HUGEL AIR PREMIA LA OPEN

April 21, 2021

Ryann O'Toole

Wilshire Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Last few holes weren't the way you wanted, but finishing under par here has to have you pleased to start off the tournament.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yes. You know, I'm just trying to -- goal this week is to have four solid rounds and I got 2-under today is a good start.

I think slow and steady is not a bad place to kind of just get momentum going. Morning round versus afternoon round is a big difference here. Nice to be able to get a couple under in the morning round.

Obviously I would've liked for better, but at the same time, I'm -- try to be happy with it.

Q. You had birdies at what, I think 2, 4, 8, and 12?

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah.

Q. Any of those particularly stand out a little more than the others?

RYANN O'TOOLE: On 8 I made a good long one. Probably like I think it was 27 feet, so that felt good. Good slippery green.

Other than that, been striking it fairly well. I just think morning round you have the fresh greens, wind is down a little bit, so tomorrow I think it's going to be about patience. You know, poana in the afternoon kind of changes.

Q. What makes this course unique? Obviously it's pretty tight, narrow. What else?

RYANN O'TOOLE: The bunkering is really unique. Definitely the bunkers are kind of accent pieces. They come into play off certain tee shots. Pinch in certain places. Growing up playing at UCLA we played here often. They did some redesign since then, but for the most part, still a lot of things that are very similar to its roots.

But there are some big greens and some small ones. Like you have No. 3 that's tiny green, then you have this thing that's long and narrow, but...

Q. 18?

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah. Just all depends. For the most part has an old school feel but with a revamped vibe. I think prosthetically looks pleasing to the eye.

Q. What's it like to be back in such familiar territory for you, UCLA seven miles down the road? Got to be like back home.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah, it's old stomping grounds. We came out here every Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. It was about a half hour drive. It was like, Oh, Wilshire Wednesday. We hate it.

We love the golf course, but it was just -- in college it's early, especially when going out days, nights were Tuesday and Thursday. So just thanks, coach.

Q. That's unique.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Why Tuesday and Thursday? And of course coach has us 7:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. She did it on purpose.

But it's just nice. Familiar area, restaurants that I love. Just go get take out and stuff. It's been fun.

Q. Is there a spot in particular?

RYANN O'TOOLE: I love Sugar Fish. I've already had it twice this week. Great sushi. So good. Actually there are a couple locations, there is one right up the road from here. Get the -- trust me, it's so good.

Q. You learn something new every time you're here? You played here in 2019, made the cut. You learn something new every time?

RYANN O'TOOLE: Every time. You know, I think every time you come back to a course you grow a bit more and take in note and learn. Definitely learn where you can be aggressive on this golf course, learn what pins you kind of need to tailor back on. Learn how much certain greens spin back, how much they release, where they release.

There are -- it's definitely a course that you have to really kind of keep paying attention to. You can have a simple wedge in, but it's one of those greens that can absorb a lot of spin and you're off the front before you know it.

Q. Is this a place where you're practicing the wedge shots a lot more than any other week?

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah, yeah, I think what makes it different too is they changed the fairway grass. You just get some lies out of the fairway that it's into the grain so the ball comes out a little differently. So you got to really pay attention to that.

I think leaving the ball below the hole on a lot of these greens is key. It's some very fast, fast putts from above.

Q. Last one. I think there are ten Bruins in the field this week.

RYANN O'TOOLE: I know! There is ten, yes.

Q. I can't imagine another event where you're so close to your old stomping grounds, you have so many familiar faces that you either went to school with or helped recruit or that kind of thing.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah.

Q. How special is that?

RYANN O'TOOLE: I mean, it's pretty awesome. Knowing that USC was right down the street and practiced here, we definitely take the cake on that one.

Q. I like that.

RYANN O'TOOLE: So I enjoy it.