THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome to the media center at the 2025 LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Joined by Caley and Gurleen, both members of Team ShopRite this year. First things first, just talk a little bit about being a part of Team ShopRite and what that means to each of you. Who would like to go first, Caley or Gurleen.
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, no, it's really great. Just being a part of this week and kind of seeing things close-up has been really good. I think being a part of a brand that kind of represents giving back to the community in that way just gives you really good perspective going into a tournament week, so it's been great.
GURLEEN KAUR: Echoing what Caley said, I feel the same exact way. ShopRite is such a great community of people, and being able to finally meet everybody in person this week has been super cool.
I played with couple people today, couple vendors, and even like knowing that a lot of ShopRite stores are family-own is super cool. I think knowing how much they give back to charity aligns with all our personalities and characters too, so it's such a great brand to be a part of.
Q. When you look at all the members of Team ShopRite, we were just in here with Cheyenne talking about how she was the veteran, Gianna is the amateur, and you all are up-and-coming. Talk about the dynamic, how awesome it is that there are players at every level that ShopRite is looking to support?
GURLEEN KAUR: Yeah, I think it's really cool, especially that Gianna, she's not even in college yet. That's awesome. I think she's only 16 or 17. It's also really cool because of like NIL and everything now. She can continue like the partnership into college if she didn't want to turn pro.
Yeah, I think Cheyenne is such a good example of a veteran but also a Texan. I've gotten to know her through junior golf as well. Just the support is super important just even financially and just knowing that you have like the back of such a great company.
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, I just think the depth like you said of the different levels. I think like Gianna and me as a rookie and Gurleen and Brooke at the beginning of their careers, just the financial part and having the support is so helpful. It's really nice to see big brands like that support us.
Q. What are both your perspectives on this golf course and how you're hoping to attack it this week?
GURLEEN KAUR: I think it can play tough, especially if it gets windy. I think it's different from last year and the year before that I played where it's soft. I remember last year I played a lot more to front and for bounces and roll-outs.
This year it's been a little bit more softer, more aggressive. I like the layout. I think it definitely plays to an advantage of you have a straight ball off the tee and a lot of wedges and being able to roll it really well, so I think that's just key for playing well out here.
Q. Caley, first time playing here, right?
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, first time. I've talked to some other players, and everyone has said it just depends on the wind and the wind can switch. Kind of changes what kind of clubs you have in and the holes.
So far I think I've loved it. You get to use every club in your bag which has been really fun, and I like golf courses that are laid out like that. I'm excited.
Q. Caley, can you give your thoughts to. You're halfway through your rookie year now. Just your thoughts on being a rookie on the LPGA Tour and what it's been like for you. And Gurleen, if you have anything to add, too, that would be great.
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, being a rookie has been a great experience. Unexpected to be here so s quick. I just entered Stage I of Q-School last year and all of a sudden I'm here, so it has been a bit of a whirlwind.
Definitely learned a lot, and it's been a transition, a bigger one than I was probably anticipating. Every event that I played in I've grown, so I think just taking that forward for the rest of the year will just help me kind of relax and settle in a little bit.
Q. Gurleen, anything you took from your rookie year?
GURLEEN KAUR: It's funny you ask that question because Caley and I were talking about it five minutes ago while we were waiting.
The coolest things you've done this year is like the rookie pods, brought those back. I didn't have that last year. Maybe for Caley like for someone to lean on, just a little bit more experience and older. It's just so much more than just playing golf, than just teeing it up.
So just being able to like understand like what you need versus what other players need. I think just the more you play the better and just like Caley said, the easier it gets.
Q. Following up on that, Gurleen talked about how the rookie pods started up this year. With you guys, with the five of you guys as part of Team ShopRite, talked about how Cheyenne is more the quote-unquote veteran of the group even though she doesn't want to admit that, and you guys are early stages in your career. Having Caley, particularly you in your rookie year, how important is it to have folks that you can, one, lean onto support, and also just to help your transition as you compete week in and week out on the LPGA Tour?
GURLEEN KAUR: Yeah, I think it's important to just have someone to not even just help you, but just support you and know that you're doing the right things and you got out here for a reason. To just trust what you have been doing. You don't need to change a whole lot.
Also, again, like I said earlier, there is so much more than just playing golf. You're traveling. You're trying to get from one coast to the other. It's just a lot to navigate.
So I think the pods are so important to especially the rookies who even can't speak English very well or just coming out of college. I think college versus Epson is so different, too. At least Epson you're a little bit more familiar with week in and week out and just traveling the country.
If you're from college or from Asia or another country, I think just having the support -- even like if you're an Asian player and having a veteran Asian player help you and support you is really cool.
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, for me, it's just like even having familiar faces around. Just being able to ask questions about caddies and the courses and that kind of stuff. I think having someone to sit with maybe at lunch in the dining hall and stuff. Like the little things that make you feel a little bit more comfortable; it's been really helpful.
Q. The sponsorships, you guys are on Team ShopRite. You know they're the longest running sponsor on the LPGA Tour. There are several companies doing these initiatives. Gurleen, you're also a part of Team Dow. That was last year. What does it mean when you have a lot of these sponsors who are extending their partnerships with the LPGA Tour and investing not only in the Tour, but investing in you guys and investing in the future of the LPGA Tour?
GURLEEN KAUR: I think it's super humbling that I have three, four, five sponsors very invested in me. Financially it's really helped me settle in and be able to make decisions that I think are very helpful for my game; not having to worry about just thinking about cuts or whatever like I was more so last year.
But I think it's cool because a lot more companies like you get more of a hands-on experience with a player if you're investing in them. Maybe one or two players versus more of like a tournament, and you get to have the individuality.
I'm really grateful for the partnerships and sponsorships I have right now. With Dow I've been able to meet two or three of my really great friends. I play golf with some of the CFOs and C-Suite players. It's really fun to be able to have that.
Q. Caley?
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, no, I agree. Just like Gurleen said, I'm really grateful to be a part of something that gives back as well, like the values that companies have, and seeing the extension with the LPGA from a bigger perspective. Seeing them support the women's game is something I'm really proud to be a part of. Companies that push forward for the Tour in general is really special.
Q. Curious, from each of you, a job basically is what you make of it. You're new out here. You're learning a lot. What is one thing about yourselves that you've learned in your time out here that either surprised you or pleased you or kind of made you roll your eyes? Something about yourself that you learned.
CALEY McGINTY: Okay, that's a good one. (Smiling.) I think --
Q. I didn't mean for it to be a trick question.
CALEY McGINTY: No, for me, I've played in six events now and not made a cut yet. It's been a little bit trickier than I was probably anticipating.
But I think learning how to stay positive and to believe that good things are coming when you're not getting the external evidence has been a huge lesson and something I'm grateful to have learned this early on.
GURLEEN KAUR: I would say to just trust and believe in what you're doing. I think I had a similar start to Caley last year in my rookie year. I really turned it around towards the end. I wish I had just like last year stayed true to like what I was doing and not try to change my process and remember that like I'm out here for a reason.
Just like your beliefs get tested a lot when you come out on Tour. I think just remembering and being true to who you are for the most part.
Q. On a scale of one to ten, ten being the most and one the least, how nervous were ya'll when you first came out and realized, holy cow, this is a whole new world out here for us?
GURLEEN KAUR: Ten.
CALEY McGINTY: Yeah, I was going to say solid nine or ten. I wasn't expecting to be. I thought it was going to be, tee it up in the first tournament, sure. All of a sudden I was shaking on the first tee. I was like, okay, it's going to be harder than I thought.
Q. You settled in great; answer questions well.
CALEY McGINTY: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Sounds great. Thank you both. Have a great week.
CALEY McGINTY: Thank you.
GURLEEN KAUR: Thank you.
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