KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2021

Celine Boutier

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Here with Celine Boutier, who just shot an awesome 8-under 64. That was quite a round, lots of birdies. The eagle, tell us about that eagle there on No. 6.

CELINE BOUTIER: Yeah, they moved the tees up on that hole, so it was like 210 meters. I had a 3-wood, and I hit it pretty solid. So I was on the green, and I managed to make it maybe eight feet or so for eagle, which was pretty nice.

THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Lots of other birdies on the round. Were they long putts, short putts, or was it just a lot of things in sync for you?

CELINE BOUTIER: I think I was able to hit my irons a lot closer today, so I had a lot of closer putts compared to yesterday. Obviously, made a lot of them. So I think it was a combination of hitting it closer and also making the putts behind that kind of helped me get a lot of birdies.

THE MODERATOR: And then just the one bogey there on No. 8 where I saw you were in the bunker and couldn't quite get out there. Or did get out but not quite the way you liked. What happened there?

CELINE BOUTIER: I was just struggling to find my balance like being stable, so I think I kind of held it a little bit and thinned it. So it was -- thankfully it came out, but it was definitely a disappointing shot.

THE MODERATOR: You're done, and you have a great round. What are your biggest take-aways from this highly successful round?

CELINE BOUTIER: Definitely that my game is in place. I was definitely a bit worried yesterday because I wasn't hitting as well. So I went to the range and managed to find something in my swing that helped me today. So I hope I can build on some confidence for the weekend.

THE MODERATOR: You mind telling us what that something is?

CELINE BOUTIER: No, I don't mind. Actually, I was missing a lot of irons left from hooking, and I think that was -- I mean, I think, I'm not 100 percent sure -- but I think it was because I was kind of staying back a little bit on my downswing. So I just have to think of kind of go through the ball, and I think that helped me to be more straight.

Q. They had talked about the possibility of moving the tee forward on 6. I'm just curious during the practice rounds, did you go up to that tee and practice that shot?

CELINE BOUTIER: I did not practice it, but I was aware of it. So I kind of knew what the shot would look like and I actually discussed it with my caddie also to see, if they move it up, what would be the strategy? So I didn't hit it, but I was aware of the shot.

Q. Was there any discussion? Was there any doubt the way to play it when you got there today?

CELINE BOUTIER: A little bit because I thought I was going to have to hit a driver, but it was actually a little bit shorter than expected. So I was kind of in between my 3-wood and my driver, but driver would have been over the green, probably landed on and over. So I think the best shot was to hit the 3-wood.

Q. Have you seen signs that a round like this was close to coming?

CELINE BOUTIER: That a round like this was coming?

Q. A round this good. Have you seen signs lately that you were this close to it?

CELINE BOUTIER: Yeah, I shot 8-under two weeks ago at Mediheal. So I know my game was ready, just a little bit of lack of confidence. This week I felt like I wasn't hitting as well as I wanted to, but I knew that I could score lower, especially after yesterday. I shot 1-over, but I felt like my game was better than that and I didn't finish very well, so I was kind of a little bit on a mission today to score a little bit lower.

Q. 8-under is obviously not a common score all the time because it's so hard to make so many birdies. When you start making birdies early, what kind of mentality do you have to kind of keep going and not sort of cruise at 4-under or something but keep making like an extra couple more?

CELINE BOUTIER: Yeah, it's definitely something that I would see myself do, just be laid back and stop trying hard, but I think you just have to keep it one shot at a time and try to forget how many birdies you've had. For me, I even try to forget about my score and just try to make any opportunity that I have, try my best and try to make the putt or whatever. I think for me that's been helping me.

Q. You've contended at majors before. What's been the learning curve for you at big events?

CELINE BOUTIER: I think just being confident in that spot. It's a lot of extra pressure and just trying to manage your emotions can be challenging when it's such high stakes. So I think being in that position as much as you can definitely helps you be more comfortable in the future when it happens again.

So I hope I have learned from the past and try to make it a better result this week.

Q. What's your tactic to keep your emotions in check?

CELINE BOUTIER: Again, just try not to think about the future or the past, just try to stay focused one shot at a time and do my best each shot and then see at the end.

Q. You mentioned the 64 Mediheal. Lake Merced is no cupcake, and this is a pretty difficult golf course. What is it about difficult golf courses that brings out the best in your game?

CELINE BOUTIER: I do like challenging courses. I think it makes the game a little bit more challenging for sure, but I think it definitely separates the better players to the rest, and I feel like you have to be a little bit more in the zone, like focused and prepared. You have to be prepared, whether it's with your swing, but also strategy with your caddie and everything has to be in sync.

I don't know, I just like the atmosphere and the challenge of tough courses.

Q. Can you talk about the discipline of sometimes playing away from a flag or laying up on a par-5 or some of the things that seem to become very natural to you that another player might have to think about?

CELINE BOUTIER: I mean, especially when the course is difficult, I feel like the decisions can be -- some decisions can be tempting, but I feel like, because the course is so hard, you have to also be conservative at the same time. I feel like I've always been more on the conservative side.

So for example, even on 18 today, I kind of was really torn between going for it or not. I had like a hybrid 3, and I was really torn between going for it or laying up because that pin is a little bit tricker than you would think, like if you miss left or in the bunker behind, you're kind of screwed.

So it's not that easy, but my caddie, I think, is making me try to go for it more, a little bit more aggressive, when obviously he thinks it's good. So on that case, for example, he helped me be more confident and aggressive with the shot. I think it's discussion with your caddie and yourself on what you're comfortable with doing and taking the responsibility for the shot if it's not going the way you want it to. At the end, just trust yourself on the decision.

Q. After the eagle on 6, I was just curious what club you hit on par-3?

CELINE BOUTIER: 25 hybrid.

Q. And how far was the putt?

CELINE BOUTIER: It was 176 meters, so I don't know in yards.

Q. How long was the putt?

CELINE BOUTIER: It was maybe 15, 18 feet.