THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the interview area of the 80th U.S. Women's Open presented by Ally. I'm joined by 2023 champion Allisen Corpuz. You have been to Erin Hills before. Talk a little bit about that.
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, so I was here in 2008 for the Public Links and I was 10 years old and I remember it being a really big course. We were talking earlier, I remember 1 being a solid three shots for me, and this year it looks like it might be a little more reachable for me.
Then I remember 9 being really pretty down the hill.
There's a few holes that I remember and a few that were nice to come back to. I know they redid it a little for the men's U.S. Open a few years ago, but the course looks beautiful.
Q. You played all 18 holes today. What was your reaction as a grown-up playing the golf course?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: It's awesome. I wish I remembered more of it from when I was younger, but I just remember how awesome this property is and how nice the practice facilities are. I mean, that was my first USGA championship, so I remember just coming on-site and just being really, really impressed, and here I am 17 years later and still really impressed by how you guys run a championship.
No, it's been awesome to be out here so far.
Q. Coming back 17 years later as a USGA champion, as a major champion, it's now your second time coming to the Women's Open as a Women's Open champion. What does that mean to you?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, it's so special to really feel like part of the USGA family. I mean, I was on the Curtis Cup team as an amateur, as well, and played a bunch of U.S. Ams, Junior Girls and the Public Links, so it's just so special to be out here and kind of know that I'm a part of the USGA history now, as well.
Q. What's it going to take to be successful at this golf course this week?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, it's definitely a really big course. I hit a lot more hybrids and woods than I would have wanted to into greens today. I think just any major, ball-striking is always really important, and I think especially with the green complexes here, a lot of run-offs, just a few tight fairways that will definitely be key here.
Q. When you think back to your game as a 10-year-old, what themes remain the same?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: I'd say just attitude and patience. I'd like to think I'm a much better player now than I was before. But I feel like I've always been a pretty calm player, and I think that's stayed the same over the years.
Q. I know the last couple tournaments have not been what you may have been looking for, but you're really close. What are you waiting for to click this week at a major championship test like Erin Hills?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: I think it's just about putting my game under the pressure and being able to execute in the moment. I feel like I've practiced really well, and it just -- I feel like I've had a really hard time putting four solid rounds together, so I'll have one low round, kind of struggle through another.
This is the type of course where I feel like -- I don't think anyone is going to go 20-, 25-under this week, and I feel like I've always been really good at just playing for par, making some really tough pars, and I think that'll be good at this course, just being able to kind of grind out a score. Even if you don't hit perfect shots, there's always, I think, a chance for recovery.
I like the course so far. It's set up really well.
Q. Obviously got that win at Pebble and played in windy conditions there. Obviously going to be windy here this week most likely. What is it about wind in really tough major championship conditions that brings out the best in you?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think just growing up in Hawai'i, playing in a lot of wind, I love it. I love kind of -- aiming away from the target, letting the wind take it in. I love how the wind almost helps the course setup sometimes, just helps you shape the shot a little bit and helps you to just almost focus in a little bit more in the moment.
Q. Length is a big part of this golf course, has been since it was designed. Is that an advantage here this week in terms of just the longer a player can be either off the tee or some of those, as you said, approach shots?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think any course you go to, it is. There are a few drives that I think kind of pinch where I hit it, where I feel like a few longer players can definitely carry a few bunkers or carry the rough line. So there's a few holes where it makes the course wider, but I also think there's definitely shorter par-4, as well, where you can take advantage of.
Q. When you look at the teens that inevitably play in this tournament, do you see any of 10-year-old you in them, or has the maturity of the young golfer today kind of gone a long way?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: No, they're so much better than I was at 10 years old. It's amazing to see how much better everyone has gotten, all the way through junior, amateur and professional golf, as well. Even for my first year on Tour, I feel like everyone out on Tour is just way better than they were when I first came out here, and it's really cool to see.
Q. Looking at your driving accuracy numbers, you're in the top 10 in the LPGA Tour this season. What's the key to your accuracy, and how is that going to translate to a golf course like Erin Hills?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think my swing coach always keeps it really simple for me. I like going out with one good swing thought. I feel like just not overthinking it for me helps.
I mean, it's a U.S. Open. You know the rough is going to be up. Like you said, it'll be windy this week. It's always, I think, comforting to know that I'll go out there and just be comfortable over the ball, just know, okay, if I'm struggling like everyone else is, as well, I mean, I know I'm one of the straightest players out here, even if I don't hit it the furthest, and definitely I would take fairway over the rough here.
Q. Do you remember anything about what you did off the golf course?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: I don't believe the area was as built up much, but I don't remember the restaurant name. There was one restaurant we went to like four times throughout the week because it was right by our hotel and it was really good. But I'm blanking on the name right now.
Q. For parents who are trying to figure out what is a good time to have my kid start playing in big events, what do you remember about how you ended up here at the age of 10, about talking about that with your parents?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I think my dad's philosophy has always been the more you play, the better you'll get. It really was just play as much as I could. I got really lucky, I think; this is way back when, but I was the first alternate, I think, first or second alternate, and then the girl who qualified from Hawai'i actually got a Public Links exemption for qualifying for the U.S. Open back when that was a condition, so that's how I got into the event was she didn't need the spot anymore and then I got in.
So you never know what's going to happen. Qualifier is only one day, so you just go out there, have the day of your life, and suddenly you're at a championship. Yeah, there's no better experience than just playing in a USGA championship.
Q. Compared to some of the venues this championship has gone in the last few years, this would be considered an ultra modern course. What are the challenges to learning this course versus some of the venues you've been at in recent years?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, I mean, I think every U.S. Open venue is similar. You want it to be firm, fast, long. But at the same time, like you said, it is a bit different. It almost kind of has a links feel to it, I thought, out there, just with how much undulation there was on the fairways and the greens.
I mean, I think it's similar but it's different in each way, but just going to each course and trying to figure out what it needs, and yeah, figuring out what you need for the week.
Q. Does it give you any sort of confidence or relief when you step up on the first tee on Thursday knowing that you've won a U.S. Women's Open before?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Yeah, definitely a lot of confidence to know it's in me and I've done it before, and it's really just about putting four solid rounds together.
I think just every experience under pressure just makes you better.
Q. What's the key to the 9th hole do you think?
ALLISEN CORPUZ: Definitely keeping it left. Me and Megan played it, and she hit what I thought was a pretty solid shot, just fed off the right side, and then I hit the green, putted it off the green, so I won't be doing that during the tournament. But definitely a lot more break on that right half of the green than it looks like when you first walk up to it.
It's a relatively shorter par-3. Like I hit 9-iron and I think it would be maybe an 8-iron to the back pin. Just a good solid shot. It could play pretty tough. The wind was down off the left today, and left-to-right winds I think are always pretty tough, but once you hit a solid shot, get the right number, it's a pretty straightforward par-3.
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