Q. Here with Ally Ewing after her first round at The Chevron Championship. First major of the year. What was sort of going through your head today before you tee'd it up?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I had a really good few days of preparation just really trying to figure out the golf course. There are some really good holes, good challenging holes, but it's a new golf course, new test, so there is not really an expectation there.
It's just kind of go out there and play one hole individually and then go to the next. I was able to do that pretty well today with a side of one stumbling block.
Just the preparation I got felt like I was prepared to tee it up today regardless of the score.
Q. Yeah. You said you were working on figuring it out the first few days. What did you learn about this new course?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, think it's mostly -- when I get to any golf course I really have my process of what I'm going through. It's just tee balls off each hole, what's the line, really dialing in to the speed of the greens.
And then bermudagrass, you can just get so many different lies around the greens with that.
So it's just I think just being able to anticipate how the ball is going to react on the greens, off the greens, and all that stuff.
Q. You brought up a little stumble. What are some of the challenges you saw out there and what you struggled with on that hole?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, strictly pulled a 3-wood into the water over there; took a drop and hit a good approach shot. That pin was just kind of tucked over there to the left and it just -- my approach shot ran through the green and didn't hit a putt high enough and kind of caught the slope.
So just a couple of poor shots that kind of led to a double, but moved on and played three solid holes coming in.
Q. Not a breath of wind out there this morning and looks like 3- or 4-under might be leading. How hard is this place?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think there was a little bit of wind towards the back nine. Just kind of came through occasionally. Wasn't a lot by any means, but occasionally got a little bit of wind.
It's playing tough. The pins on a few holes are not easy. You have some good scoring opportunities on certain holes, but there is water in play around this golf course. You have to hit your shots and execute, and then you have to roll from some really tough putts.
I made a putt specifically on hole 11 with that back pin. I promise I was looking five feet right of the pin. Those are the putts you go, well, I'm going to try to line up my speed, match the line, and just happened to go in.
Just trying to hit a really good putt there with good speed. Yeah, it's just about executing and staying in every shot. A major is grueling. It's good test of golf. So I'm just pleased -- any round under par at a major I'll take.
Q. Any time you play a new golf course in a major for the first time you sort of learn what kind of golf course it is. Everybody said coming into this ball-strikers' golf course. Is that correct now that you had one round in competition?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think you definitely have to have control of your golf ball. Some of these pins are really tough to get to. Some pins that I don't think many people will challenge.
But I would agree. I think it takes a lot of precision, a lot of really good shotmaking, and there is no doubt if you strike the ball well it should give you a good chance.
Q. How long did it play out there?
ALLY EWING: There were a few holes for sure that played pretty long. I'm trying to think off the top of my head.
You know, 2 is a good hole. I think even 11 today played longer than it did with the back pin.
You just get some tucked pins and then you get a little bit of length. Bermudagrass in the fairways can be a challenge. You got to be able to read bermudagrass in the fairway to know if you're digging in or if it's downgrain.
Just I think it's just correctly anticipating what the ball is going to do and react, and what your club is going to react with the ground.
Q. You've been in contention in a lot of majors over the years. What have you learned from all those situations combined?
ALLY EWING: One, I think I'm more than capable of winning one. And then two, I think I've had times where I've gotten ahead of myself, and we all try our best not to do that, but you can kind of see some light and get excited.
It's so much just about continuing to do what you did on the first hole of the tournament and just running really good routines, staying in the process. Dan and I have a great relationship. We been together for -- working for I guess in year seven together so I have a comfort with him on the bag.
We just try to stay within our own lane and execute one shot at a time.
Q. What did you do to prepare ahead of the major?
ALLY EWING: To prepare ahead of major? Got in some good work with my coaches. I went to Birmingham and watched my husband and his team play some really good golf at SECs and got in some practice there, too.
Yeah, just a good prep work week with my coaches and just tried to get dialed in and mentally prepped.
Q. Only 18 holes in, but a strong performance here would be a good argument for the Solheim Cup. How much is that on your mind?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I'm just so much of a person that just thinks good golf takes care of itself. I've got lots of holes ahead of me regardless of what happens with this tournament.
I mean, yeah, I've played two Solheim Cups and that's a team I want to be on, but I think good golf will take care of itself.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports