I was actually talking to – before my first LPGA win I was talking to Hollis Stacy on the green at the Concession. I was out there putting, doing a drill, and he always comes to me when he sees me out there. He was just — I was talking to him because obviously I didn't win on the LPGA Tour.
He just said, when the time is right. So I just put that in my yard book that week that I won in Taiwan at Swinging Skirts. I said, when the time is right it will happen.
That made me more present and that made me think that golf is about shooting for time, not being too far ahead of myself, and when the time is right it will happen because I put in the work.
I wanted to know since your first big win, whether that was in middle school or high school, or a really tough one, how has your game improved the most, whether that's physically or mentally?
I think everything has to improve when it comes to my body. Obviously the last few years I've had some injury problems, so I make sure my body is good with every move.
Mentally, I think the most I've learned for myself is when I'm playing under pressure. So being in contention and how to handle those situations. Because although many people may not see that I – that I show you, I certainly feel all the feelings inside.
So you can process those feelings and not have them come out badly. I learned a lot about myself through those situations.
What is history and your place in it, what does that mean to you in this game?
I feel like that's a question I haven't given much thought to.
I like to live in the present, so I don't allow myself to think about that too much. I feel like that comes with more pressure.
Obviously there's nothing better for me than seeing all the little kids come out and say that I encourage them to pick up a golf club or that I'm their favorite. There is no better feeling than that. I hope to inspire the next generation with the love I have for the game and hopefully they do too.
But when it comes to history, I feel like I've been so caught up in being there that I haven't thought much about that.
Having played on the Epson Tour in 2016, how impressed are you with the current girls and how ready they are to come out and compete here?
I am very grateful for my time on the Epson Tour. Apparently back in the day it was Symetra. It made me the player I am today. I would recommend it to everyone. There's just – it was a good thing for me. I was between going to college for a year or playing on the Epson Tour for a year.
I'm so glad I took that path. I learned what it's like to play week after week and not see my coach after one tournament.
I think that really helped me become the player I am today. I know the year I went out with Ally, I went out with Madelene. Like double points under the section. I mean the competition that year was so, so good.
I know every year the competition gets better and better.
It's great to see sponsors supporting the Epson Tour and raising prize money, because those girls are great and it's a great way to pave the way to the LPGA.
What did a typical workout look like back then?
Just a lot of reinforcement in places — I don't want to train like a golfer, I want to train like an athlete. Thanks to me and my team, we all have the same opinion about it. Honestly, it's a full body strengthening session.
I have a lot of consistency in my life. I see the same people every day. I do the same things every day. I try to stay in my little bubble, and I feel like mentally that's the best thing you can do for your mental and physical health, to stay in a routine.
When you're in a rut like this, do you know how well you're playing or are you still facing the next hole one hole at a time?
I'm just trying to be more sedentary at the moment. I feel like with sports and golf in general, you have a lot of time to think, so I think staying in the moment is something I try really hard to focus on.
But obviously with that being said, I'm very proud of the feats I've played and the hard work I've put in and the work I've done with my team to get that win.
Do you have any concerns about being too high before the majors or before the Olympics?
I always try to stay present. I'm not trying to change my attitude about higher education. Another regular LPGA tournament. The fields are usually as strong at these events as at the big games. You see the same girls every week.
You play on some amazing golf courses. Representing the USA has always been a great honor. Every time I've done it I've been very proud to do it.
You're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for your country. Doing that on multiple stages like the Solheim Cup, International Crown, and the Olympics, it's been a lot of fun. I hope I get the chance to do that again.
There is talk of a mixed event coming to the Olympics. Is that something you've thought about, and how do you feel a mixed event on that stage would help the game?
I heard about it. I think I read about it mostly on social media. I think it would be great for a golf game. I don't know how they would handle it.
I would say that since the Olympics happen every four years you don't want them to be like a regular event in any way.
You want it to be something different. So I think that would be really fun, if there was a team aspect involved as well as an individual.
So would you like to see different formats presented in the golf course?
I think there's been a lot of buzz in the last few years about doing a team event with men and women. I think that would be very interesting. I would be a great lawyer for sure.
I think that's a great way to grow the game and for us to have a platform to show the men and everyone watching that we're good.
And I think for the event to come together, that's out of my hands, but I know that whoever you talk to, all the players are big supporters of it.
WHAT'S IN CANNELLY'S BAG
DRIVER: TaylorMade Qi10 Max (10.5°)
FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade Stealth 2 3-wood (15°), TaylorMade Stealth 2 7-wood (21°)
IRONS: TaylorMade P·770 (5), TaylorMade P·7MC (6-PW)
WEDGES: TaylorMade Milled Grind 4 (50° SB, 54° SB)
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron Special Select Squareback 2 Prototype
BALL: TaylorMade TP5x
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