THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome here inside the virtual interview room at the Dana Open presented by Marathon.
I'm pleased to be joined by one of the sponsor exemptions here this week, Aline Krauter. Aline, welcome to Toledo. Have you been to Toledo before?
ALINE KRAUTER: I have not been to Toledo.
THE MODERATOR: Really? So this is you first time here?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes.
THE MODERATOR: This has been quite a journey to get to the sponsor exemption. Just rewinding back to the NCAA championships, being a part of that winning team, knowing that this exemption was up for grabs, what was it like to be able to earn this type of exemption into this event?
ALINE KRAUTER: It was amazing, and I wasn't really expecting it, to be honest, so I was told before we had our whole interview situation, and it was live on TV. My coach asked, Oh, Anne, you know what's going to happen, right?
And everyone looked at her and she's like, no. She is like, oh, wait, I remember. I sat next to her and I was like, what's going to happen, coach? Coach was like, oh, no, no, no, it's fine.
And then when it got announced I was like, oh, shoot, and coached look at me and I started tearing up and it was live and I was like, oh, goodness, this is so great.
It was the best way to end my college year.
THE MODERATOR: You have had an outstanding college career. Not only that, but also winning the Dinah Shore Award as well, that scholarship. When you look back on your last four years at Stanford, what really sticks out to you? I know the NCAAs probably as well, but what really sticks out about your time there?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think the people that I've met. I don't think I've met people as incredible as I have at Stanford. I think my entire four years I never ceased to be amazed. I've met amazing people. I think my people or the people that I've met have been great.
THE MODERATOR: You also have quite the amateur record out of Stanford. The 2022 Women Amateur Championship. For you when you won that, you got into a lot of majors. For this, there is nothing like Toledo, Ohio, as I like to say. What are some of your first impressions of coming here to Highland Meadows?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think it's been great. I think it feels a little bit different now that I have turned pro. It feels a little more official to me, because before it was like oh, I'm the amateur. Like I don't really know anyone here.
And now I feel like I've met a bunch of people through my major exemptions as well, so it feels official and I'm extra excited.
THE MODERATOR: And you've got your brother on the back this week. I think I saw your mom over there as well.
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes.
THE MODERATOR: So it's really been a family affair. You spoke a little bit about turning professional; this is your first LPGA Tour event as a professional after getting through Q1 a couple weeks ago as well.
First off, take me back to Q1; what was that experience like for you?
ALINE KRAUTER: It was hot. I think that was about it probably.
No it was a pretty smooth week. I never really got too flustered on the course, which is great. I told my brother the other day it's more like a marathon and not like a sprint, and it really was a marathon through that heat. But it was great, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: Being able to be in this event, your first LPGA Tour official event as a professional. What does that mean to you to take that exemption and use it as a professional here on the LPGA Tour?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think it's great. I mean, the fact that I got that opportunity is so special. I don't think everyone can say that they have that opportunity. I think it's super hard to qualify for the LPGA or for any tournament in general. So it's super special, and I'm really grateful to have that opportunity.
THE MODERATOR: Scott?
Q. Have you had much of a look at the golf course yet?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes. So I played 18 holes Sunday. I got in from Chicago; we drove over, and then today, and I played the pro-am yesterday, which was a lot of fun. So yeah, I've seen it a little bit.
Q. What do you think of it and how will you attack it?
ALINE KRAUTER: I really like the course. It's playing a little different than the first day just because of the rain that we had.
But I think it's a great course. It'll be a challenge. The greens are pretty speedy. I'm sort of glad it rained because they were really firm and really fast early on.
So yeah, we'll see. I'm excited.
Q. Your past experiences, what have they equipped you with, such as the NCAA for coming out on tour?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think the most that college golf has taught me is patience. Patience on the course. I had to have a lot of patience to balance all of my work and plan everything out, so I think that's really good.
And I think in general I played, I feel like, at pretty high level at Stanford, and a lot of like, what do you call it...
THE MODERATOR: Camaraderie.
ALINE KRAUTER: Camaraderie and competition. There we go. A lot of high competition. And so I think that really prepared me for the LPGA.
Q. Have you met any of the tour players yet and picked their brains a little bit?
ALINE KRAUTER: A little bit. I played a lot of practice rounds with a lot of good people. Lexi, Sophia, Caro.
So, yeah.
Q. Just when you talk about turning professional and the changes that you have to make just as yourself, are there any changes that you've seen since you turned professional? Do you think of yourself differently or do you just take it one shot at a time out there?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think one shot at a time. I really try to focus on exactly that. I think if I change my mindset too much I'm going to put myself in too much pressure, and I think that's going to backfire probably. So I'm trying not to the that.
So shot by shot, hole by hole, tournament by tournament, and see where I shake out.
Q. What's it been like turning professional and looking at your year ahead?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think it's super exciting. A lot of things are up in the air just with Q-School and Q-Series hopefully. I mean, we'll see. I'm sort of trying to take it day by day and not taking these opportunities for granted.
So, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: I know we've only seen you this year on the LPGA at the Amundi Evian Championship, but whenever you're at an LPGA Tour event, there is quite a bit of Stanford grads, like you said. Sophia, Caro, the other Germans. Is there anyone you lean on for advice or do reach out to anyone or does anyone reach out to you?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think I talk to a lot of the Stanford grads, Andrea and Albane and I've leaned on Sophia I would say and Caro for sure. My first couple majors I only played with Caro basically. I tagged onto her. I really enjoyed that.
So, yeah.
Q. What kind of advice has she given you as you've embarked on your professional career?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think a lot of things were like, middle of the green. Middle of the green is great always. I think the main thing was at ANA. She gave me a couple pin position that had been the past and she was like, don't hit it here, don't hit it here, and at Q-Series, and I hit it where told me not to hit it at ANA, and it wasn't great, but, yeah, so...
Q. You're talking about 2021?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes.
Q. So 2021; you took that advice at Q-School this year?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes. Yeah, yeah, but I didn't you and the you have execute it well. But regardless.
Q. You got through and it's a great piece of advice to take.
ALINE KRAUTER: Definitely.
Q. As you look forward to this tournament, what are the expectations you put or yourself for an event like this?
ALINE KRAUTER: I obviously would love to make the cut, but I don't think I have very high expectations. I think I'm playing well right now. I'm just trying to take the momentum from Q-School two week ago.
Yeah, we'll see.
Q. Where are you based, and because it's the summer, are you practicing almost every single day or is it more about preparing for Q-II as well?
ALINE KRAUTER: So I am based out of Germany currently, technically. I was at Stanford a couple week ago. I love it there and I love the practice facility, so I've been there a good amount.
And then what was the other question?
Q. Being able to practice; is it more gearing up for Stage II or is it about fine tuning everything that you've got going on?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think a little bit of fine tuning, but I definitely think practicing every day is going to help. I think I've been on the course more than I probably ever have been, which I feel like has been great, because I'm not thinking about my swing too much.
I'm just playing, I'm trying to score. I think that's most important.
Q. Is it weird seeing people go back to classes in these last couple weeks and not being one of them?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yeah, I just saw the announcement. Everyone is posting about their first tournament and I feel sort of left out and I'm not in the group chat anymore.
It's tough, but it's...
Q. It's tough, but... How much nicer is it to embark on this journey, you have your mom here, your brother on the bag. What's it like having your brother on the bag, and how many times has he caddied for you before?
ALINE KRAUTER: He has caddied every time I've been on the LPGA, so every major he's done that with me. He caddied at Q-School, so he's been on the bag quite a lot. Every time I've had a caddie it's been him basically.
It feels great. It gives me a little bit of comfort to have my family here, or part of my family here. So, yeah, I think I it makes me feel a lot more comfortable and at ease.
THE MODERATOR: One more from me. What do you see in your game when you're playing Highland Meadows? What is it about this course that you think suits you the best?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think with these fairways right now, they're not rolling a lot, and I think my carry distance is pretty decent, so I think that's good.
Then my short game has been pretty decent. The rough is pretty thick near some greens, so we'll see about that.
My putting has been pretty good, at least at Q-School. So I'm trying to take that into my week because the greens are pretty fast, a little slopey, so...
THE MODERATOR: I know you said this is your first time in Toledo, but this event, the Dana Open, has been here for 35 plus years. It is such a standalone event for this community. Being in Toledo for the first time, being around this event, and getting first taste of the community, do you feel that even in these practice round days?
ALINE KRAUTER: Yes, definitely. And with the pro-am yesterday it was so great. They told me all about this event and all about the community. They were so great. I kept in touch with them. I texted last night, this morning. They've been really great. Definitely feel that.
THE MODERATOR: That's incredible.
Q. What is your brother's name?
ALINE KRAUTER: Tim Krauter.
Q. Tim. Okay.
ALINE KRAUTER: Uh-huh.
Q. Obviously you are faking an American accent then, right? You spent more of your life in the States it sounds like, haven't you?
ALINE KRAUTER: Well, I came over when I was 15.
Q. Okay.
ALINE KRAUTER: So not quite more, but I spent a lot of time here, yes.
Q. Okay.
ALINE KRAUTER: Uh-huh.
Q. Because the German, the accent is destroyed.
ALINE KRAUTER: Yeah, yes. Well, I always tell people or like to tell people I lost it on the border, but I never really had one to begin with.
Q. Okay. And most Europeans speak English better than Americans do.
ALINE KRAUTER: Yeah. Maybe. (Laughter.)
Q. What have you found as far as getting acclimated to being on tour? There is a lot, isn't there? What kinds of things are you finding that you have to get acclimated to?
ALINE KRAUTER: I think definitely playing practice rounds in a different way, because there are always three days of practice rounds usually, and not overdoing it I would say. In the beginning I always played three practice rounds, three straight 18 hole days, and then I was sort of worn out I felt like.
After Q-School nothing is gonna wear me out ever again, but so I think getting acclimated to that, seeing how much I want to do, how much I want to practice after the round. If I don't to practice, that's fine, too. I'm not really not putting too much pressure with things like that.
I've also been told one piece of advice that really helped me is not to change anything really. Never change a working system. So I feel like I've done pretty well so far with my system. I don't really want to change much and like look left and right, like, oh, what are these people doing, what are these people doing. I think what I'm doing is probably fine so far, so we'll see.
THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you Aline.
ALINE KRAUTER: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Best of luck this week.
ALINE KRAUTER: Thank you.
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