Brianna Do achieved her career-best last week at the Lotte Championship, tying for 12th after qualifying on Sunday. After playing her way back into the LPGA, she made her sixth appearance in Hawaii.
Do said, "I think it was a more challenging course than last year, and it's definitely my favorite course out of the three that we have played (at the Lotte Championship)."
If Brianna had finished in the top-10 at the Lotte, she would have qualified for the DIO Implants LA Open and gained significant points in the Race to the CME Globe before the Priority List reshuffle.
"I took the chance of flying over to Hawaii to play that qualifier. The goal originally was to make the qualifier. And then, after making the qualifier, the goal was to make the cut so that I could get into the reshuffle after the Founders event. I made the cut and played my way to the final round on Saturday, which was amazing. I have a lot to be proud of with my play last week," Do said.
Heading into Saturday, Do said she tried to remain calm and stick to her routine that had produced good results throughout the week. "To say that I wasn't nervous or that (the final round) wasn't a big deal, I would totally be lying," she said. "I just tried to stay in the moment, and it was almost easy to do on that golf course because it was so windy that you had to think your way around and pay attention to all the factors into hitting a good shot."
Do said she's been working with her coach to change her swing, and while she's not hitting it as hard or as fast as she used to, her balls are still traveling as far, if not farther.
"I shot 77 in the final round (but) my swing wasn't that far off. I missed a few (shots) here and there. They were, you know, five or 10 yards left or right. I was trying to control the swing as much as possible and not let other factors affect it," she said.
Do said her nerves got the best of her on the front nine, but she enjoyed every moment, making her want to be in those competitive positions even more.
"It wasn't the Saturday final round that I wanted, but there were a lot of positives, which helps me with the rest of the season playing out on the LPGA. Last week showed that I can keep up with the girls on tour. I've always had that self-belief deep down, but to see it verified, is huge," she said.
This fall, Do went back to LPGA Q-Series and missed the cut. Forty-five qualifiers move on from LPGA Q-Series to earn Tour status, giving them access to approximately 60% of the Tour schedule.
Since she missed the cut, Do’s status wasn’t great coming into this season.
"I was, at that moment, pretty bummed and disappointed because I've played on the LPGA the last few years full time, and to think I had to go back on the Epson Tour and play my way out was disheartening," she said. “But I was grateful that I had somewhere to play. I started off the season with a few Epson Tour events, one in Arizona and one in California, and I played well. I think that was a huge confidence boost."
Do's biggest goal this year was to get into the reshuffle and compete amongst the LPGA field. "I did that much sooner than I thought I would. So now, I want to keep up the consistent play and not go back to the Q-Series."
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