Let’s start with your relationship with Insperity. You won the 2020 Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club, which was founded by Paul Sarvadi, the CEO of Insperity, and his family. Did your relationship with him and the company begin immediately after that victory?
“It was after that. Living in the Houston area, we (Paul and I) had common friends and we eventually got connected. Insperity has a place at Champions Retreat in Augusta, and we did an internal event there, with Jim Furyk and I. We had a little golf event—Team Furyk against Team Lewis. Those behind the scenes days are important for Insperity and for building relationships.”

Arnold Palmer was famous for the strong relationships that he formed with all of his sponsors and business partners. Did you ever meet him?
“I did not meet him in person, but I did receive many letters after wins over the years. They were always personalized and they always had some details of watching a win. Those letters are definitely very special.”

Let’s talk about the Solheim Cup. You made players laugh and cry in your team talk at the end of the 2023 event. What did you say?
“I wanted them to grow as people and as teammates and care about each other, and to see the team room evolve throughout the week and to see how they picked each other up—it was really cool behind the scenes. Those girls understand the Solheim Cup. They laughed when I said: ‘Guys, we didn’t lose!’”

Are you altering your strategy for 2024?
“I have changed up my assistant captains, which brings a new sense of energy. When Juli [Inkster] was captain three times in a row, with the same assistants, that meant that we weren’t prepared for the future. It has been a big push of mine to prepare the next captains and to make sure they are involved. Morgan [Pressel] and Angela [Stanford] are back, but I have added Paula [Creamer] and Brittany [Lincicome]. They are so excited. Paula is “Miss Solheim Cup.” She always raised her game. It was like she just wills the ball into the hole. Our players need to see her energy and excitement.”

You’ve talked about instigating a culture shift in the American Solheim Cup team. Is it mainly about embracing performance data?
“The data is part of it, but we are seeing a generational shift. We had a core group of myself, Morgan, Paula, and Angela, and we were around for a very long time. But now Lexi [Thompson] is the veteran, which for me is strange. We are teaching the girls what the Solheim Cup is all about, and it is their job to pass it on to the next generation.”

Nelly Korda has found a new level in 2024 and is now number one in the world. This must be great to see from your perspective as captain.
“I played with Nelly in a practice session before the 2017 Solheim Cup. At the time, Jess [Korda] was playing some really good golf, but I said to Juli at the time: ‘Nelly’s going to be way better than her sister. Nelly’s got the attitude, she’s got the personality to handle being number one and being that player.’ Maybe it took a little longer than we all thought, but Nelly has matured, and now she is comfortable in those big moments.”

As team captain, do you stay in regular contact with Nelly?
“I have texted her a little, just trying to tell her to get some rest! I have talked to her caddie quite a bit. You learn a lot by talking to caddies, so I stay connected. I have been in her shoes, I have been the top American and number one in the world, so I understand all the extra things that come with it, so I try not to ask too much of her. It is great for women’s golf, and it is great for our team, to see Nelly get more comfortable in the spotlight.”

The Women’s Open Championship returns this year to St Andrews, where you’ve had a lot of success throughout your career. What is it about you and that course?
“I played it 11 times during the week of the Curtis Cup [in 2008], and that created my love affair with links golf. One of the best things about that Curtis Cup was that we were each assigned a local caddie for the week, and my caddie [Fraser Riddler] fed me information about different shots. On the par-5 fifth, I was 40 yards short of the green. He handed me my putter and said, ‘Here, putt through this big valley.’ I was like, ‘Are you crazy?!’ But I got to learn all these different shots and how to play them.”