Q. You're defending champ, and this course is playing a little bit different this year. How do you prepare for that?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think just Kurt and I getting on the golf course Tuesday, Wednesday, just seeing how the balls are reacting mainly on tee shots. It's obvious to see approach shots are not just pitching and stopping. We were surprised today even with some firmness of the fairways and seeing 3-woods and hybrids go as far as they did.
Q. Got off to a steady start. First birdie on 8 and then a few more on the back. Tell me about what it means to defend, because I know it's very special, but then to get out and you've started great, what's your mindset throughout the whole round?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, just I think a lot of consistent golf goes a long way, so I have a lot of trust in my ball striking to give myself a lot of looks and keep that patient mindset.
I think with the test of golf this week versus last year, even being able to kind of point and shoot last year, you kind of have to be a little bit more precise with target numbers that you want to pitch, which kind of yields not really a lot of close looks.
And in the afternoon I think the greens got a little bumpy, so I just went out with a really patient mindset and tried to stick with a really good game plan, and knew that if I kept executing shots I would give myself good looks.
Q. You know I'm going to ask you about Solheim.
ALLY EWING: Uh-huh.
Q. Getting excited?
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I'm very excited. You know this. It's an incredible week, and getting to go wear the red, white, and blue is top of the list and career highlights for sure.
Q. You want to tell me about that wedge that has U.S.A. on it?
ALLY EWING: You know, I was trying to play my way on the team, but I had it in the bag to bring with me, but I didn't put it in play until I knew I made the team. It was out week one last week in Portland, and it's getting used a lot so it'll be ready for Spain.
Q. This will be your third Solheim Cup, correct?
ALLY EWING: (Nods.)
Q. What's going to be different this time? You're looking for a W, obviously, but you're a veteran now. What's going to be different this time.
ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think we've got a lot of fresh faces, new people on the team, but aside from hopefully bringing the Cup home, I hope to step into a good role where I can be, you know, just more than just contribution on the golf course, off the golf course hopefully be a lot of energy and positivity in the team room.
I think that's a really important piece of the Solheim Cup, and so I hope we can start in the team room and everything translates really well on the golf course.
Q. NBC kicks off football tonight. Who is your pick?
ALLY EWING: Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. I got to go with the Pat. He crushes it every year.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports