Q. Cristie, welcome back to Seaview. Take me through what this first day was back was like after we haven't seen you for a few weeks.
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, I had been battling sickness on and off all year, and got a new caddie which I really, really like. He's great.
Got off to a hot start. You know, 5-under on the front. It felt very easy, which it's been a while since the it's felt that easy.
Struggled a little bit coming in, but made a great par on the last hole.
Q. Why did it feel that easy for you?
CRISTIE KERR: You know, I've been working really hard on my game and I found a nice mental space and I just played. I think that's what I've got to do. I might have tightened up a little bit coming in, but that's to be expected when you haven't had so many reps. I need more reps. Yeah.
Q. I know a couple bogeys on the back nine, but that front nine, when did it really start clicking for you you?
CRISTIE KERR: Right off the getgo. The 10th hole I hit great shot into the green; made birdie. Absolutely pured my 6-iron into the next par-3 and made about a 10-footer for par, because it was so pure that it went over the green. (Laughter.)
Yeah, sometimes you want the pure ones, sometimes you don't. I just got on a hot streak making several birdies in a row and just kept the momentum going. I would like to find that again tomorrow.
Q. What does it mean to come back to a place like Seaview, a place where you have some pretty fond memories yourself?
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, I love this golf course. I've played really well here in the past. MGM Resorts is one of my sponsors I get to stay at the Borgata this week, which is pretty cool. Just great to be in Atlantic City.
Q. What did you work on specifically leading into this week? I know you said you've been grinding to get back out here and to be in contention like you were today.
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, I've been working on my driver a lot. Still hitting some loose shots out there, but worked on that a ton.
With this golf course you have to work on your wedges, you have to and grind that in there, and I hit a lot of really good wedges today.
Q. I know a lot of our longer players can't really rely on just hitting driver every single hole. Where do you think the strategy comes into play, especially on the front nine?
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, for sure. You have to know kind of the wind direction and don't want to get too close to some of the greens, because even they had an bit of rain the last couple days they're still pretty bounce see.
You have to put yourself in position to be able to spin the ball into the greens.
Q. You said you've been working hard grinding coming in had. Obviously still have the fire to get better and compete. Where does that come from?
CRISTIE KERR: It's a gift. You know, it's been a struggle the last couple years, especially with losing my mom about ten months ago and my dad was really sick for a while too. Kind of made me kind of question life and whether I wanted to do this or spend more time around my family.
I'm just very blessed I have a solid husband. He's my rock and my family and a big support system. I still have the fire to compete and a lot of points to make up to try to make the Solheim Cup team next year.
Q. What are your expectations when you show up having not played in a while? What do you step to the first tee with expectation-wise?
CRISTIE KERR: You know, I would say the last six months I had no expectations, and maybe that's why I played poorly. I put the expectation on the things that I could control coming into this tournament: Routine, mental state of mind. You can't always control where the ball goes, but you can control what you can control. So I did really well with that today.
Q. And just does it feel good to look at the leaderboard and see your name on the there?
CRISTIE KERR: It does. It really, really does. I'm enjoying that. I'm enjoying doing an interview. It's been quite a while. But two more days.
Q. One more from me. You mention about going from not knowing if you wanted to step away to now wanting to be on Solheim 2023.
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah.
Q. When did that change your perspective?
CRISTIE KERR: I've always wanted to be on Solheim, but to be able to put the work in necessary to turn the game around, I just got to keep working hard.
Q. Absolutely. Thank you, Cristie.
CRISTIE KERR: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports