JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 29, 2023

Gemma Dryburgh

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Gemma Dryburgh who had a nice bounce back today on moving day. Tell me about your round today, hot start, three birdies in your first five holes.

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I think it was every other hole I seemed to make a birdie, which was nice. It was nice to bounce back after yesterday. Tough day yesterday, but yeah, nice to get a few birdies on the front nine there.

Q. I know the conditions are a little simpler today, but did you learn anything from yesterday that you just applied to today that helped, or was it really just the conditions?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I think a combination of the two. I think I played with a bit of fear yesterday, just kind of trying not to make mistakes instead of the first day I just kind of went out and picked a target and went for it, which I did again today, so that helped a lot, and hopefully I can just do that again tomorrow.

Q. Looking at your back nine, pretty clean card, two birdies there. When you made the turn, you had a pretty good run going, but this back nine is challenging. How did you stay patient?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, had to stay patient out there. There was a few chances on the par-5s, but the finish is tough. 17 and 18 is always a tough finish here, so it was just nice to make some pars going down the last few holes, and yeah, just kind of stayed patient and made a few birdies, as well, which was nice.

Q. Nice self-awareness that you were playing with fear yesterday. When you find yourself doing that, what's the reset button that you have to hit to go out and put up a good number?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I just think you just have to believe in yourself. I've showed myself that I can play out here and I can hit good shots when I need to. Just kind of believing in myself really and kind of just taking that fear out of it and kind of with my caddie, as well, he kind of puts that confidence in me, as well, because he knows what I can do.

Yesterday kind of after nine holes, he said, let's stop playing with fear and kind of hit the reset button a little bit there.

Q. Looking ahead to tomorrow, had your first win here about five months and almost another one ago. Did you learn anything from that experience that when you look ahead to tomorrow, maybe going to be chasing a little bit depending on what the leaders do, but that you'll carry with you or try to think about?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I think just taking the confidence that I can do it, I can win out here and I'm good enough to do that. I've showed myself that I did it in Japan, so there's no reason I can't do it tomorrow. Yeah, we'll see what the leaders end up at. I'm guessing I'll be a few back maybe, but we'll see.

Q. I know it's a challenging golf course, kind of have to take what it gives you, but you're behind, why not go for broke?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Yeah, I've got nothing to lose really. Like you said, it's a tough course, so it's tough to chase, but you never know out here. I'm putting well, so hopefully I can do that again tomorrow.

Q. What's been the key for you with the putter this week?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: I seem to read these greens quite well. I'm AimPoint, so it seems to be working quite well, and I see the breaks quite nicely, and I like the faster greens. So yeah, hopefully can do it again tomorrow.

Q. I know AimPoint helps with the undulation, but does it help with the poa, or are you just kind of hitting and hoping?

GEMMA DRYBURGH: Sometimes, yeah, yesterday afternoon you kind of just have to hit and hope when it gets late in the day. You just have to believe in it and trust your line.