BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 25, 2021

Azahara Munoz

Shadow Creek

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the media center for the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play hosted by Shadow Creek. Really excited to kick things off with Azahara Munoz, long-time match play competitor with the Solheim Cup, the International Crown, multiple amateur titles.

Aza, let me jump in first and say what are your thoughts here on Shadow Creek? It's spectacular.

AZAHARA MUNOZ: It is. So far I've only played the back nine. I'm playing the front nine in a bit in the pro-am. It's amazing. The practice facilities are great. Obviously weather is incredible and it's so fun to be in a course where I watch on TV last fall I guess playing when the guys were here, and the back nine was really fun.

I think it's a great golf course for match play.

THE MODERATOR: What are your thoughts on match play? I've been hearing a lot of players saying it's going to set up well for match play. What does that mean?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: It means that it's really tough golf course and you're happy you don't to have hole out. That's what it means. I think it's a course that you can be aggressive if you want, but then it's very much risk-reward, so it's really fun for match play. I think when you play on a course like this you have to play pretty safe, but not so much for match play. So I think it's going to be fun.

THE MODERATOR: You've won a match play event, the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship, you are a women's amateur runner-up, played on so many Solheim Cup teams and International Crown. You seem to like match play. What is it about it that fits you so well?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: I love it. I think I play with more freedom. If you messed up it doesn't really matter. You just lose that one hole. That gives me a lot of freedom. Also the fact that you're only focusing on that one other player -- not that you want to focus on the whole field, but you kind of do. The leaderboard is always up there.

And so match play is just you and the other person, and so I think that really helps me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. LPGA announced their new commissioner this morning with Mollie Marcoux Samaan coming in taking over for Mike Whan. Where were you when you found out and how did you react?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: I was in my bed reading my email. I mean, it's great. I am sad that Mike is leaving, you know. He's done so well for us and the tour is in such a good place. I also understand that he wanted to move on. He's done so well for us I think we all just wish him the best.

And I'm sure the tour has chosen a really good one as well. The tour is in such a great position that, I don't know, I know anything that happens is a going to be good for us.

Q. You've got quite a bracket there in front of you for group play. Yourself, Mel Reid, Gerina Piller, Hannah Green. Mel and Gerina also of course on Solheim Cup teams and your first match is against Mel.

AZAHARA MUNOZ: Yeah.

Q. What's going through your mind as you get ready for tomorrow?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: I mean, obviously it's a very strong bracket as you said, but it is what it is. There are 64 players here, and if you want to win you have to beat them all.

Obviously my bracket is strong but, again, it's just one day. Anything can happen in match play, and I'm just going to focus on my game. Hopefully I can play my best, and at the end of the day hopefully that's good enough.

But that's it. All you can do is focus one shot at a time. Match play is even more like that. So obviously I got strong hitters in my bracket, which this course kind of sets up good for that, but I really like match play and sometimes hitting first is an advantage.

Q. I was curious, since crowds play such a big part in the Solheim Cup and given the scene we saw at the PGA over the weekend, how it feels to still be playing out here without any spectators?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: Yeah, I really miss them. You obviously feed a lot off the crowds and we been missing that. But we're in a strange situation, and I think the LPGA has been doing a great job trying to keep us safe, which I think as a tour we've done amazing.

We barely had any cases. They'll come. We have to be a little patient, and obviously next couple weeks we're playing in California, which is still struggling a bit more than other states. After that I think we should be back to normal and I'm really excited for that.

Q. Do you think it affects match play events without feeding off the crowds?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: It does. You know, it's fun when you hit a good shot or make a good putt and the crowd goes crazy. You feed off that. But it is what it is. It's the same for everybody. We been playing like this now for almost a year so we are kind of getting used to it.

Again, it's the same for everybody so it's -- it is what it is.

Q. We are slowly seeing things come back to the normal. Pro-ams, spectators, we're not wearing masks right now thanks to vaccinations. To think of where we were this time a year ago and the fact that we're somewhat back to normal.

AZAHARA MUNOZ: For sure. I'm so grateful for how well everything is going. A year ago I remember even talking to some girls and we didn't know when we were going to play next. Luckily we start playing in July, and at the beginning it was all like we weren't sure the tournaments were going to go ahead, cancel last minute.

But again, as a tour we've done so amazing. We played lots of tournaments, obviously not crowds, but as you said, things are getting back to normal.

We have limited fans this week, but we are getting there slowly but surely.

THE MODERATOR: And I think another thing that needs to be brought up is Bank of Hope and MGM and Shadow Creek, who at a time when where it would have been understandable to step away, they among many other companies have supported the LPGA. What does that men to you and the rest of the players to have these organizations supporting the tour?

AZAHARA MUNOZ: It means so much. Obviously we are very lucky. Again, we're in such a strong position to have all the sponsors that want to support women's golf. I think we all feel very blessed. To have Bank of Hope and MGM and put on this amazing tournament, you know, they're treating us so nicely and so cool to be in Vegas. I think we're all super thankful for and it very lucky.

THE MODERATOR: Anything else here in the room? We will let you go. Thank you so much, good luck this week. See you out there tomorrow with Mel.

AZAHARA MUNOZ: Thank you.