2020-05-01_Golf_Digest

issue 4. 2020 | golf digest 107

did you stay in augusta
after the win? I gave out tro-
phies to the Drive, Chip
and Putt winners alongside Pat-
rick Reed the next day.
Then that afternoon I flew
to New York with Maria,
and we were on the “Today”
show and Jimmy Fallon, and
then I had to go back to class.
Going back to campus, I was
trying to balance school and
golf and get back to being with
my team, but with so many me-

dia requests it was hard.
I had no idea what was going
to happen or how to prepare
for it. It all came in a rush. Try-
ing to practice and get ready
[for the ACC Championships
two weeks later], and do ev-
erything I needed to do to be
ready, was definitely a battle.
But it was so cool to see how
the tournament blew up.

● ● ●
what did the win mean to
you? It was huge. Obviously,
I still had college tournaments
left, but it was the end of my
amateur golf and then the
beginning of my professional

career, marking me moving on

from one section of my life to

another. It really helped me be

comfortable playing in front of

crowds, and it helped me calm

my nerves under pressure.

● ● ●

what do you think it

meant for women’s golf?

It was a great display for

younger girls, whether they’re

participating in golf already or

just watching it on television

because their parents have

it on. For them to see the

way everything played out,

the friendship that Maria

and I have, it really encourages

girls to pick up a club. To

see us be able to do it on the

biggest stage, Augusta

National, was huge.

● ● ●

have you been back since

the tournament? I haven’t.

It’d be cool to go and relive

all those memories and walk

down the fairways again.

I’ve watched the coverage

a couple times. It’s crazy

watching it—to see what the

cameras see, and know what

I was thinking during specific

shots or moments, it’s surreal.

● ● ●

did you learn something

at augusta that has

helped you transition

into professional golf?

I went in relaxed. I realize

now that was a big part in

my success. I used to go into

tournaments stressed out,

focusing on things that were

going wrong. At ANWA, I

was just experiencing it and

having fun. That’s one of the

big things that I’ve carried over

to my professional career. If

something doesn’t go right,

I know I’ll figure it out and make

it up in another part of my game.

This year’s augusta national

women’s amateur will be

played April 1-2 at champions

retreat before the final round

April 4 at augusta national,

followed by the drive, chip

and putt finals April 5

and the masters April 9-12.

“IT REALLY ENCOURAGES GIRLS

TO PICK UP A CLUB.

TO SEE US BE ABLE TO DO IT

ON THE BIGGEST STAGE,

AUGUSTA NATIONAL, WAS HUGE.”

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