THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome to the media center at the 2021 ShopRite LPGAS Classic. Happy to be joined by Megha Ganne, New Jersey native, here as a sponsor's exemption.
Megha, I know you were here last year, but it's a little different. Welcome to the full LPGA experience. Overall how are things going for you right now?
MEGHA GANNE: They're going good. It's only practice rounds, but there is already some people out here watching and some people asked for signatures and photos and stuff, which is still a new feeling for me.
It's been really good and I know this course really well. I've grown up playing it here from local tournaments, and I'm excited.
Q. What is that experience here on the course? How far away do you live? Give us your relationship here with the course.
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, live like an hour and just a bit away from here. I played here, the CV Resort hosted the U.S. kids' tournaments when I was younger, so I played it like every year and would always come to watch this event every year. I remember standing on the practice putting green getting signatures from my favorite players. Lexi and Michelle Wie would always be at this event, so a lot memories from this event.
Q. And now you're the one giving the signatures. Is that a bit surreal for you?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, I always envisioned myself at some point on the inside of the ropes, so it's nice that it came really quickly.
Q. You had quite an experience inside the ropes earlier this year at the U.S. Women's Open. Played so well throughout the summer. Overall what has the last few months been like for you since that breakthrough week at Olympic?
MEGHA GANNE: It's been -- as soon as I come back home things feel normal again, so it's been okay. I had a lot of opportunities this summer. I played in the Junior Solheim, Junior Ryder Cup, got to go on the Curtis Cup trip.
It's just been a lot of traveling, but nothing but good and fun events. So it's been surreal. Because of COVID everything got postponed and pushed together, so I've had a great few months.
Q. Are you getting some sleep in order to catch up?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, yeah, I'm getting some sleep. Everything is good. I'm starting school again and falling back into a normal routine.
Q. What's the school situation for you? You've still got some time in high school left; heading to Stanford in the future. Do you maybe look at that as a break, getting back to normal? What are things like for you now?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, it's strange enough to say that it -- like when I start school again I feel like things are calming down again, which for most people it's the other way around. When I go back to school I'm back home all the time, or most of the time, and I have a schedule and I know what's coming the next day.
Feels like a little bit more relaxed that I'm in school and everything feels like I'm way more in control.
Q. Not only has this event changed, your life has changed. You became a celebrity earlier in the year. Tell me about that. People recognizing you now, that's got to be different; yes?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, I don't know if I call it celebrity, but I guess so. I definitely have a lot more recognition in the golf world, and when I go to golf courses I can't remember the last time I didn't get recognized.
But it's nothing but positivity, so 6it's changed in the best way possible.
Q. You're still in high school. How is it showing up in high school and being the most famous kid in school then?
MEGHA GANNE: I mean, I've gone to school with everyone for a while now so my classmates don't view me any differently, and my teachers think of me as just another student.
So the high school part I just feel like everybody else.
Q. How about your game. When you're playing on tour, a lot of it is not the golf itself. It's all the stuff outside the ropes.
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah.
Q. You're beginning to experience a little bit of that. How are you balancing all of the demands outside of the ropes with your golf game?
MEGHA GANNE: I don't know. I mean, ever since Olympic this is going to be my first time in a professional event again. I'll have to see and get back to you on how I handle all of it.
I'm excited. I think like the coolest thing to me is when I hear someone come up to me and say their daughter, their son started playing golf after watching me. In the last few days I've had some interactions with people that have been like crazy to think that I've had that much of an impact.
Again, nothing but good things.
Q. You obviously accomplished so much in like so little time. Curious what your favorite memory is from all those experiences?
MEGHA GANNE: That's a hard one. I'm going to say -- I mean, it has to be from Olympic and just Sunday at Olympic, but also like there is definitely a few standout moments where I've interacted with young girls what are 10, 11, 12, 13 years old and they've told me that me, myself, has had an impact on the way they think and what they want to do and what they want to accomplish.
To think I've caused someone to inspire someone, that's definitely my favorite part.
Q. Your coach, Katie, called you the best player in the world at age 7, which, high praise obviously. Seems like you deserved it. What is that relationship like with her and how has that sort of helped you get to where you are now?
MEGHA GANNE: She called me that when I was 7 and she calls me that even now, but I still don't really believe her when I hear it. When I actually do get there, then I'll believe it.
It's really nice to have constants in your life, and to have a coach like that that knows you since you were really little, it really helps both of us know each other and what we need to work on. There is such an open line of communication between us, and I'm very privileged that I have such a great relationship with my coach.
Q. Golf is such an individual sport, but you're going to Stanford. What excites you about college golf?
MEGHA GANNE: Everything. Actually when I was playing in the Curtis Cup or when I was an alternate this year, I was surrounded by like 10 of these young women who were like incredible people and incredible golfers.
Rose and Rachel, my future teammates, were also on the team. Just to travel with them, just everything. The meals, the practices, being on the course, how much knowledge there is between all 10 of us on golf and school. That was incredible.
That was my first taste of what it was like to be surrounded by such great players for a week, and I can't believe I get to do that for four years.
Q. Last one, I promise. How is the transition from the team events back to individual events?
MEGHA GANNE: We'll have to see. I love doing them both. You don't get to play team very often, so I cherish those memories.
Q. I know you're an alum of LPGA USGA Girls' Golf golf, of the First Tee Program. How did you think those programs have helped you get where you are to do to be so young and so successful? And I've got to say, you're one of the most well-spoken young women I've ever talked to. How that has helped you even with the outside the ropes side of things?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, a lot of First Tee and Girls' Golf alum, whether they go on to do what I do and play high level events or go into other fields in just college and other leadership groups, I think it shows how much those core values and lessons that they teach us from an early age impact the people we become and how we're able to represent ourselves in the real world.
They're great organizations, and I don't think you need me to speak for that. I think everyone knows it.
Q. Katie here?
MEGHA GANNE: No, she has the NYU job that's tying her up now. This will be one of the first events she's not here with me, but she'll be watching on the leaderboard.
Q. Who's here with you? I know last year things were quieter.
MEGHA GANNE: A lot of friends and people from my hometown and my mom, my dad, my sister. Yeah, just a lot of people from around New Jersey who never get to see me play in tournaments are finally getting to see me in person, so exciting.
Q. Awesome. I see you're playing with Maria Fassi and Aditi Ashok. Excitement about that? Thoughts on that grouping for the week.
MEGHA GANNE: I was very excited when I saw that pairing. You guys should create like a highlight reel about how many times I've have been asked who is my favorite player and I say Maria Fassi. So I love her. I've loved her every since I was young and watching her at the ANWA was one of the most inspiring moments of my entire life. I can't wait. I think it's going to be a good group.
Q. I'm curious, what is the best piece of advice you received from the girls on tour and who was it?
MEGHA GANNE: I think it was repeated advice, but all say to go to college. And I was planning on doing that, but it's nice to hear that reassurance for them that they think it's a valuable part of your life and that you should go to school and get that experience.
Q. Is there a particular mentor you've had out here?
MEGHA GANNE: Azahara Munoz actually. When I played with her a couple years ago she offered me and my family some great advice. Just reminded me to keep a level head and go to college and focus on everything around life, not just golf.
Q. You say you've got a lot of experience here at the course. What are some of your favorite spots out here? Any good memories you might have?
MEGHA GANNE: Yeah, I think I have the entire range of good to bad memories. I don't think I've played a single hole where I wasn't in every single spot on that hole.
So, yeah, it's a short course, but it's definitely challenging if you're not in the right spots. It seems a little firmer this year than most years, so I think that could be a factor.
THE MODERATOR: One last question and we'll let you go. What do you think are the strengths of your game and how do you plan to use those this week?
MEGHA GANNE: Optimism and putting, and I would like to say course management. I mean, those are all things you need everywhere, so good.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, and good luck this week and hope to talk to you again later.
MEGHA GANNE: Thank you.
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