Annika Sorenstam, Nelly Korda among US Women's Open's top players. Here’s what they're saying.

SOUTHERN PINES – Eight golfers spoke to media members Tuesday ahead of the 2022 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles.

Three-time champion Annika Sorenstam, who won the 1996 Open in Southern Pines, was among the notable players who discussed her thoughts ahead of the event.

Here are some of the top quotes from Tuesday’s press conferences.

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Annika Sorenstam on what she would consider a great week

“ My goal is obviously to play the best I can. I know what I'm capable of. I can hit fairways and greens. I can make putts. That's my goal this week. Obviously, I'm in a different position now than in '96 where I was probably one of the longest off the tees and would hit last into the greens. Now it's the reverse. … I'm not really going to have a score in mind, but I feel good about my game. I really do."

Michelle Wie West on her career and stepping away from golf

“First off, I want to say I have zero regrets in my career. There's always that inkling of wishing I had done more. But I feel like no matter what, no one is ever going to be 100 percent satisfied. I have definitely had an up-and-down career, but I'm extremely proud of the resiliency that I've shown over my career.

"I'm extremely proud to have achieved the two biggest dreams that I've had, one being graduating from Stanford, and the other winning the U.S. Open. To check both those off the list means everything to me. I'm very proud of myself. I've always wished I would have done more, but I feel like everyone kind of feels that way, so I'm definitely giving myself some grace and enjoying this last week.”

Nelly Korda on expectations following a blood clot

“To tee up and to hit my first shot on Thursday. That is as far as I'm looking right now. I've been out of competition since early February, and I'm honestly just grateful to be out here. I'm going to take it one step at a time. I'm not expecting too much. … I have a few big events coming up. Honestly, I'm trying not to think about it too much, and I'm just more grateful that I'm out here. I'm able to compete, and I'm seeing all the girls, too.”

Lexi Thompson on not letting golf define her

“It's just kind of what I was born to do and grew up around. It's important to me to just realize that it's not all my life. Yes, I get frustrated with loss of events or troubled rounds, but you just have to realize at the end of the day you still have your family around you, still have the people that love you and love you no matter what. That's the most important thing to always realize. It's just a game.”

Lydia Ko on the $10 million purse

“Those are like extra bonuses and perks for us, I think. As an athlete and as a female athlete, to be able to play for this kind of money, I think it's – not even just for my generation, but for the future generations, and when you see like what our founders played for, yes, the cost of living might have been cheaper than now, but still, I think we're very – we should be very grateful.

“But at the same time, I think there's still a ways to go, and I'm excited where women's golf and golf is trending. At the end of the day, yes, more zeros are better, but we're all professional athletes and trying to play well in what we do and just having a good time out there. To be able to play for more money doing that is a bonus.”

Yuka Saso on being recognized as the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion

“It's not weird, but I get very shy. It feels awesome, ‘Oh, you're the U.S. Women's Open champ.’ At some point last year they started calling me ‘champ’ or ‘U.S. Women's Open champ,’ not by my name. It's awesome, but I thought maybe you could call my name first and say, ‘U.S. Women's Open champ.’ ”

Jin Young Ko on playing at Pine Needles

“I really want to play this golf course, Pine Needles. I heard about this golf course, that it's a tough one, but it's going to be fun, so I really wanted to be here, and I got here. I've practiced a lot with this golf course last Saturday and Sunday, and I like it. We'll see.”

Minjee Lee on her brother, Min Woo, playing in his first U.S. Open later this month. Did they make a wager on who’s going to have the best Open finish?

“No, but I think he's more concentrated on playing at Memorial this week than anything, but I know he's really excited. I think he posted on Instagram a couple weeks – last week or a couple days ago about it, so I know he's really excited.”

Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Here's what the top US Women's Open's players are saying