Q. Another solid round for you today. Just take us through what it was like on Panther today.
GABBY LEMIEUX: Kind of had a slow start. I didn't really take advantage of really any shot out there. Just made a few longer putts today than I did yesterday. Just tried to keep myself down the fairway and on the green just because my ball-striking wasn't so well, but I'll take it.
Q. I would beg to differ; the eagle on 16, just walk us through that hole.
GABBY LEMIEUX: So hit a really good drive. I think I had 230 to the pin, so I was like, oh, let's just go for it. Went for it, pulled it left. I'm in the -- what is that stuff? Pine straw. Sitting in it. Not a very good lie. I'm like, you've just got to hit it, hope it gets on the green and give myself like a good birdie putt.
Standing over it, felt pretty good. Ended up picking it so clean, it checked about six feet short and just dribbled in. Just like the perfect speed, perfect shot. I was like, okay, I'll take that.
Q. What was the reaction? Was there a lot of excitement?
GABBY LEMIEUX: There was actually a lot of excitement just because it was a hard shot to begin with, and to chip it in, that's awesome.
Q. You told me yesterday you've been working on your putting quite a bit. What have you found if you don't mind sharing?
GABBY LEMIEUX: Honestly I think it's all in my head. I think I got a little down on myself I would say at the beginning of the Symetra Tour season. Just told myself -- well, I guess I was just talking about it with everybody, saying, I can't make a putt, I can't make a putt, and then I finally just flipped it, I ended up changing a putter, like a flip of a switch in your head, and I just ended up starting to say, I can make it, I can make it, I'm the best putter, I'm the best putter. So basically just thinking more positive about what I'm doing out there has helped.
Q. We still have two days left, and we kind of spoke about this a little bit yesterday. Just kind of your pursuit of professional golf and the LPGA, can you talk about what that journey has been like for you?
GABBY LEMIEUX: Honestly it's been difficult. The last three years really have been a lot of learning. When I was out here with Jared that very first year, we struggled. We only made one cut that year, and it was just -- almost to the point where I didn't want to come back and play golf. Like I love the sport, but ultimately it was just like it was just putting me so far down that I didn't know if I could get back up. So I just figured, I'm going to give it my best chance in 2019 and ended up playing on WAPT and I ended up loving the game again. I found myself, I was out there by myself, so I was trying to learn how to play golf again basically over.
When the pandemic and all that hit, I just kind of stepped away from golf. I really didn't golf that whole time that I went back home when COVID was really at its high point. Basically when I came out here with Jared this year, we just said, we know what to do, we know how to play golf, and let's just go out there and be as positive as we can be, and everything will kind of fall into place.
Q. I know we have two rounds left, but you've put yourself in a great position heading into the weekend. How are you translating that kind of mindset with so much on the line?
GABBY LEMIEUX: Honestly, I haven't looked at scores, which is nuts. I told Jared, I'm just going to go out there and play my best golf. Doesn't matter what I shoot. Say I come out here and I play as hard as I can and I shoot 80. So be it. If I come out here and shoot 61, so be it. But I just wanted to tell myself, no matter what happens, wherever the cut is or wherever the lead is at, I just want to go out there and make sure that I'm playing my best golf.
Q. On a personal note, I feel like Venice is a very special area for you and Jared. How much comfort do you feel coming back to a place like this because it's so special?
GABBY LEMIEUX: I think that makes it a little bit more comfortable just because it's always been a happy place. I know that first year when he actually proposed we ended up making it into Q-Series by one, we missed it by one. So that was a little tough. But ultimately it's always been that happy place that I can come back to, and to be engaged to the person that's on -- married to the guy that's on my bag, I couldn't ask for anything better.
Q. There's a lot of good juju for you in Venice?
GABBY LEMIEUX: There is.
Q. You feel a lot more comfortable out here?
GABBY LEMIEUX: I do. I love the course. I always tell Jared, this course somehow just fits my eye. Even with those new greens I can still see every single putt, and that's the way I've felt the last two years I've been out here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports