THE MODERATOR: All right. Joining us ahead of the 2026 Solheim Cup from left to right, I'm pleased to be joined by Lindy Duncan, Jennifer Kupcho, Andrea Lee, and Rose Zhang.
We are going to kick it off with a question for you, Lindy. You are making your debut in the Solheim Cup this year. Angela has described you as a veteran on the course and wise beyond your years. Just how do you think that the perspective that you're bringing this week is unique and useful?
LINDY DUNCAN: Thank you for the question. Thank you, Angela, for calling me feisty and gritty. I really appreciate that. I've been playing the LPGA for a number of years and have had ups and downs, and the downs were tough, but the ups have definitely outweighed all the downs, and I've just loved golf all along the way.
At times it's been tough, but that's what makes it worth it in the end. So I hope that I can bring that to the team and just be a great hype woman for whoever I get to play with and just be a great positive support out there and hopefully I can play my best game as well.
THE MODERATOR: Jennifer, you've represented the U.S. in every Solheim Cup since you debuted in 2021. Can you just speak to how much being apart of this team has meant to your career so far?
JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I think being part of every Solheim team that you're a part of is obviously special, but I think just being able to represent your country, wearing the red, white, and blue is so fun. Being able to be part of a team in golf, such an individual sport, it's super special. I think also as a Ping player myself, it's super special to represent the Solheim family, be part of Ping, represent Ping out here. I really enjoy it. So it's one of my favorite events of the year.
THE MODERATOR: Andrea, this is your third appearance in the Solheim Cup. How do you think your previous two appearances, and especially your experience playing on European soil, are bringing a unique perspective for you this week?
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, I mean, I love the Solheim Cup so much. It's something that I look forward to every couple of years. It's always on the top of my list to try and qualify for this team. I have had the great honor of being able to represent the U.S. now my third time, one foreign Solheim in Spain and one in the U.S.
And they're both, you know, different in their own ways, but we're all hoping to accomplish the same goal and that's to win as a team. I'm really glad that I have experience on a foreign Solheim Cup. I feel like the last time it was pretty bittersweet. It was a really close one, and I think it just kind of adds a little bit of fuel to the fire for us wanting to win on foreign soil. So it's exciting to be back here and try to achieve that this week.
THE MODERATOR: Rose, in 2024, you won all four of your matches. Do you just think that there's something about team golf that really pushes you to excel?
ROSE ZHANG: A hundred percent. Reiterating what all the other three girls said, it's a huge honor to represent your country, and I think match play, especially. You don't get many opportunities to play that in the year. So going out there and being able to not only represent, but also play in a slightly different format, it gives a lot more energy to each individual player to try to put their best foot forward. I definitely feel like everyone's games are essentially high end at this level.
THE MODERATOR: At this time I'll open it up to questions in the room.
Q. Andrea and Rose, there seems to be a lot of continuity within this U.S. team from two years ago. You guys bring back some partnerships that scored quite a bit of points back in Virginia. You guys especially teamed up for two points. What makes you guys, in your opinion, such a good partnership, maybe personality but also game-wise?
ANDREA LEE: I mean, personality-wise I think we're both really just very cool, level-headed California girls. Rose was calling us -- or she described us as cream puffs today on the golf course --
CHARLEY HULL: California cream puffs.
ANDREA LEE: -- because it was so cold and rainy and we couldn't handle it.
But I think our games are also pretty similar. We don't smash the ball a long way, but we're both always -- most of the time in the fairway and most of the time on the green, and we're both really great putters. So I feel like it just adds -- I think those are strengths to our game, and the last time around we really played so well together. I think we were a combined 20-something under par, which was crazy. So I'm hoping we can bring a little bit of that juju back this week.
ROSE ZHANG: She pretty much said everything. But I would say, yeah, Andrea and I, we've known each other since back in junior golf, amateur golf, and we've been able to play -- even on foreign soil, we played and teamed up together as a partner pair, and I felt like we played extremely well. I think we were 8-under through 13 and still lost. Something like that.
But it just goes to show that the level that you're playing at is extremely high, especially this week. And Andrea and I have always just done really well, just being cool and levelheaded, apart from when it's pouring rain.
Q. Lindy, what sort of questions have you had for your teammates and your captains about the experience of what to expect this week?
LINDY DUNCAN: Yeah, I've had a lot of questions about match play. I haven't had a lot of experience in match play, and just kind of the ins and outs of if we're going to play alternate shot, sort of what is our strategy like. I also asked my caddie, Greg Johnston, a lot of questions. He's caddied in a few Solheims. So I've been asking them a lot about the playing aspect, and then I kind of was just going to roll with it as the week has come upon us and it's been so much fun to be here. It's definitely exceeded my expectations and the girls are just so much fun to be with.
Q. For the rest of you, why do you think it's been so tough for the U.S. to win over here?
ANDREA LEE: I think it's always really hard to win on foreign soil. I think we played really well and came so close last time in Spain. It was pretty heartbreaking to end in a tie and for Europe to retain. But I think a lot of us from that team, we are here this week. Most of the team is pretty much the same. So I think we're just very motivated to keep the Cup and try to win on foreign soil again.
We have some, like, clothing designs and, like, bag designs that kind of represent the past wins that we've had on foreign soil, like, in 2015 and I think 2007, right? Yeah. So if we win this week, this would be the fourth foreign soil win for the U.S.A, and I think we're all just really determined to try and keep it.
Q. What are some of those designs that are on there to remind you of those? What do they look like?
ANDREA LEE: For each of the different wins, we have an outfit that looks similar to that outfit. So, like, this outfit, for example, it's opposite, so it was red and then the stripe was blue.
Do you remember what the first?
I know tomorrow's outfit is, like, khaki and white throwback to -- I think it was, like, 19-something. So we're kind of just like going back and throwback to those outfits.
Q. Rose, did you go skydiving last week?
ROSE ZHANG: I did.
Q. Why? What went into this decision and how did that prepare you for the Solheim?
ROSE ZHANG: It was a bit overdue because I was supposed to jump back in March. But it was the only off week that I had where I could essentially jump out of an airplane. And it was in partnership with Red Bull.
ANDREA LEE: Right before the Solheim, really, you wanted to risk it?
ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, I didn't tell Angela this until after I jumped. I should have just texted in the group chat, "I landed." But we were also joking about it the previous week in Boston that if one of the Europeans came and drove the plane, it would not be good (laughing).
But, no, it was extremely fun. I personally am a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and so I enjoy roller coasters, I'm not scared of heights. It just felt fitting to do it right before a Solheim.
Q. Wondering what you guys think of the Heathland golf course because those are quite different to the setups you get in the U.S. and what you think maybe the most important things that you need to do well to play well here this week.
ROSE ZHANG: I think this golf course definitely is very challenging and demands a lot of attention. You have to be careful with the tight lies and the undulation. I've never seen two-tiered bunkers before, so that's quite interesting as well, that we don't really get as much in the U.S.
The greens have been fairly slower just because of rain conditions and overall I think grass type. So for us to get adjusted to the green speeds and making sure we're definitely whacking at putts a little bit more is something that is in the back of our minds.
Q. You obviously all get a lot of goodies this week. I wondered if each of you has a favorite thing that you received.
LINDY DUNCAN: We got a rangefinder, and I recently lost mine, so that was pretty clutch.
JENNIFER KUPCHO: Yeah, I was going to say the rangefinder as well. Mine's kind of old, so it's nice to have a new one.
ANDREA LEE: Yeah, we got these, like, red Tumi tote bags that we're all carrying to the course every day, and those are pretty cool. And Tumi, like, garment bags for our dresses tonight for the gala.
ROSE ZHANG: We've also gotten red light therapy machines or devices that are -- it's, like, spotted -- or, yeah, basically spotted red light treatment, and those are quite expensive, so it's nice that they gifted us those.
Q. Lindy, in anticipation of the first tee, what's the most nervous that you've ever been in a competition?
LINDY DUNCAN: I think I've been pretty nervous for the last couple weeks leading up to this. I would like to go see it. If I'm not playing, I would really like to see it and feel what it's like and how loud it is and just to sort of a acclimatize to that kind of environment because I've never been around anything like that.
So, yeah, I would say I've had plenty of times where I've been very nervous at Q series or playing for my card. So this is a different kind of nervous. It's a big stage. You're playing for your teammates and your captains and representing your country and it's a really cool honor and I can't wait.
Q. I was hoping you could describe Nelly's presence on the team. Obviously, we know she's the No. 1 player in the world, but the intangibles and what she's like behind the scenes.
JENNIFER KUPCHO: I feel like in general, you don't get to see her personality in a normal week. She's very much surrounded by her team, which is good for her, so am I. I do the same thing. But like, yeah, when you're in the team room with her, all she has is her caddie, Jason, also in there. So, yeah, just being in the locker room, being in the team room with her, you get to see her personality, talk to her, and get to know her more. It's definitely a really cool experience, I think, just being around her and seeing she's also a normal person just like we are.
ANDREA LEE: Anytime you have the No. 1 player in the world on your side, it's kind of like a -- it's very reliable, almost. She's a great teammate. She's actually so funny. She makes us laugh. Usually you don't see that side of her in other weeks of the year. We all respect her a lot and we look up to her. She has, you know, an amazing game. She's the No. 1 player in the world. So it's just really nice to have her on our side, and I feel like it almost brings a little bit of an intimidation factor going against Europe. So I think we have a little bit of an up just because we have her.
Q. Rose, I feel like in the last couple of Cups, you've really kind of become one of the leaders on the team. What has it meant for you to, obviously, start out your career at such a young age and now feel like a veteran, I guess, amongst some of your teammates?
ROSE ZHANG: I personally don't feel like a veteran. I feel like in the team room, I'm this baby that everyone keeps joking about.
ANDREA LEE: We make fun of her all the time.
ROSE ZHANG: Because I just do really stupid things. But I will say, you know, I don't think records really represent much about veteranship. I think, honestly, the rookies out here, regardless of what Lindy says, I think don't really feel like rookies to me. I think everyone plays a role on this team, in the team room, on the golf course, all the same. And I think we push each other to become better and this is the one week where we can really get to know each other and our personalities get to vibe, get to have this same inherent goal of trying to win the Cup.
So I personally love the environment and it's just been great so far. I'm very lucky that this is my third one, and Angela has been always backing all of us behind the scenes.
Q. Lindy, I know this was a dream of yours for a very long time. Do you think this is the pinnacle of your career or do you just think you're going to continue to go up after this Solheim Cup?
LINDY DUNCAN: I hope to go up -- you know, to keep growing at a much older age than these girls is really cool. But I do love the game and hope to keep growing. I've already learned so much just playing with all of them, picking their brains, and seeing the shots that they hit and how they prepare, and I feel like the more I'm around the best players, hopefully I can take little bits and apply that and keep getting better as well.
Q. What's been the most jaw-dropping moment for you so far this week?
LINDY DUNCAN: It's been busy, so there hasn't been a lot of time to reflect. It's kind of like on to the next thing a little bit. But yesterday was a lot of fun. We just hung out and had dinner and we just laughed a lot. So I think the time spent kind of even away from the course just getting to know everybody and just being with our caddies and just having a lot of fun.
Q. I know you're a big mantra girl. Do you have a mantra for this week?
LINDY DUNCAN: Not yet, but I'm waiting for the inspiration.
Q. How does this course play to match play? And then are there any holes where you're envisioning, like, the exciting moments or they're going to come down to or big drama can build on any particular holes?
ANDREA LEE: I think coming down the stretch -- this is my first time seeing the back nine today. I actually haven't seen 17 or 18 yet, but we're going back out. But 16, the last hole that I've seen, I think will kind of garner a lot of drama just because it's kind of a reachable par-5 with a water hazard running through in the front and there's a bunker on right. So I feel like there could be some drama, maybe potential eagles, potential birdies, or some water balls.
But that one stood out to me. But I mean, the rest of the course, it's a really fun match play course. I think it's going to require accuracy off the tee, and the greens are very undulated. So just getting those speeds down. But I think it's going to kind of be a little bit of a shoot-out too. I think we're going to have to make a lot of putts to win.
Q. Rose said she has done some stupid things which is request why you guys kind of have fun with her. Can either of you guys say something that she's done that's really made you guys laugh?
ROSE ZHANG: Oh, no.
JENNIFER KUPCHO: I don't know if you guys saw the, she was mic'ed up the other day when I was playing with her, and some of the things she says, it's like, Did you really graduate from Stanford? (Laughing).
ROSE ZHANG: Whoa.
JENNIFER KUPCHO: It's just kind funny. I'm like, Come on, Rose.
ROSE ZHANG: That's so offensive. (Laughing).
JENNIFER KUPCHO: No, I don't have a specific story of silly things she's done. It's just --
ROSE ZHANG: They think I'm just a child. That's probably the running joke of the team.
ANDREA LEE: She's a little baby, but she's also a veteran, so it's weird. We make fun of her when we're playing music like 2000s or 2010 music and we're like, Oh, Rose, do you know this song?
ROSE ZHANG: Once you guys hit 90s I'm lost.
ANDREA LEE: 2000s, honey. There's some bangers from the 2000s.
ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, no. (Laughing).
THE MODERATOR: Perfect, thank you guys.
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