started hitting things 20 yards further, so kind of made Cole's job a little harder.

If we're able to maintain this, I mean, I'm really excited for the rest of the year.

Q. I want to talk through specifically the last couple holes out there. Were you leaderboard watching at all or were you just trying to stay present in the moment?

LILIA VU: Yeah, I did a little bit because I really didn't know what the rest of the field was at. I didn't see a lot of the leaderboards.

But, yeah, at one point I was like, okay I got to start making birdies and kind of knew that when I think of one shot at a time and just trying to birdie that hole, it kind of works out.

So, I mean, I'm not too afraid of the leaderboard. I feel like I don't want it to control you, so I'm not afraid of it.

Q. Yeah. Take me through the first time you hit 18 today. Not the playoff, but the first time you hit 18.

LILIA VU: Yeah.

Q. How did you stay present and focused knowing that there was a little bit of delay in front of you?

LILIA VU: It took quite a long time because we also waited on 17 and I can kind of feel my body getting a little tighter.

But, you know, I got lucky with my drive. I hit the fairway. I think with an adrenaline pump I just hit my pitching wedge way too far and there was -- it was just going forever.

At that point I was already proud of myself with how I performed, so if I got a par it was a bonus. I knew I would set up to that putt and I've hit this putt a million times. So stick through my process and read the putt. If it went in, great. If not, it's okay.

Q. To be in contention like this, you just said the first time in a year and a half you've truly felt like the Lilia we've seen over the last couple years. What was that playoff for you? What were some of the feelings that you'll take away from the playoff experience?

LILIA VU: Yeah, obviously I didn't give an aggressive enough putt, but it hit a little bump and finished short. But Hyo Joo hit a good shot, hit a good putt, and then, yeah, won it. There is really nothing to it.

Q. What's one of the biggest takeaways you'll take with you going into not only next week, but just what we've got coming up on the season?

LILIA VU: That I have what it takes, even with or without distance. I feel like that's something that's been lingering like a chip on my shoulder. I feel like I hit it shorter than everyone and I feel like I start off the tournament handicapped.

But with the first two days I wasn't really hitting it anywhere, but I was still around in contention, so just knowing that.

And then body started to feel better. Mind started to feel better. Just went out there and had a lot of fun.

Q. Was there a memorable shot from today that's something you'll be the most proud of?

LILIA VU: Yeah, so I doubled 13 yesterday. I hit a 7-iron flighted into the wind to maybe 13, 14 feet and I made that putt.

I thought that was like my proudest moment. It was redemption for sure.

Q. And just in general, what is something about kind of this course that really appealed to your eye? I know you said you really got into the ball striking moves over the last two days.

LILIA VU: Yeah.

Q. What did you like most about kind of taking on this challenge?

LILIA VU: I think you can't just mindlessly play around this golf course. You kind of have to pick and choose your lines. Some corners you have to cut and be precise with how far you're going to carry it, and the wind is off the right or off the left and how far that's going to affect your ball flight.

So it's a little tougher for sure, tougher Arizona course, and I like a tougher course, and, yeah, I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.