LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

April 14, 2021

Brittney Altomare

Kapolei Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Bogey-free day, but I really want to talk about the front nine. Seven birdies in a row I want to say by the time it was all settled. What was going so right for you on that front nine?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: I was just putting really well. You know, on the front nine I think I struggled a little bit. Like I just think something was a little off or at least I felt that way. I brought Charlie in to help me read my putts on 1 and 2 and it just kind of gave me some confidence, like, yeah, you're reading it right.

Just kind of freed me up. Just putt and just make it, so...

Q. Did you realize how many you were making in a row, or was it just one shot at a time?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: I try to stay one shot at a time, but towards the end I kind of realized, and then I chipped in on 7 and just started laughing. I'm just like, just one of those days, which was fun. Hasn't happened in a while, so I was excited.

Q. Sometimes the golf gods just happen to be in your favor. What is it about Kapolei that is working so well for your game, do you think?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: I mean, this week like I just really like the greens here. They're smooth. I think when you putt where you want to, like it's going to go there. Like there is no -- it's not bumping around or anything.

I think if you're putting well you can make a lot of putts out here.

Q. This is a brand new golf course compared to Ko Olina. When you were preparing for this week, what did you notice about Kapolei Golf Club that was different from Ko Olina?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: I mean, the back nine there is just like a lot to it. Like there is a lot of water and some trouble on the greens I think are more severe on that side, so I paid a little bit more attention there.

But 18 looks very similar to 18 at Ko Olina. But it's super pretty, and, yeah.

Q. What is it about returning to Hawaii that excites you? This is probably one of the most paradise-like places we'll go to this year.

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Yeah, I mean, it's beautiful here. Who doesn't love going to Hawaii? I mean, despite the travel, I mean, when you get here it's just paradise. I mean, how can you not be in a good mood when you come here, so I'm always excited to come here.

Q. What is there to work on towards tomorrow? There will be more windy conditions tomorrow because of the way Hawaii is. What are you going to be focusing on during round two?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Just stay steady and consistent. My putter obviously feels really good. My coach and I have been working a lot on some things in my driver, and I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with it.

So I think if I can just stay consistent off the tee and just kind of keep working on what we been working on...

Q. What are you working on back there in Tampa?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Yeah, well, we worked a lot with my driver like different driver shafts and my swing speed. I started hitting it further but then I kind of just went like this a little bit, and we were just trying to like bring it in a little bit to make it more straighter and more consistent.

Last week we did a lot of work, and then I was doing a lot work on the range this week, too. He was in Tampa, but we were talking on the phone. It's finally clicking I think, so I'm excited.

Q. What does that do for your confidence when you feel like just everything is coming together?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Just feels like natural and you can be aggressive and just kind of play free golf, I guess. Yeah.

Q. Can you remember having a run of seven birdies in row?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Nope. (Laughter.) No, I don't remember a time like that. Even in just like Cactus.

Q. Mentally, as you're making the turn, what was going through your mind? What clicked in for you?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: Yeah, like I said, I had Charlie, my caddie, read the first two putts on the front nine, which was my back nine. Just kind of gave me confidence like, yeah, I'm reading them correctly. It just freed me up.

And I made those two, they looked good, they went in, and I felt a lot of confidence after that.

Q. You mentioned a chip-in on 7. Any other long ones that you made in that run?

BRITTNEY ALTOMARE: I gave myself some pretty good looks. I did make a couple long ones, but they weren't super long. All inside 30 feet. But still, they were pretty cool. Yeah.