AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 1, 2021

Kiira Riihijarvi

Quick Quotes

Q. That was a big birdie on 18.

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I know.

Q. Did you worry about it?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I tried not to look at the leaderboard when I was playing. They make it difficult because they're really big. So I was just really focused on trying to play my own game. Then I saw a little glimpse, and I'm like, I'm pretty sure I need to make a birdie, but I wasn't quite sure. My caddie was like envision it going in, feel it going in, and it went in. And I'm happy.

Q. How conscious of the cut line were you during your round?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I was not. I really did not know what the cut line was. I felt like the course was playing a little bit tougher today, or at least I felt like it was tougher today. So I was hoping it was going to be a little bit higher, but I really didn't know.

Q. Did you feel more anxious on the back nine?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: A little bit, yes. A little bit, but then I just tried to focus on doing my own thing and enjoying it.

Q. How do you keep from focusing on the cut? It's a big thing.

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I think you've just got to focus on it's a big accomplishment just to be here. It's exciting. The course is beautiful. The weather turned out to be nice, and just enjoy the little things and focus on what you're doing.

Q. How difficult did it play today on the back nine, particularly with the wind?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I felt like the front nine was a little bit more difficult because it was like on the lake, so the wind was like, you felt it more. The back nine, definitely the nerves get to you a little bit more.

Q. (Inaudible)?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: No, I did not.

Q. How much of a goal was it to make it to Saturday?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I really wanted to, but I was just trying to focus on being happy to be here.

Q. Take us through the shot by shot on the last hole, what were you thinking on each one and what you were kind of looking at it.

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I really like the last hole, and on the drive I just wanted to kind of rip it and grip it and just let it go and hit a good one. I probably hit the best drive of the day. Then I knew that I had to hit a good iron somewhere on the fairway and then just wedge it in.

Q. How far did you have in for your third?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I had -- well, I use meters, but I had 75.

Q. 75 meters?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: Yeah, 75 meters, which I hit a pretty good shot, but I got the first spin of the two days. So it was a little further than I wanted, but it was a good putt.

Q. How far do you think?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I think it was a six pace putt, something like that.

Q. Could you have gotten in there with your second shot, do you think?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I didn't even think about it. I wanted to still play it safe.

Q. When you talk about the leaderboard, are you talking about that one or the one on 17?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: All of them. They're everywhere.

Q. Which one is the last one you saw?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I saw a glimpse on 17.

Q. Not a putt to win the event, but where does it rank in terms of your career?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I think I'm going to remember it forever. It just feels so awesome to make a putt on the last hole to get into the top 30 to get to play on Saturday. It's just amazing.

Q. What does it mean to you to get into Saturday's round?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: It means a lot. I'm really excited to play, and I'm just so happy. I was just excited to be here. It was just the best organized tournament I've ever been in in my life. It's just incredible. It's going to be so much more fun that I get to play on Saturday too.

Q. What shots are you most looking forward to?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: I think all of them. When we went to dinner and seeing the clubhouse and seeing everything in real life is going to be incredible.

Q. Is there something that you're most looking forward to, maybe tomorrow or Saturday, just in terms of playing Augusta?

KIIRA RIIHIJARVI: It's hard to say. I'm excited to go there with my caddie that's also my teammate. Like I think we're just going to have so much fun with it. I'm excited.