THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you all for joining the 2023 Ascendent LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America media preview. Joining me on this call we've got Cheyenne Knight and Angela Stanford in Dallas there at Shady. They are going to practice this afternoon.
Charley Hull, I told her earlier this is a perfect zoom background. Charley is in the car. She just got done.
CHARLEY HULL: I'm not driving.
THE MODERATOR: Not driving. Good. She just got done practicing as the three of them are not only getting ready for the Ascendent LPGA, but they have a big event next week in the Solheim Cup. So we'll get into that in a couple of minutes. So ladies, thank you for joining us today.
Just a couple of quick housekeeping items before we get started. With the exception of Charley and Angela and Cheyenne, if you could remain on mute. This call is being recorded and transcribed. So I'll distribute this to you guys after the conclusion of the call. When we get to the Q&A portion if you can indicate either in the chat or do a raising of the hand or a raise the hand that you would like to ask a question and then I'll call on you.
So just a quick introduction overview on the upcoming Ascendent LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America before we open up for Q&A. This is the longest running LPGA event in the state of Texas. The Ascendent LPGA will take place October 2nd through the 8th at the golf clubs at The Tribute at Old American Golf Club featuring a field of 132 players, competing for a share of the 1.8 million dollars purse, which is a hundred thousand dollars increase over 2022. Tickets for the tournament are available at the tournament's website ascendentlpga.com.
So new for 2023 is an upgraded culinary experience called Bite By the Lake. So, ladies, you guys will experience this when you see it. It's a, it's going to be a really cool, upgraded hospitality culinary experience, where we're going to bring in local restaurants and local chefs, so that fans and spectators will be able to sample food from the area. So that will be around the 18th green at Old American Golf Club. So a great enhancement for 2023.
The field of early commitments for this year features major champions, past champions, including the three that we have on the call, 13 players who are competing in the Solheim Cup next week, and then 15 players who are hailing from Texas.
So, Cheyenne, Angela, I'm going to ask you about that too, because that's one of the more unique things about this tournament is how many players from Texas, including the Dallas area, that are playing in this event.
So, on the regarding the three that are on the call. So, Charley Hull is our 2022 defending champion, Angela Stanford is our 2020 champion and Cheyenne Knight is our 2019 champion. We'll ask a couple of questions of them in a couple of minutes.
Also an enhancement this year, as most or all of you know on the call that Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth, she was a long-time tournament ambassador for this great championship. She was there every single day for this tournament over the years. She was a legend in the game, particularly in the state of Texas and Dallas. So the tournament is going to be unveiling some enhancements this year to honor Kathy. Including we are renaming our Walk of Champions to be the Kathy Whitworth Walk of Champions. And then we're also, the back of the champion trophy, Kathy's signature is going to be on the back of the trophy starting this year.
So, yesterday at media day, so Mike King the president and CEO of Volunteers of America kind of shared a couple of good stories about Kathy. Charley and Angela and Cheyenne, as you know, Kathy was never one to be, it needs to be my tournament. She's always been really super humble about her involvement in the tournament. So the trophy, for those y'all that don't know on the call, the trophy, so she designed that trophy on a napkin with her and Mike King. And then that's how the trophy got developed. And the signature going on the back of the trophy this year is just kind of, it's another little humble, subtle tribute to Kathy. So her spirit will continue to live on.
So I'm going to ask ya'll about Kathy's inspiration and involvement with the tournament with you guys as well in just a couple of minutes. So we'll get to the -- so we'll get to the opening Q&A and then I will open it up to the group for questions.
So we'll move ahead to the stars of the show. So Charley, Angela and Cheyenne so thank you all for taking the time to join us today. I would like to ask each of you to go back in time to your respective victories here at the Ascendent LPGA. As your wins certainly were significant for each of you in their own right.
So Charley, so as the defending champ, take us back to last weekend or last year, Saturday and Sunday, where you just totally caught lightning in a bottle, 7-under, back-to-back 7-under, 64s for your first win in six years. So take us back to 2022.
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, it's great. I thought I was coming into some good form into that week. I like Texas, because Texas is actually the first place I've ever played in America when I first went over to America when I was nine years old and I played in the Texas Women's Open. And I actually met Kathy Whitworth back then. And I think I got a picture somewhere. But I like Texas. My cousins are from Texas. I got a lot of family in America. Yeah, I just love it. And, yeah, I just had a good feeling that week. I like the golf course. I actually can't remember too much now because it was all, it all just seems a blur because I was concentrating so much. I just remember holing the winning putt, which was like a foot or something. But, yeah, I really enjoy it there.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you. All right. Angela, going back to 2020. So both you and Cheyenne, this is a hometown event for you two. So you won with family and friends in attendance. Angela, you mentioned after your win that as you were walking up 18 you couldn't look at your mom because you would have broken down and cried. So just take us back to 2020 and your win for us.
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, you know, that was a different year. We played in December. We actually didn't have any fans there that year. I think I've always been in awe of Cheyenne that she could win in front of all her family and friends. It's a lot of pressure when your family and friends come out and they want to see you play well. I think we put extra pressure on ourselves. I kind of had the luxury in 2020, I didn't have anybody there watching me, except my parents. And I knew walking up 18, I didn't know where I stood in the tournament, but I think that's why I caught myself, because I thought if I look over at my mom and I start crying and I'm losing by one this is going to be really weird. So, and I knew Inbee Park was still on the golf course. So I think now looking back and everything that's transpired the last three years, I know it was a gift. I know it was a gift from God that my mom was there and she could see it. So that whole week I kept thinking, this is weird. The course played different. Obviously a north wind in December. That first day was probably top three coldest I've ever been on a golf course. It was cold. So every day when I left the golf course I thought, man, nobody's running away with it. Nobody's -- like they're kind of just letting this old lady hang around. So, and then I played really well. I hit the ball really well the last day. So I will always be just so thankful that I had that opportunity. I've told Mr. King a number of times, I'll never be able to say thank you enough for bringing this tournament to Texas and supporting it and giving us an opportunity to play in our backyard.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Thank you, Angela. Cheyenne, same question. Going back to 2019, that was your first win on the LPGA Tour. So to what Angela said, unlike Angela, where she didn't play in front of all the fans and spectators, because it was 2020, you did. So just kind of take us back to that and kind of what the event meant to you.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, it was the last regular season event of the year. I was a rookie and I needed a top-5 finish to keep my card. Yeah, it was kind of like that week I had nothing to lose. Definitely a mindset shift. Because, just a rookie, I was kind of just kind of in over my head the whole year. But that tournament I knew what I needed to do. I was just really trying to have fun that week. All my family was there, which was really special. Grandma was there. She hasn't really been to an event since. She's going to try to come this year to the event. But, yeah, I just had so many family and friends. And no matter the outcome, if I had to go back to Q-School or I kept my card or won the tournament, like they were going to support me, no matter what. I just remember the last day I had like a lot of peace with it. And I remember Angela coming up to me on the range and she's like, God already has it all like figured out, so don't worry about the outcome. And that definitely helped me. But, yeah, I was nervous the last day. But I just had a lot of, like, peace with, like, whatever was going to happen. I remember I had a long putt on 18, because the pin was back right and I was, like, not going to go to that pin. I looked at my caddie and I was like, How many putts do I have? He's like, You have 3-putts to win. So that was a good feeling, too. But, yeah, something I'll never forget. My first win being in Texas. I love coming to the tournament every year. That tournament was actually my first LPGA event I played when I was in college, back when it was at Los Colinas. So definitely have a lot of history with it.
THE MODERATOR: So you answered the second part of the question is how much you're looking forward to returning this year. Cheyenne, you just basically just answered that.
Angela, you and Charley, if y'all could just look ahead to October. And just, Angela, for you, again, it's a hometown event. And then, Charley, how much you're looking forward to returning as defending champion.
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, no, I'm really looking forward to it. Obviously, I don't have my mum and my dad there. But they will be watching on TV. Even though my mum can't watch me play because she says that I boost her blood pressure, make it go too high. But I'm really looking forward to it. I actually like the golf course. Even though when I first come over there I found the grass really hard to chip on, because we don't have that in the U.K. But being defending champion, I'm just looking forward to it and I can't wait.
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, I think any time you get to sleep in your own bed and the routine, and it took me a couple years to kind of figure that out. It is a little odd to be in your own bed, own car. We actually get to go home and cook instead of finding a restaurant. But I think just having family and friends out there and just being home. I keep saying Texas is just a great place to play because people love golf. I think that the longer this tournament can stay in this area I think the fans continue to grow. I would like to see more and more, but I think the longer we stay here, the more -- and I say, if you come out and watch the ladies, you're going to fall in love with them. You can be a lot closer. They're a lot friendlier than the guys, I think. So I love the LPGA Tour and I love that I have a home game.
THE MODERATOR: All right, awesome. Thank you. All right, everybody on the call, if you have a question for the group, just raise your hand or indicate in the chat and I will call on you. So while we're doing that, I'll start the, because we started doing it right before we got on the call, so just a quick Solheim Cup preview. So tell me about, the three of y'all, looking forward to going to Spain. So, Charley, just tell me about how much you're looking forward to representing Europe and the Solheim Cup next week.
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I can't wait. Thing is going to be -- is it my sixth Solheim Cup? I think it's my sixth. Yeah, my sixth Solheim Cup. It's crazy. I'm really looking forward to it. Obviously, it's only a two-hour flight here from London. I've never been to the golf course, but I'm looking forward to see what it's like. I think Suzann is going to be a great captain. Yeah, I'm just really looking forward to the week.
THE MODERATOR: All right. Angela and Cheyenne, you two.
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think it's, I was sitting here thinking, that's why I didn't speak up. I can't remember another time, another year, where so many Americans and Europeans were winning leading up to the Solheim Cup. Like, I can't remember a time where it just felt like all year long it was back and forth. Either a European was winning or an American was winning. And I've said all along, I mean, even Charley, I mean, Charley, I had the fortunate to cover her last week on TV and, I mean, now that's four second place finishes on the LPGA Tour, one on -- I mean, she's playing amazing golf. I just can't remember another year leading up to Solheim Cup where the Europeans were playing so well and the Americans were too. I said that, I think I tweeted about it a couple months ago, this Solheim Cup's going to be the best. It's going to be on fire. Just because both teams are playing so well. So it's going to be a great match. It's going to be a great Solheim Cup. Charley touched on the setting too. I can't wait to get there. I keep hearing all these amazing things about the resort. I've been to Spain, but I've never been to that part of Spain. So really looking forward to a lot next week.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, it will be different than Charley's six. She was struggling to count how many. But, yeah, this is my first one. I'm really excited. I grew up watching all the Solheim Cups. Watching both of them on TV. Yeah, I've never had the chance to represent my country. I think I kind of talked about that a lot. I never been on Curtis Cup, Junior Solheim Cup, nothing like that. So this being my first one, I'm really excited. Yeah, I think I just have so much respect for our captains, our teammates. And Team Europe, and what Angela said, just really good players. So really looking forward to it. Yeah, I heard Spain's beautiful. I've never been and I'm excited that my parents get to come, and my aunt. I think they're more excited than I was. I mean, right when I came home from Canada they already had all the U.S. gear ordered on Amazon. They got -- they're really excited. So I'm glad we all get to experience it.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. All right, now I'll open it up for questions.
Q. For all three of you, as you look at the golf course, The Tribute, what do you find its biggest challenge and how would you describe the golf course?
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Like, I would say it's a ball-striker's golf course. Like, the greens are really small. So if you're missing the green, just with the Bermuda grass, kind of like what Charley was talking about, you're going to struggle a little bit. So, yeah, like, the greens are small. I think if you're hitting it well and you're hitting it on the green, you're really not going to have that far of a putt for birdie. So have to be really dialed in with your distances. If it's windy, got to flight the ball. Just making sure you're hitting your numbers.
Q. Angela?
ANGELA STANFORD: I second that. I think in 2020 that was -- I had told somebody, I think that was my first win that I had missed that many greens. It's easy to miss greens out there because, like Cheyenne was saying, they're smaller and they're angled and they're kind of an odd shape. They're not always round. So I think it does require very accurate play into the greens. I think if you can't -- you have to be ready to miss those greens. If you can't get it up-and-down, if you're not putting well, then it's going to be a long week. So I think it's -- I don't think it's very demanding off the tee, but I think if you can be accurate off the tee it's going to, it helps you hit a green. There are a couple holes out there that if you put it in the right part of the fairway you're going to have a better opportunity. I think so from tee to green you better be pretty accurate that week.
Q. What was the best part of your game last year, do you feel?
CHARLEY HULL: Can't remember too much. My mind's gone terrible. But I felt like I hit it pretty solid. Like you said, just to hit the greens and that. Because it can get quite windy out there. There's a lot of doglegs on that golf course and so you want to be in the right positions in the fairway to access the pins. But I felt, yeah, it was, you -- they are small greens. They're quite like -- we have really small greens in the U.K. So I'm kind of used to that. But, yeah, it can be quite tricky, especially the grass.
Q. For Charley, I saw on Twitter last week there was a pretty confident amateur golfer that thought he could hang with some LPGA pros. I know you had some thoughts on that. I was just wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on the skill difference between pros of y'all's caliber and then the average single-digit amateur golfer.
CHARLEY HULL: That was quite funny. So I didn't actually realize I have Twitter, because my agent's been running it for me for the last five years. And it was actually -- I used to run it before her. I went in to log on to it to go and find a message that I sent to my cousin a few years ago, because I was going to have a laugh. And when I logged on I seen this guy tweet this thing and I just replied back, because I thought it was quite funny. Because I was like, the cheek of him. And I remember I replied back and I said something like, Listen, I'll let you play off the ladies tees and I'll play off the whites and we'll have a game and see what you think of it then. And it's gone viral. I thought it was quite funny. And I just logged straight back off it after. I don't even remember the password. But, yeah, but I, it is completely different. Like, especially when they think of us girls, like being like an average golfer, and we're really not. We've got so much skill. I think they're quite surprised when they come and watch us in real life. I play with a lot of my guy friends over here, men pros, some are on the European Tour and some are on the Challenge Tour. And, like, I go out and play off the same tees as them and we have good games and I beat them a lot of times. So, I don't know, I feel like that guy needs to wake up a bit.
Q. What you do you think would be the place where the pros would have the biggest advantage over the ams?
CHARLEY HULL: All around, to be fair (laughing.) Depends, really. I feel like our short games are a lot tidier. I feel like as a whole of our game, we're quite tidy. Like, we got good short games, we have good putting. But where amateurs are probably really good off the tee, but then they won't have a short game. Or they'll be really good at putting and they can't get off the tee. So we're more consistent.
ANGELA STANFORD: If you don't mind, I would like to add to that. I feel like I've been a three handicap like the last year and I've made like two cuts. So I don't, I don't really know why that gentleman thought that that, you know, that that was -- I don't know where his head is. But I think from 1 to 18 we are so much more consistent than an amateur. And then, if it's an entire tournament. If you have to go four days --
CHARLEY HULL: With pressure.
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah. I can guarantee you, if he makes the cut, when Saturday rolls around, it just, it's a completely different ball game. And I laughed and I love that Charley piped up and said it. I mean, she's saying what we all think. But I really, seriously, I've been telling people, I've been a three handicap lately and I'm not making cuts. So, you know, I wish that guy, you know, I would love to see it, too. Charley, my money's on you. So...
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: It's not even close (laughing.)
CHARLEY HULL: Oh, thanks.
Q. Angela, I think you're much better than a three handicap.
ANGELA STANFORD: I'm trending. I'm trending.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: She is trending.
Q. That was hilarious about, Charley, not even knowing your Twitter password. That's perfect. Cheyenne, I was hoping you could describe for us the conversation that you had with Stacy when you finally knew that you were going to be on the team and also if there was a past team that you didn't make when you were a kid that kind of stung and motivated you.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: So, I think like I've talked to Stacy before even like I was announced as a pick and when she told me. So it didn't come as a huge surprise. But I didn't want to be, just assume. But I had conversations with Stacy after me and Elizabeth won Dow. So it wasn't very, like, a huge, like, climatic thing, I guess. But, no, after Canada, like on Sunday, I talked to her, like, in this room, just kind of outside the locker room. She just kind of said, like, she's like, I hope this isn't a surprise to you, just kind of like how we've been talking, but you're going to be one of my picks. I was so excited. It's always been one of my goals. But this year and kind of the last few months it's been a lot more in your face just with the fittings and the photos. So I was so excited. I had to -- I could tell my family, but I just had to keep it quiet until the picks came out the next day. But, yeah, it was great. But I think it was not a huge surprise, but I think just talking to her and Angela a little bit after Dow, both of them kind of eased my mind a little bit. Because I didn't get any Solheim Cup points from Dow. But just them seeing me play well kind of in a team format.
I would say probably two Curtis Cup teams that I kind of got, I don't know, whiffed on. I got, I won National Freshman of the Year at Alabama my freshman year, obviously. And I didn't get picked. Then kind of the same thing again happened my junior year. They called and asked if I wanted to be first alternate. And so that kind of stung, you know. But I think those were goals and I was kind of, you know, a little bit just disappointed by it. But you just work harder. So, yeah, I think like that just makes this so much sweeter, just because I don't have any USA gear from any other prior thing, so this is really, really special.
Q. Angela, I know you've played a lot of golf with Cheyenne at Shady. What does her game bring to the team and what's your best advice for her?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I mean, look, from, as far as I can remember back, I feel like Cheyenne -- I don't even know how old she was -- she might have been in high school. She was out here beating me certain days. So I think the thing that she has that a lot of people don't see is she has that grit and she has that, I can dig deep and I can find it. I think that's what's going to make her great at Solheim Cup is that, no matter what situation she's in, she's going to dig and she's going to figure out how to get the W. So her short game is going to be perfect for that golf course. From what I understand it's Bermuda grass. She has a lot of experience on Bermuda grass. But I think it's those intangible things that, when it comes right down to it and the pressure's the highest, that's when she's going to dig deep. Some players just don't have that ability. So it will be fun to watch her in that environment.
And for advice, I mean, I think, you know, I have a housewarming gift for her. So I'm going to give her the gift and then give her all of my advice, whether she wants it or not. So I think she's going to be great. I think a lot of it is you can give advice, but you also kind of have to let -- she's going to have to experience it herself. So I think for me I'm just trying to kind of give her a heads up on a few things. Like what to expect, what's going to throw you for a loop and just things to be ready for. And then let her have that experience on her own.
Q. Angela, you will have five rookies on your team. What's the experience going to be like for them to be in an environment that they really haven't been in before?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I mean, we do have five rookies, but those five rookies have never lost. So people can say, well, they haven't won. Well, they haven't lost either. So I think these five rookies have performed on some pretty high stages and they have had a lot of bright lights on 'em. So I'm not worried about 'em. I think the thing that it almost helps that we're going overseas because there's not as many distractions when you play overseas. I think Charley may say, when she's played in Europe, I think there are more demands when you're playing on your home soil. So, if anything, I think it's an advantage that these five are coming together and they're going to be on this team in Europe.
Q. For your own career you've been out here 23 years, I guess. What has pleased you the most about the way the LPGA Tour and women's golf has evolved over the course of your professional career? What gives you the most satisfaction?
ANGELA STANFORD: I mean, I've always said, you want your tour to be better. I've watched it -- there's just been a steady incline. And then you have these superstars that come along. I just think that -- I was actually telling somebody yesterday that when I came out on tour you could shoot 2- or 4-over, between 2- and 4-over and make a cut. That just doesn't happen anymore out here. Once you get to the weekend, you better be ready to put the pedal down and play. Not only that, my first probably 10 years on tour, 20 to 40 women could win. Now you have anybody in the field can win. I think that's a testament to how hard these ladies work. And it's year round. It's not, even when I first came out on tour you could take a couple months off and go skiing, go on vacation. You're going to get lapped now if you do that. I think with that comes a lot of responsibility. But I just think that they're different now. They want to win and they want to play well. It's deeper. I think the LPGA is doing a good job and giving them the tournaments and the prize money. I mean, it's all going up. So, you know, it's a good time to be a part of the LPGA Tour.
Q. Angela, this is not the first team match play event this year. Crown happened earlier on. What data do the captains glean from the performances there from not only the U.S. but also some of the European players?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, Stacy was there. Morgan was working TV and Stacy was on-site early in the week. And I think that was -- Stacy was just trying to get a feel for who likes to play together and just I think it was really important for her to be on-site. I think now looking back after Suzann's picks we understand why maybe Hedwall's on the team. And so I think having the Crown event on our schedule is helpful for captains and future captains. But I wasn't there. And I think it was mostly for Stacy. Stacy wanted to be there and get a feel for how people are playing together and who they want to play with and what works.
Q. Charley, you were open earlier in the year about your recent ADHD diagnosis. Can you tell us when you found that out? And then, when you look back now, how that might have impacted you at an event like the Solheim Cup, which is different than any other week of the year?
CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, it was kind of like, I think it was after Chevron. I went to my friend's house, Reese and Esther's house, because I missed the cut and it was so bad. Like, honestly, anyone that knows me, but when you see me behind closed doors, I'm a hundred miles an hour. I can't rest. I think like them two weeks when I was in L.A. the week after, I was, I couldn't sleep at night. I was having like an hour's sleep. I was just drained. My mind couldn't rest. It's really weird. When I'm really -- I can't sit down and watch movies. I couldn't concentrate on the golf course. I just felt really, really bad. Like really bad, like almost depressed and that as well. A lot of things (cell phone cut out.)
THE MODERATOR: All right. I'll look to see -- I'll keep an eye for her hopping back on. She will hop back on in a second, hopefully.
ANGELA STANFORD: That was a really good answer.
THE MODERATOR: She was rolling too.
ANGELA STANFORD: I wanted to hear the rest of that.
THE MODERATOR: Well, while we wait for her to return, Jeff, do you have a follow-up question?
Q. Angela, you played Solheim Cups on the road and on home soil. The U.S. this year will try to break a 30-year streak where it hasn't won in Europe. What, as a player, what's the biggest challenge of a road Cup?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think it's everything. I mean, it's, from the food you're eating, to where you're staying, to the logistics, to -- I think we all know when we play in Europe, whether it's for Evian or for the AIG, it's a little different. Whether you're taking a shuttle or you're driving on the other side of the road or, you know, it's just everything is a little different. Then, when you get out there, people aren't cheering for you. So, you know, I think you have to have the right mindset, knowing that it doesn't matter what you do, you're going to have your friends and family cheering for you and that's it. We've always been really lucky. I think we're, I don't know about the guys' situation, the Ryder Cup, but we've never had a hostile environment where people were cheering against us. Like, we've never experienced that. But they just get really quiet when we play good. I think it's everything start to finish. The fact that we're having to fly all the way back to Europe after being there before this year, it's just kind of everything along the way.
Q. Is there kind of a jolt to the system when you have -- you know, you're used to fans cheering you or and the occasional bad day they're off walking with someone else. So the silence of it out there, is it just kind of a jolt as a player?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, and I think that's why I love it over there. My, I love -- any time I could go play in somebody else's gym or if I could cause the silence, then I loved it. I love when they can't cheer for their team. But if you're not, if you don't have that mindset and you're not that type of person, it's different. And I will tell you, the first time I played in America was 2009. So I had played my Curtis Cup and my first two Solheims oversees. And I'll never forget my first one in America. I'm walking along Tuesday in the practice round and people are cheering. I mean, it's like the third hole and they're just cheering. And I didn't know what to do with that. I would prefer putting my head down and just getting the job done. But then some people love it. So, I think, just my DNA, I kind of love those situations. But, yeah, you have to get used to the silence, for sure. You have to kind of crave that when you're in somebody else's home.
Q. Cheyenne, I'm wondering how much being at Shady has helped you in your growth as a professional? And not only the golf course, but the environment and who you play with.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Oh, I don't think I would be even close to like make it as far as I have without like being a member here. I haven't talked that much about it, but my parents have both sacrificed so much for me to be successful and play professional golf. I lived in the Woodlands all my life and I started working with Mike Wright up here, who worked with Angela, Gerina, I don't know, Cristie for a little bit maybe. So when I, my dad was like, Do you want to try to go to the next level and play college golf? So my parents moved up here to the Fort Worth area just so I could practice out here and take lessons from Mike. That's when I was 15. Yeah, I think like just like meeting Angela and Gerina and Chad Campbell and all the good just amateur players here and playing with them. I remember Mike was like, Hey, you got to go play in the money games on the weekend when you play from the tips and you got learn how to kind of grind it out. So, yeah, I would not be the player I am today without kind of being around all these great people and players and just kind of like pushing myself. Yeah, it's like the home of Ben Hogan and honestly, there's these plaques of people that have made Curtis Cups, Solheim Cup, whatever. And I don't have my name on any of those. So I'm excited to finally have my name on there kind of etched in Shady Oaks, because I don't have my name on anything. But, yeah, I think just like the whole environment here, all the members keep up with us and they're so supportive. When I came back a few weeks ago I, like, everyone was giving me a hug, telling me congrats. Yeah, it's just an amazing family.
Q. Quick follow-up on Shady. How tangible is the Hogan mystique around the property and where and how do you feel it?
ANGELA STANFORD: When you walk in the door (laughing.)
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: It's everywhere.
ANGELA STANFORD: They actually just redid this, I don't know, foyer area. There's a board room. And then when you kind of come in the back door they have done an entire tribute to Mr. Hogan. They did a great job. Like stuff that even I didn't know. I kind of wish more clubs would do stuff like this. But it is literally all about him. So it's when you walk in the door.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, no, yeah, it's everywhere. Yeah, then there's, like, his dog was buried by the putting green and, like, where he had practiced on the Little Nine or, like, the par-3 course, there's a plaque there. The Hawk. There's little things everywhere.
ANGELA STANFORD: This club behind us is the Ben Hogan Princess driver. So it was like his ladies line. It was named after his only sister. So even in the women's locker room there's stuff. So it's pretty cool.
Q. And his locker is intact there; is that right?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah. And Mr. Wright -- Mike always gets upset with me when I tell people this, but the whole reason the World Golf Hall of Fame has those lockers, it started with Mr. Hogan here. When they contacted Shady Oaks and Mike to get some stuff from Mr. Hogan, Mike's like, Well, actually, I have his entire locker in tact. And that was kind of the idea behind the World Golf Hall of Fame lockers. It's pretty cool. But Mike's like, you know, I just, you know, I don't want people to know that. I just -- he doesn't like to talk about himself much. So Mike Wright's influence the game a lot more than people know.
THE MODERATOR: Sticking with the Texas theme, going back to the Ascendent LPGA. So I can't think of any other tournament where this has happened where you had 2019, 2020 and 2021 you had winners from Dallas, right? I can't think of really any other tournament where you've had hometown winner three straight years. This year in the field there's 15 players from the state of Texas that are in the field. So just talk about that for a bit. We touched on that at the top. Just the -- and a lot of 'em are members at Old American or played Old American a lot. So just touch on just the state of women's golf in Texas, one, Kathy's influence with it, and just the amount of players that are competing in the tournament in a couple of weeks.
CHEYENNE KNIGHT: Yeah, I think I'll kind of touch on Kathy a little bit. Yeah, I think like just Texas in general has a really big, great, like, junior golf circuit. I grew up playing Kathy's junior tournament at Mira Vista. And it's such a prestigious event. Going to the dinner and getting to hear her talk. Getting your picture made with her. I remember when I won in 2019, like, just Kathy being there and just kind of, we would talk about me playing in her event and just her, like, handing me the trophy and saying some words of wisdom was super nice. A few years ago I got to go to the Kathy Whitworth and actually talk with Kathy to the juniors. So that's always something that I'll remember. Even though two different generations, she's been so wise. It all, it's all relevant and it's all the same. Professional golf never changes, really. The competition changes, sure, and the top players. But just what you learn is always the same. I think like, yeah, Texas is just becoming a popular place for girls to live. I think it's a great state. I think it's a great place to travel and practice. Yeah, so I think it's great. Jin-young her home here and I know In-gee does and a few other girls. I feel like when I play with girls on tour one of the most asked questions is, like, where should I move to, I don't live in the U.S. And it's always like between Florida or Texas, so...
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think Kathy -- it was always for the greater good. It was never about Kathy. I think that's, it was so overlooked with her. I loved her because she was always so hard on herself on the golf course. Like, she would say things to herself on the golf course that you just wouldn't say to yourself. And I loved it. Because people always tell me I'm too hard on myself and I'm like, Well, look at Kathy. She won 88 tournaments being this way. So why can't I be that way. We've all heard the story about when they were traveling and they wouldn't allow Renee Powell to stay in the hotel and she basically stood up and said, We all stay or none of us stay. And it's just another example of it being for the greater good with Kathy. She wanted the tour to be successful. So much so that she starts this junior golf tournament here in Fort Worth. Again, it's for the greater good. It was always bigger than Kathy. I think that's, you know, in this day and age it seems like a lot of people it's me, me, me. I think Kathy understood, all ships rise. I think that's, you know, that's what made Kathy special. She was a legend and she won 88 events. But you can win a bunch of tournaments, but that doesn't make you a special human being. And Kathy was a special person.
THE MODERATOR: So we'll work on seeing if we can get Charley to shoot me a message with the rest of that answer, because that answer was, she was rolling with that answer. I know that we would all like to hear it. So I'll shoot you a note, Ben, separately on that and we'll keep going. Tell Charley thank you for joining. Angela and Cheyenne, thank you all for joining today. Enjoy practice today. Everybody on the call media-wise, again, thank you all for joining.
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