THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome to the Albatross room here at The ANNIKA.
Very happy to welcome here with us today Miss Brittany Lincicome. I would like to just start with an opening question obviously on your announcement today that I hope everyone's seen on social media. If not, go take a look.
20 years on the LPGA Tour, wrapping up a full time schedule out here. Anything you want to say about that announcement?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah, just super excited. You know, obviously was going to need a sponsor invite to get into this week, so I wrote a letter to Tim and Dan just kind of pouring my heart out of how cool it would be if I could just make this my last full season event.
When them sent me the email I called both of them right away literally crying. It jut means the world. 20 year career, to be able to finish it in my hometown at this beautiful golf course with these amazing sponsors, it's like my whole world is coming together and falling into place. It's just an honor to be here and make this my last full season I guess event.
THE MODERATOR: Amazing. I just want to ask one more about you said earlier today making this one a family affair. It's great to have all your family here with you. Tell us about that.
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah, crazy that they don't get to me see me play very often. It's cool to have this event in my backyard. My husband is going to caddie for me this week which he's never done. It's just going to make it like a family event. Mom and dad will be out; the girls will be out at some point.
Just to have everyone walking the fairway together with me, there is going to be a lot of emotions. Probably some tears on the first tee shot I'm sure, again, of it all coming together and shutting it down.
It's just a cool thing to have them out. I can't wait. I'm so excited.
Q. Was there a particular moment that you realized that this is what you wanted to do?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah. Good question.
Q. When was that?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: So it was kind of funny. I talked to other players who were shutting it down or who have shut it down most recently. Brittany Lang, Angela Stanford, Juli Inkster. They were like, you're going to know. Like when you're done you're going to know. I'm like, guys, I'm not ready. I still feel like I have it. I'm still playing great.
My head gets in the way most times, but my game feels so good. I'm not done. I'm going to play ten more years.
And then our daughter started kindergarten in August and I went and volunteered that first two weeks. I was a helicopter mom that shadowed my kid to school every day just volunteering. I enjoyed that more than the thought of going to hit golf balls.
That was my like, okay, it's time. I need to be around. Just with a little girl in kindergarten, she needs help here and there and I need to be present and with my girls. That was my moment.
Q. Once you made the announcement, what has the reaction been like from your peers, and was there a moment when you were like, do I really want to do this?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: No, it's been super positive. Everyone either texting or now this week being out here and seeing everybody, because I haven't seen anybody since the announcement. Just coming up giving me hugs saying I'm going to be missed. Some of the staff saying I hope this isn't your last one. I hope we see you a little bit in some capacity.
So you'll see me somewhere I'm sure, whether it's pro-ams or a tournament here or there maybe in the summer when we're not in school. Yeah, it's been super great, super positive. Feel very blessed.
Q. What's been the practice like up to this week?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I've actually been doing more practice than I think I ever have. I am really giving it my all, I really want to do well, obviously being in my backyard, last full-season event. All family and friends coming out to watch and I don't want let anyone down and I want to play great. Been working on the putting really hard.
Q. As you reflect back on your career, are there two or three moments that stand out in your mind as being top of the pile there?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: All of them, school, teacher, parents, growing up. I never thought I'd make it on the LPGA and then my dad caddying for me and getting my first win with my dad obviously is one of my biggest highlights. Everyone always says which is your favorite but they're all different awesome moments.
Either my dad caddying for me, winning a major twice or Solheim Cup. Any time you get to wear the red, white and blue, those three are definitely my top highlights for sure.
Q. I think your foray into the game of golf is so interesting. Raised by two educators who moved two school districts to get you on better junior teams. For you obviously First Tee LPGA USGA Girls Golf has been a big part of your career especially the latter with being an ambassador. What's the legacy you want to leave out here on the LPGA?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I've always wanted to make it better than what it was when I came out. Whether that's getting more kids involved or trying to get more tournaments or more TV, just anything I've always told the commissioners or the staff of the LPGA, if there is anything I can do, if I can go to a local company here in the Florida area and help get a new sponsor, I just want to be able to say that I left my mark and I made the game better.
I think we've done that. The game has grown so much in my 20 years and it's really cool to see double the amount of tournaments, bigger purses. There's more girls playing the game of golf than ever which is really cool. Obviously being on the board of the First Tee, I love seeing kids involved with the game of golf.
Golf is such a wonderful game, whether it's junior level, college level, career, whatever it may be, it's just such a wonderful game and always want to see it growing.
Q. I know Angela Stanford had some really kind things to say about you last week at the LOTTE Championship, but you grew up out here; started out here at 19. What does it mean to have grown up and gotten married, had kids out here on the LPGA?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: It's really cool. This has been my family for a long time. I wouldn't be here without everyone's help, whether my family or staff of the LPGA. Donna Wilkins is basically my second mom. She's always had my back and helped me get from point A to point B. These are basically family to me to have been out here this long, and just grateful for everyone on the LPGA and helping me further my career.
Q. We listened to Annika in the Leadership Summit about an hour ago and she talked about how when she retired she wanted to still be involved in the game and have a purpose. Have you thought forward about how you would like to keep your passion going for golf and how you'd like to be involved in this sport?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I actually have not thought about it at all. I definitely want to do something in the game, whether that's just charity fundraisers or even helping out my First Tee program at home. But yeah, I honestly haven't -- one day at a time right now.
Q. We've had a lot of players announce that they're retiring or going to retire or cut back their schedule this year, I feel like more than maybe in recent years. When you think about kind of professional golf and especially professional women's golf, are there any sacrifices that are kind of unique to the sport?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Gosh, I mean, I think having kids is probably the biggest one. You feel -- like I'm the same player, I can do all those same amazing things, but then you get out there and you're either mom guilt or your body is different. You feel the same but you're definitely different. But that's definitely one of them.
But it is crazy to see. We're all getting older, I guess, so we're all retiring at the same time.
Q. Brittany, if I could take you back 20 years, a lot of us were kind of introduced to you for the first time after that opening round at the U.S. Women's Open at The Orchards.
At that time you're getting introduced to big-time golf. What was going through your mind about how far can I take this thing?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah, I remember holing out from under the trees and I started crying walking down the fairway. Just some cool moments, just never thinking I would ever win on the LPGA. To be out here for 20 years, I mean, I never thought that would even be possible. I just thought it was always cool to watch golf on TV, obviously Annika and Juli Inkster were players that I looked up to, and then to turn pro in '05 and hit balls on the range next to them, it was surreal.
Q. What was perhaps the immediate goal when you turned pro? Was it just to win a tournament?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Keep my card, which was challenging. I barely did it and then was lucky enough to win my next year. When you turn pro, you're like, gosh, should I have gone to college, did we make the right choices. I did home schooling growing up. Was that right? All these what ifs. I'm so blessed that it worked out.
Q. What do you think about the idea that over the last few years the LPGA has gotten to play at St Andrews and Pebble Beach and places like that?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I know, I'm really bummed to be shutting it down now because especially the U.S. Women's Open KPMG have taken the Tour to some amazing golf courses and the ones that they have lined up I've never played before so I am quite jealous. But it is cool to see the game continuing to grow. Obviously people are seeing the value in women's golf, and we're only going to bigger and better golf courses which is really cool to see, and again, I'm bummed to not get to play them.
Q. With your First Tee hat on and as a girl mom, what are your thoughts on Caitlin Clark being here and the push it can give the game?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Oh, my gosh, just I'm going to be honest, I've never watched women's basketball and then to see her at the Final Four, we were in Vegas tat week and I watched every minute of it and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. What she has done for women's sports and basketball and to have her at our golf tournament, I mean, I'm like in awe.
I've got a basketball and hoping she signs it for my girls. But it's just really cool to see her coming out. I've seen her swing. I think she has a great swing and she has potential. But how cool for her to come out and support us this week and only help grow women's golf.
Q. The sport often tells you when it's time to go. How does it feel to go out on your own terms and in your own back yards? That's got to be pretty special.
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah, super special. Like I said, there's going to be tears. I don't know if it's the first hole, the last hole, in between. I'm sure when my parents bring our girls out to have my husband caddying to see my mom and dad, have our daughters out there, a lot of friends and family coming out, which is really cool. A lot of people don't get to see us play because we don't get to come to your backyard that often.
It's literally a dream come true to be finishing in my backyard, so it's going to be really cool.
Q. Curious when you told your girls about your decision, and did they understand?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: No. No. A little too young, I think. But I'm just hoping they remember even this week or at least coming to watch mommy play a few times over the years. Like I said, it's just such a wonderful game. Emory is in the First Tee on Saturday, so get involved. I am trying to develop her little swing to see if she can get involved.
How cool would that be? Brittany Lang and I say all the time, how cool would it be to be caddying for our daughters one day or walking outside the ropes like our parents did watching us. We're trying to push our girls to even play just a little bit so we can have that moment.
Q. Not many players continue on with two kids these days. What was the biggest obstacle having two?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah, day care obviously super helpful. My parents still travel every week to help, which is again super helpful. It wasn't even the two, it's just more kindergarten, logistically getting her to school and my husband obviously works, so those logistics.
But it's been great. It's been great to show them a little bit of the world, to take them to cool places, and to come watch what I do for a little bit. Hopefully they remember.
Q. I know you're very excited to be a full-time helicopter mom, but I'm curious from your LPGA Tour perspective week in and week out, is there anything you might miss from being out there full time?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I think just the competitive part of it, that being in contention on Sunday, coming down the stretch with a chance to win the golf tournament, the adrenaline that goes through your blood and to be able to feel that feeling. But then again, I was at Solheim earlier this year and then watching these girls stress over 10-footers to win the hole or to tie the hole, I might not miss that. I think that it was another telltale of it's probably time to get on out.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports