No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 679: Lilia Vu

Episode Date: May 10, 2023

Randy and Cody catch up with Lilia Vu, the newest major champion on the LPGA Tour. Lilia details her win at the Chevron, her road to success on the LPGA tour after a decorated amateur career, overcoming early struggles as a professional, and more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to be the right club today. Yes! That is better than most. I'm not in. That is better than most. Better than most! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the No-Lang Up Golf Podcast. My name is Randy. Thank you guys for being here today. Before we get into today's show, I have a sponsor to thank, and that is Precision Pro Golf.

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Let me first introduce my associate, Mr. Cody McBride. Hello, Cody. How are you today big? Thank you so much. It's a great day today. Happy to be here with you. Wonderful. We are we are recording on location. We're at TPC Harding Park just ahead of the international crown It's the return of the international crown. And with us is two-time LPGA tour winner and now major champion coming off her Chevron championship victory. Liliya Voo, Liliya, how does how does major champion Succia? It's unreal to be honest. Just couldn't believe that I won the Chevron championship. It took a while for it to all sink in, maybe just sunk in now.

Didn't really feel in that tournament until the very end, and then all of a sudden finished 17-18 really well, and then I'm in a position for a playoff, and everything was just so fast from there, we waited until Angel hit her 17th shot, and then we headed up to the range to get warmed up again. And then now we're here. I was gonna ask because I think you started the fourth round, four shots back.

And so it was kind of like, you know, were you thinking of a number? Did you kind of think like, hey, if I go out and really pin my ears back, I might have a shot or what's your mentality going into that final round. I think going into it, there were a lot of people around 10 under, 9 under, 8 under, all over the place. So whoever was going to shoot the lowest or play the best that day was going to end up winning. And I did it in Honda. I shot 8 under the last day.

I don't know what I was thinking. Probably didn't think at all. And came from behind and won So going into it. I knew Sunday was colder super windy and My thought process was I'm just gonna go out there and try to birdie every hole and play my best It was a day to move up the leaderboard For sure. I mean gosh Cody a lot of places we can go with that. Let me ask you this California girl was how do you do? How do you like the cold weather?

I mean, was that okay for you? I typically don't like cold weather while I want and cold now, but it was, I think toward the beginning of the week, it was kind of warm, but there was also thunder and lightning and rain and delays and all that stuff. And then you just kind of have to adjust to that.

Yeah, it worked out pretty well, I would say. We were chatting a little bit before we hit record and you were saying you like it when it gets difficult out there. Can you go into kind of why you like the course to be difficult? Why I imagine the conditions difficult gives you a real chance to separate yourself, I imagine, is that?

I think when the course is more difficult, I'm able to focus more. I'm more of a one track mind, just one shot at a time. And usually when I get ahead of myself when I start thinking about other people or the leaderboard, that's when I don't play my bass. And so when I'm just very what's in front of me, where my feet are, I play my bass. And I think when it's difficult, it's easy to do that because you know it's going to be a grind. And so you just focus on that one shot in front of you and just go through your whole process.

It's easy to say, right? Yeah. And it's a lot harder to actually do. So how do you stay in the moment in like obviously it's a big position, but how do you stay that focused in the box and be able to put that score together? For me, I think I kind of wired my brain to think every hole, it's match play with the course, and I'm going to try and birdie that hole.

If I don't birdie it, that's okay. Move on, go to the next hole, try it again. And when I think like that, it really helps me because there's 18 opportunities to birdie. And that gives me a lot of room to try and birdie. I feel very free from it. And I feel like that has helped me throughout my struggle 2019 year and then learning how to play golf again

and just being one shot at a time. It's very cliche and everybody says it, but when you actually do it, or when I actually do it, it helps me so much and it kind of solves itself in the end. No, you say it's cliche and it always has been cliche a little bit to me. I'm like, I hear people say that and sure, we all, you know, one shot of a time. Like, we can't play two shots at it. But I had a chance, something else we did, a couple months ago, I got a chance to meet

Pia and Lynn for the first time. And their whole mental game and the process that they talk about in the three boxes that Cody talked about, and it really hit me for the first time, is like like, oh now I get it when people say like, no, you have to take it one shot at a time and you have to dedicate, you know, energy and attention and thought to, you know, what you're doing. And it was almost like this light bulb went on for me. Like, I'm, we'll turn 40 this year. I'm like,

oh my God, I've never played golf like this in my life. Like, it's incredible. So now when I hear people say, I'm like, no, I understand what you mean. Like, one shot at a time, stay within yourself. I mean, was that something you like had to learn at some point? Yeah. So I went down to Pia and Lin's three day camp.

I think, I think, like, towards the end of 2019, and I was in a horrible place with my golf game, just so nervous over the ball. And so I went down there and I learned all that stuff, but I wasn't technically sound yet. So I couldn't basically use what I learned to my advantage. And then suddenly I just started to get bits and pieces I didn't basically use what I learned to my advantage. And then suddenly I just started to get bits and pieces of my game back, and I remember I reread her book,

or their book, Think Like a Player at Garden City, Kansas, Evson Tour event. I remember reading it the night before, or that whole week and I ended up winning that week. And I only had two goals that week and I think it was just strong body language and to say I love this shot before I actually hit the ball. And so that just like nothing to do with technique or anything. All I did was just have those two goals and I ended up winning that week and from there

I just kept on Learning what worked and what didn't work and what I liked and it was just all the Basically examples that they had in the book. I just kind of tried all of them and see what worked and yeah I remember emailing them. I said like this, it finally worked. Two years later, everything that I learned is falling in line. Yeah. Yeah. Do you ever have, have you thought about in the couple weeks since winning the chevron? Is it, was it almost a blessing to be kind of four shots back and, and not really kind of think that you're in it? I mean, I mean, as far as like trying to win your first major, I feel like getting in the clubhouse might be a little bit of a blessing. And then, you know,

things happen and you find yourself in a playoff. Do you think that's, I don't want to say easier, but given the circumstances, I mean, have you thought about it playing out that way, Have you thought about it playing out that way? Opposed to you know trying to hold on to a three shot lead at the start of the day. Yeah, I mean both of my wins I came from behind. I think I was just very free to just go out there You haven't won yet. Just go out there and play your best and if you win you win, but I also remember in Thailand I thought I was doing an interview and I told her. Even though I think I was maybe close to the leader leading after second day or maybe like first day, I was near the top.

But I remember saying like, I didn't win the tournament yet. Even if I'm leading, it doesn't matter, I haven't won it. So I'm just going to go out there and play my best. Because you get so caught up with your leading and then you'll end up messing up but you never have the tournament because it's not done until the four rounds are over. So I think I was more from what I think. It's just even if I'm leading, I'll never think that I've already won the tournament. And I'm just going to go out there and play my game, play the best that I could.

We're like 10 minutes into this Cody or not even. And I'm like, you know, all of your mental friends. I've been here thinking, I'm like, you said, oh, I've never played golf like that in my 40 years of life. And then I hearing everything that you said, I'm like, thinking about my game. I'm like, huh, I'm gonna long ways off. Like, I'm not thinking of anything the right way.

I have so many things like swing thoughts Yeah, it's it's it's I know nothing about the golf game either So I just got there and play do you know what different types of grass there are out there? Well, I thought Poa grass was Bermuda last week. It happens to the best of us. Yeah, I've not a clue I just go wherever my caddy tells me to go honestly Honestly. It's like a funny like, oh, okay, you don't know the different types of grasses and stuff like that, but you're like very, very decorated.

Obviously professional golfer now. You're a very decorated amateur golfer and have an incredible career. And you think about it and you're like, your ability to just be like, play a shot at that a time. Oh, cool. So like, we're putting in its different type of grass and that's like cool and all but like I'm still just gonna make the best stroke that I can to the line that I think is

best that I've talked to with my caddy or whoever else and just see you know watch the ball going the whole. Yeah, it's like so easy when you break it down like that. But I know it's not and like sitting here and I think what I'm going to get to is like, sitting here now is a major champion. Like, if we had this conversation in 2018, 2019, when times like, we're hard, like, what do you think you would tell that person? Just that, not every shot is life or death. I think I looked at golf in such a, just a heavy way. I think I put a lot of pressure on myself coming out of college and being the number one amateur and just not having sponsors or agents and I just saw like everybody performing so well and I kind of compared myself to those people in which now it sounds so dumb because I've never compared myself to anyone.

When I was playing my best, I mean, sorry, now I'm playing my best, but just like comparing myself, it's just not a good headspace and just go out there and have fun. I play my best when I have fun and I'm laughing on the golf course and just having a good time and appreciating golf and like what it's done for me and my family and just all the people I meet, all the countries I go to, all the friends I make out on tour,

just everything that it's brought me. And I just think being grateful for golf and having fun again was something that I had to refine after my rookie year. Is like having fun playing golf mean like playing your best all the time? No, I feel like I have to have fun before I play my best. Because if you always say like I have to play my best and that's when I'm having fun, that's just you're never going to have fun. Because now you're basically basing your fun on your outcome. But for me, if I have fun first, my scores are going to fall.

100%. But if you're only going to have fun, if you play well, then what happens if you don't play well, you're going to go home and cry? Sometimes I do. I mean, if you're asking. Well, I think as part of the telecast, Cody and I were watching on television and, you know, one of the big things that the announcers talk about is that 2019 season and, you know, making one cut on tour your rookie year.

I mean, can you kind of walk us through what was going on and the struggles that came your way and more importantly and I think most impressively, how you attacked them and how you got developed this mindset and this outlook and really set you on the way to the success that you're now enjoying. You know, everything happens for a reason. I think that struggle needed to happen for me to be this mentally strong and technically strong and just the way I am now. That year happened so that I could grow into the person I am today. I think that was more of a, I didn't know who I was without golf.

And so I based my whole identity around golf. And then once I was playing bat, I didn't know who I was anymore. And I was just losing all my marbles, had no self-confidence, didn't know where I was gonna hit the ball while I was staring at it. Set up to the ball and I'm like,

this could, Welcome to the club. No, that is, This could relate. This could go 100 yards left or 100 yards right. I don't know. I don't know where. Now that is I can relate this could go a hundred yards left or a hundred yards right I don't know I don't know where my arms are I can't feel them basically just like I said life or death golf and Yeah, I mean that happened so I could reevaluate my golf game and just Strengthen what needed to be strengthened. Yeah, I just worked on myself a lot. I mean

COVID actually really helped me because golf tournaments were on. Give me a little space. Yeah, give me a little space. Just put golf tournaments on hold for a little bit. Actually, it was really funny. I think, at the beginning of COVID, the chevron was happening,

and I was on the range at my home club, and this man came up to me so blunt. He's like, what are you doing here? Why aren't you competing in mom's rings? He said, well, I'm going through like my slump. I'm just, I don't have any self-confidence like this and that and just giving him my whole story. And then he gave me two books, Extraordinary Golf by Fred Shoemaker and The Slide Edge by Jeff Olson. And it was basically just mental side of golf for extraordinary golf and just try to basically fix my own game just dealt with a one-side miss instead of two-way miss and just trying to over-correct. And I

think just finding my golf game again and I did that for a little while with the time off I had from COVID. and then the slight edge is just 1% better every day. So do something little to help you get better every single day and that's something that I try to do every day. And still do it now. And so just going from there and then tournaments started happening and then just did what Pia and Lynn basically

said and try to have fun on the golf course and just go through my whole process and now we're here. Well you may get sound like it's a lot easier than the path actually is. You talked about being like number one ammeter in the world and then coming out and I think the world in front of you and you know you talked about not having an agent and like thinking of sponsor deals and probably looking for successes that you were expecting to come and they didn't really happen.

When did you, you just called it like your slump. When did you realize that like, oh, this isn't good. You've probably gone through patches in the past where you're like, I'm not playing very good, but like, no, we're going to get through this. Like when was it like, I need to make some changes here, like the same good. I think first off is just only making one cut my rookie year. That was pretty big.

And then going on, Epson Tour and also missing those cuts. Like, wow, I can't even manage myself out here shooting close to 80 couldn't do anything and then we buy yourself at the top no my mom was actually pushing my card and she's like you're good enough and I'm like I just shot 80 mom I hit every single tree and I made up and down for double and someone said that was the best up and down for double ever I made a 40 footer for a double. And so just my mom being a cheerleader and just believing that I could make it back here, I mean, I was ready to just quit golf.

What does that actually mean, though? Like you seriously thinking about, I'm not cut out for the professional game. I'm gonna go back to school. Yeah, I thought, okay, I'm gonna try and study for the LSAT and just try to get into law school and do make something of my political science degree but thank god I didn't. Well if you want to run some of those polycytakes we have another podcast that we welcome them. No I don't want to be controversial or I don't want to get

canceled so. No that's our biggest fear too we don't want to get canceled. No, no, that's our biggest fear too. We don't want to get canceled either. Everybody Randy here again, sorry to interrupt the interview, but one more sponsor to thank today, and that is Woop. This episode is brought to you by Woop, the official fitness wearable of the PGA tour. Woop is a wearable health and fitness coach

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NLU to save 10% off of your order. Thank them for being a sponsor of the No Laying Up podcast, and now back to our interview with Lily of Voo. Again, I think it's one of those things where like, it doesn't matter how you surround yourself with like your support system and people helping you through it. But like, when you realize it like, hey, maybe this is like the bottom of it. And obviously it's like the bottom of your golf game or your professional golf game. Did it carry over into like normal life? Yeah, I think I was a very, I was a very angry daughter and I kind of just had bad attitude to everybody. I pushed all my friends away and just didn't allow myself

to have fun anymore and just, in college, I had fun all the time and I played so well. And so I just basically tried to find that again. And I think also another thing I love being on a team in college, so I just always had fun. And so basically creating in my own way, my own team, just caddy, physio, coaches, all that stuff, trainers, and just creating my own team, my mom's my assistant. So she comes along to every tournament, just creating my own team and it feels like no

matter what they have your back, I think that's a very, like, very good thing to have out here, especially on LPG tour could you're trying you're kind of doing your own thing I mean everyone's friends with everybody, but you kind of want to do your own thing and know that you have people around you that you can trust Yeah, what'd you tell your mom after the playoff? She everyone. I think she was just crying. I Wanted her to jump with me, but she was busy looking for my dad and I I wanted her to jump with me, but she was busy looking for my dad. And I, it's just like busy. Yeah, it is, yeah. Well played, Mom.

Well played. I know. What was the thought process? Obviously, everybody made a big deal about the jump, and like, we're going to continue to this tradition and everything, and then you kind of look at the pond, and you're like, you like, it looks kind of greenish brown out there. They're talking about alligators. Like, obviously, you had a very, very good jump.

Cady phenomenal. Yeah. He's just a star. Probably like one. He's just goaded. It was incredible. His performance on it. But you know, is it something that obviously like, yeah,

you probably walk by and like a practice around you. Like, I could probably do that. Like, that's fine. That's what we did. We were playing the practice around it. We looked at each other and we're like, if we win do that. Like, that's fine. That's what we did. We were pulling the practice around it. We looked at each other and we're like, if we win, are we going to jump? We both said yes.

And then it was time and I was like, it looks so musty. And I saw Snake on 17, the previous hole. Okay. And then we were waiting in the scoring tent before the playoff. And one of the LPGA media girls asked me, are you gonna jump just so we can like be ready?

And then I said, yeah, we're gonna jump, right? And then I turn a call and I'm like, are we gonna jump? He's like, it's cold, but yeah. And I'm like, don't give us that attitude. Like, we're gonna do it if we win. What's it like waiting in the media tent or like, were you watching the golf?

Do you like to watch the golf in that situation or is it like, hey, just kind of tell me what's going on and tell me when I need to like go warm up maybe on the range? Well, I really didn't know what was happening. I didn't know there was like a TV right in front of my face, I didn't see it. To be honest, I was just like, I just need to be here. They told me to stay in the tent.

Like I can't go anywhere because I wanted to go to the bathroom, couldn't go to the bathroom. They told me to stay in the tent. Like, I can't go anywhere because I wanted to go to the bathroom. Couldn't go to the bathroom. No, no. And then all of a sudden, like the scores are changing. And then Cole just says, like, hey, you want to go warm up when she hits her T-Shot in 17. I said, yeah.

And then just went from there. My physio, she was actually driving to Dallas on her way to Dallas. And then I birdied 17. So she turned around. I mean, she was I birdied 17, so she turned around, I mean, she was only 30 minutes out, but she turned around, came back. My back was killing me the final round at Chevron.

So, we went to the range and before I started warming up, she just worked on my back a little bit. Thank God, I don't know. It was so cold on the playoff hole, so I definitely needed that for my back. And then, just started warming up. I didn't know what was happening. I was just going through some of my routine

and just trying to pick the pins as fairways on the range as you usually do. And then, yeah, I think once we started putting, I asked my physio and my caddy. I'm like, what are the scores? And they were like, oh, she bogeyed 16, bogeyed 17, and then she birdied 18. So there's going to be a playoff.

So we just got in the cart and then went back to 18. Could you feel like the momentum still on your side? I think I'm not sure what really went to my head. I think I just still was in that mindset, like, you still haven't won. Like, you just need to be ready for a playoff. If you lose you, yeah. If you lose and she, if she finishes 11 under, then she played the best of the tournament rightfully so she's going to win. And so I did what I needed to do. I birdied 17-18, gave a good run. I'm

proud of myself. And so it was time to play 18 again. And then I just stuck with my process, hit over the tree. I don't know how the drive ended up where it did. I was going to ask was that like abnormally long for you because you did a past angel and angels a long year. Well she took a different route. Okay. She went towards the left of the tree. I went over the tree. That's what you couldn't really tell on TV but where where your balls ended up, I was like, oh, it's ridiculous. Because when I played my 72nd hole, I had 200 in. So I hit soft, too hybrid.

And then during the playoff, I had a seven iron in. So I turned to Cole and I said, we hit something. And then he's like, no, it's just low spin. And I was like, well, golf nerd, whatever, lame. Cool. And just like, cool. Is it a seven iron or six iron? And then, yeah.

And then, yeah, just hit the seven iron. And then hit a poor putt onto the green, but thank God, I made that long putt going in. I was so nervous. Like, my heart was out of my chest. I didn't even know whatt going in. I was so nervous. Like my heart was out of my chest. I didn't even know what was going on. I didn't even like really think about making the putt. I was just reading the putt the way I usually do

and then try to put a good stroke on it and it went in. So I couldn't believe it. So I literally turned to him and looked when it went in. Like I couldn't believe it. What are you doing in that situation? You're trying to calm yourself down. You're just like, okay, just routine. I've done this a million times.

Yeah. I don't know why my body's reacting this way, but I know what I have to do because I've done this. Thousands and thousands and thousands of times. Yeah, I love my partner's favorite club, forever, baby girl, brighter dye, you name it. I love that partner. That's her nickname, baby girl. Baby girl.

Okay, watch out for baby girl. You's her nickname, baby girl. Baby girl. Okay. Watch out for a baby girl. You just got beat by baby girl. Yeah. And so I knew it was a right to left pot and it was downhill and I just hit the pot and I went in. I couldn't believe it. And it was just so fast. Like from not even thinking that I was in the tournament to winning a playoff to win

is just crazy. Like, I can't even tell you what it feels like. Just butterflies. And because you practice that put a million times, like, with your friends, like, during matches, like, all that stuff. So it's like fun and like, lighthearted when you do it. And then I'm also playing against Angel, who I've known

since I was, like, since she was seven, and I was eight. We played US kids together, all that stuff. And I just been waiting for this moment my whole life just going from not even being in the field for Chevron a couple of years ago to winning Chevron. I just couldn't believe how far we've come. If we look at 2023, everybody sets goals for the year. Yeah. What were your goals starting out this year, where we add on them, and what do you think the rest of the season has in store? Well, I know I wrote out goals at the beginning of the season, but I usually put them

away to see if I achieved them at the end of the year. At the end of the year, I'll look through them. Usually, I hit all of them for some reason. I think we're well on our way. I would say so. Slay number three coming soon, hopefully. I think it'll be fun. Watch out for Baby Girl. And let me just interject.

If my favorite part of the LPJA All Access episode two, really undercaddy talking about, you know, almost slay, you know, didn't win the tournament, almost slayed in win the tournament. Thailand, slay number one. Yeah, slay number one. And so you got slay number two at Chevron. Major slay. Major slay, excuse me.

Yes. And yeah. That was a fun one. Slay number three, stay tuned. Yeah, coming soon. I don't know when, but we'd that was a fun one. Slay number three. Stay tuned. Yeah coming soon. How know when but would love to see it soon But but at but you know, we're here at the international crown You've you've earned your way on to you know, what's a very competitive US squad

obviously you're you know I think we can safely say you'll be a part of the Soulheim Cup this September in Spain. I mean, that's huge. That's awesome. It's been a goal of mine, so hopefully I make it there and just being in Spain and I heard how pretty and gorgeous it is. Super hilly, I think they maxed out 10,000 spectators, but super excited for it. I thrive off a team of events and not to mention match play. I love match play. I thrive off a team of events. And not to mention match play. I love match play.

Like, I don't know what happens, but I just like completely transform and I just get really invested. I played in Palmer Cup, Curtis Cup, and World Am team championship. And it was just so fun. I just, it's nice to have a team aspect and you know that you can lean on each other. And not to mention this week too, just like Lexi Nellie and Danielle Kang, like what other three best players can you even have on your team? And they're just so wonderful. And we've been having a really good time. That's awesome. We talked to Karen Stuppell Sunday evening after the Chevron. And she

paid you, I think, one of the highest compliments there is. And in her words, she said, you know, Lillia at the end of the day, she's just got marbles. And I'm curious what, how you feel about that? And is that something like, I know you talked about, you know, well, when I'm out there, I'm trying to play match play against the course when it's a stroke play event.

Obviously you just said you love match play, you know, when you're playing against an opponent. Are you like, you kind of love being competitive? I'm sensing. Yeah, I'm more of a quiet competitor. I'm not super loud. I am yet to fist pump any putts going in. I mean, I re looked at the playoff putt and I'm like, damn, that was your chance to do a fist pump. But I remember after the fact that her epic celebration could have been debuted there. I know. And I just like turned and I'm like, hand over my mouth.

It's just so such a girl. It's genuine. For sure. Plus, you got to show off her nails. She always has really good nails, so. Oh, yes. Always. Yeah, they're still here.

She have her nails. You want to shout out? Is that? Nail heart in Orange County Garden Grove. OK. Yeah, my girl, they're still here. Chevron Nell. You want to shout out? What is that? Nell Hart in Orange County Garden Grove. Okay. Yeah, my girl, they got me. They look great. Thanks.

Thanks, yeah. I usually like to go to a tournament with really nice nails. I feel like I put together and my life not in a shamble, you know? But I, so I'm not going to let you off the hook that easily. I think what struck me about that comment by Karen is, as somebody that, you know, we watch a lot of golf and obviously, you know, on the men's side, Tiger Woods is the dominant player of the last, let's say, 25 years. And, you know, he loved winning.

And I think when I, in my, you you know experience watching the LPGA player like I am searching for that player that's like who who wants to just go get it like who relishes the moment and I don't want to put that weight on you but I'm curious if like that's something you love. Like you love going and getting it, going in, you know, monoay mono, woman versus woman, like I'm gonna go out and win today. I know you said you're a quiet competitor, but that's gotta be in the back of your mind.

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I love winning. And, you know, I've won, I think like there's plenty of times that I've won with my B game. And just knowing that kind of like just drives me. I think there's plenty of times that I've won with my B game. And just knowing that kind of just drives me. And just play your best. And if you win, you win.

But when I show up to a tournament, I'm trying to win that tournament. There's no like, ooh, top 10. Yeah, here. Let's go. That's cute. But no, I'm trying to win the tournament. That's why I was really upset with last week

because I felt like kind of bombarded by media. I mean, people don't tell you what comes with winning. And I'm more of, maybe- What did you expect was gonna be? You were just like, oh, I'm going home to LA event. Yeah. I thought I was just gonna go home and I thought a lot of people were just gonna come out

and watch me, but it was more of like like people wanted to talk about Chevron. Yeah, and I Was that wheelchair? Yeah, you're doing prep for wheelchair and you're like wait a second I guess I've already turned a page on it. I was just really upset From my Friday finish because I didn't feel like I put my all into a tournament I never want to play a tournament where I don't give it my all and try to win. I felt like I kind of just, excuse my language, half-assed it. Yeah.

And I was just, so you can say what I really wanted. I just felt like I was just trying to go through the motions and just get to the weekend. And then, did you feel out of gas? Like, five times as much as that a long week? I think in hindsight, that needed to happen because I just needed to take a breather and get ready for the next few events here

and then founders next week. And I don't know, they don't talk about just like what comes with winning, like just a bunch of media stuff. And I'm pretty, no, this is easy because it's just like chatting with you guys. I feel like it's pretty easy for the most part and then and you guys are fun So talk to me. I get it

No, but yeah, I think for me I'm more introverted I don't know if you guys can tell them pretty shy and so for for that like that last week It was a lot for me and I'm still learning, I'm still new to all this stuff. So I'm learning and I'm adapting to everything and it'll be fine. I'll get used to it. I just need more media training. You talk it?

Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. You talk about having the right team and support around you. Does anybody talking to you about, hey, these things are different now. People are gonna look at you different. They're gonna talk to you different. They're gonna expect different things from you because you're a major champion now.

Yeah, so I mean my coach and my caddy, they're two guys that I rely on heavily and they kind of just guide me through everything. I have no agent right now. That sounds like an all-called to whoever agents that are out there that listen to this and usually send us dirty messages back because we're usually talking shit about one of their players but like sounds like an open invite. Yeah so I have no agent right now I'm still trying to figure out like what's right for me and was that a conscious decision on your part like whatever was happening wasn't for the best obviously you don't have to go too much into it. Yeah, I just need someone more on my wavelength than just hear for me and know that my biggest priority is golf. Like, what I need from an agent is basically, do everything for me that helps me focus on just golf. Like, that's all I want. I'm here to win tournaments. Not here to just like enjoy everything.

I think I'm more, I mean I've won two tournaments with my home course visor on my head. No logos anywhere anywhere. It's not my main focus sponsor. That's the outer to the young hitter from. I mean, sounds like some literature here. Yeah, I mean, I'm not like I play golf because I love golf and I love winning. I love playing on LPGA. I love everything about this and love traveling. I don't necessarily, sponsors are a bonus. Correct.

And so if they come, they come. And that's not like, my world doesn't revolve around that. And so right now I'm just taking my time trying to find the right agent or whoever to add to my team because my team's great already. We work so well together. Everyone on my team does their job the best so that I can do my job. And I think I'm very patient about it. So.

It's such a big, big part of it. And I think a lot of people struggle with the business of professional golf. Yeah. Because it is hard. And there's all these new opportunities. And next thing you know, like, yeah, sponsors are great, but they're also asking a lot from individuals, whether it's obligations or like it goes so much further beyond like a patch on a shirt or a hat. And being able to weigh the pros and cons of each decision instead of just looking at it from a financial point of view,

must be like a really empowering place to be. Of like, no, I'm dead serious here, I wasn't joking around. Like I just care about my golf game. Exactly. And if you're not around to help facilitate me being the best at that, then I don't need it because at the end of the day, I don't need all that other stuff anyway.

Exactly. My winnings are going to take care of it. We're fine. So everything revolves around my golf and my career. And if you're not helping, then I'm not going to add you to the team. Yeah. Cole was a big part of Chevron.

He's been a great addition to the team. Yeah. You know, Cole was a big part of Chevron. He's been a great addition to your team. But where did you guys first get together? What's kind of the relationship been? Because it seems like you to click and it's a really powerful combination. Yeah, so my coach Brett, it's pretty good friends with Jessica Cordes, Cadi Kyle, and Kyle gave Brett Cole's number to me. And yeah, I reached out to him, asked for a four-week trial. We started in Portland, finished third. I think we shot 17 under for that week. And on the way to the parking lot, I just asked him,

hey, you want to be full-time. And then he was like, sure. And then from then on, we just worked so well. It was just so easy. And it's really hard to find like a good catty where it just works out so easily. Right. There was no, it was just so easy. I don't know how else to explain it. That's the best. Yeah, I got lucky. I mean, you see like, there's a ton of people, men's and women's game of like, man, that's just not working for them.

And you see whether it's their communication and not even just like verbal communications, but really like all the nonverbal stuff of like, hey, you're in the arena with me, you're the one who's, who's I'm relying on like my only support system. And it's awesome that you finally, that you found somebody you found somebody who is like such a great match for that. Yeah, I think in Korea, I was really tired from traveling, so Monday I took it off and just practice a little. Tuesday comes around and I think it was a first tea and he told me how many drivers, how many three woods I'm hitting off the tea and I'm like, wow, okay, just tell me where to

go. And then we ended up having a good week there too. And I just felt like he's prepared and he does his job so I can just focus on what I need to focus on. Lili, we'll get you out here in just a couple minutes. I'm curious, so did you grow up? Are you a student of the game? Do you, does the history, and I'm, again, tying it back

to now winning a major? I mean, that's something you're now part of a very select group in the history of the LPGA tour, where there are people you grew up watching, I guess, women's side, men's side. Does your standing within the history of the game is that something you ever think about or would think about growing up?

I think a recent thought of mine is I got to grow up watching Tiger Woods play his best and the kids these days, they don't get to say that. And just watching him, I remember like, which is so excited every Sunday to just watch Tiger play. And just go down to Tori. I remember my mom and my brother had this, like, binoculars trying to, like, see through the crowd.

And I think they went down the Sunday where, like, Tiger and Rocco were contending. Yeah, Tori. And I was, like, probably, we playing a tournament. My dad took me, and I didn't get to go, so I was, like, boo. Butending, yeah, Tori. And I was like, probably playing a tournament. My dad took me and I didn't get to go, so I was like, boo. But they ended up playing the next Monday, I mean, the Monday after. But yeah, just like, Tiger, just huge for me, looked up to him, just great, forget the game of golf.

Like I think everyone can agree they love Tiger. Like not a lot of people don't like Tiger. And just growing up was it was the best time to get into golf. Watching Tiger as a kid and just being able to say that you saw so many of his wins. And then like when he won recently the Masters was it 2019. Yep. I was on a plane to Hawaii. So I didn't get to see it. And I was so mad about it. My dad texted me. He's like, did you see?

No, there was no live TV going to Hawaii from LAX. And I missed that. And I think that was like the worst feeling in the world. And I still think about it till this day. Quick and what's your airline of choice? My what? Your airline of choice. This is the stuff we debate on our other podcasts, by the way.

Well, my favorite is Delta. Prince, I knew you were smart. I knew you were smart. But United flies out. I mean, there's quite a lot of United out of John Wayne. And that's the airport right next to my house. And you can't land after 10 p.m. because there's like a noise city ordinance. And I don't know, bougie people, whatever. But like, I usually like flying into John Wayne

coming home from the East Coast. Because if we leave at eight o'clock, we get there at like nine 30 and then I could just get my bags right away and then go home. But yeah, LAX has been a nightmare recently, but it is what it is. Well, you know, I think all those little girls, you know, they want to look up to somebody

and boys want to want to see. So I mean, you, I don't know. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I just love your mindset. I think it's so refreshing to hear somebody on tour say, no, I want to win every week because I do think that's rare. Now, whether people are actually thinking that privately, which sometimes I doubt, right, I just think it's so nice to hear you like, no, I'm here to win. Like that's what I'm here to do.

But honestly, like putting in the hard work behind the scenes and like, being from like, the highs and lows of the professional game and being like, no, like I'm saying this because I'm dead serious. Yeah. And I've been on the other side and I, you know, this does not come easy. And I continue to grind my butt off to be in this position and have the capability to like truly just go get it. As a fan of the women's game, I freaking love it. Thank you.

So, kudos to you. Yeah, I think just being rock bottom actually drives me wanting to win more. Because I didn't go through all of that stuff and just the feeling of just falling out of the love of the game of golf is just horrible. When like now I love golf. Like even during my off weeks, I probably take like one or two days off,

but then I don't know what to do with myself. I just wanna go to the golf course and play a match with all my guys friends. No other hobbies. I mean, I read a lot, but it's only. What do you like to read? A lot of self-help books, personal development. If it's a golf book, then more the mental side,

because I'm not a technical player. I just kind of I hope it's a push draw every time and if it's not then I don't know what to do, but yeah Do you have like any guilty like indulgences like I really enjoy and you can't say like having nice nails and getting having that like your routine? Um Well, I bought a car last year. And no car. It's my dream car.

Do you wagon? Well, there you go. Yeah, so. What you get? I'll access. On episode two. Yeah, right from the set. Of course.

I see. I was so like, I didn't want to tell people that I had it. So I had my mom drive me in every single day. So I was like, oh, she's driving it. It's my mom's car, believe me. No, she has one, but it's like, hers is 2002. She was like the first person in California

to get a GWG in a pair of legs. That's pretty cool. Yeah, it's definitely not the same, but she still has it. What did they do? What do you mean? Were they involved in golf? No.

How did they get you in golf? Where did this whole thing come from? I think where it all started from, my brother. I have an older brother. And we drove by a golf course. I think it was like Metal Lark in Huntington Beach, some public course. And my brother says, oh, I want to try golf.

And so my dad took my brother and then I was just there just watching. I don't think like my dad, that girl's did sports. And so I was just trying to be funny, imitating my brother to swing. And then my dad's like, here you try. And now, I mean, I happen to be better than my brother. So he doesn't play golf anymore much,

but I wish he did, because he has a great swing. But yeah, so yeah, I'm the one that plays golf. My dad started the same time as my brother too, and then my mom plays too. So yeah, my parents play, when during my off week, they'll play together on Monday and Thursdays. They tee off at 6.30 in the morning, and they're home by 10.30. Like I don't even let, I love golf, but I wouldn't, I don't even love golf enough to tee off at 630 in the morning and they're home by 1030. Like I don't even like, I love golf.

I wouldn't, I don't even love golf enough to tee off by 630. What, what else do they, yeah, no thing? What else do they have planned for the day that they need to get on? Oh my gosh. So many things. My dad's just constantly breaking down the house and building it back up. I think COVID just sent him into an orbit. That's funny. Well, the G-Wagon definitely counts as that. Well, Lily, we'll have to do this again, because there's so much I want to ask you about,

but congratulations truly. It was so much fun watching you at the Chevron, watching you close the deal, and just getting to know you again it's just I am so impressed with your wisdom and the the the place that you've gotten to I mean I think at your age it is just so impressive so again kudos to you best of luck can't wait for slay number three yeah thank you guys for having me slay number three. Yeah thank you guys for having me slay number three coming soon. Love it. That's better than most. How about him? That is better than most.

Better than most. Better than most.