VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LPGA TEXAS CLASSIC

July 4, 2021

Matilda Castren

Old American Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. It's been talked about that you can't qualify for the Solheim Cup team. Have you looked at any possible avenues as to how you could qualify?

MATILDA CASTREN: The only way of me to qualify is -- or to become an LET member is to win either LET or a co-sanctioned event.

Q. Okay. So...

MATILDA CASTREN: So yeah.

Q. You could go win, what, Evian?

MATILDA CASTREN: So I'm going to Finland to play a regular event.

Q. LET event?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. When is that?

MATILDA CASTREN: That's the week of Dow, so that's my first chance; then Evian, second one; and Scottish and British.

Q. So you got four chances.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. Obviously it's a different world, but you've played LET.

MATILDA CASTREN: No.

Q. Never?

MATILDA CASTREN: No. I played one tournament when I was like 14 on a sponsor invite.

Q. Do you remember what event it was?

MATILDA CASTREN: It was one in Finland.

Q. Okay.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I can't remember the year.

Q. Go win an event, otherwise would you -- well I guess it's every couple years, so would you have plans to pursue LET membership a little a later time if you were not able to win?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I mean, I'll definitely do Q-School the next time it comes around. Solheim Cup is one of my biggest goals and biggest dreams, so I'll do whatever I can to get in.

Q. Take me through this week. What was it like here going up against the former world No. 1? You mentioned you could see why she was No. 1 for so long. What was it like going head-to-head with her today?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I mean, I played with her the last two days and it was just really cool to watch her play. She didn't make many mistakes at all, recovered from her not-so-great shots really well.

Like I said, I can definitely see why she was world No. 1 for so long. It was just really special to be -- especially yesterday with Lee6, like in that group. I was walking down the fairway and I was just thinking like who would've known a couple years ago that I would be playing with these girls.

Yeah, it was really cool feeling. I'm really proud of myself of how far I've come.

Q. Yeah. You put yourself in position not only to win, but to beat some of the best in the game over the last several years.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. Are you playing next week?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yes.

Q. So you're going from here to Marathon to Finland to compete?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. Then to Evian?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. And then Olympics?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. So you have quite a stretch.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah.

Q. Despite a missed cut last week, to put yourself in the wish and then right on the edge of another win two of your last three starts, do you feel in a good spot?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, in a pretty good spot. There are a couple things I want to work on with my swing. Other than that, I like where I'm at.

I just have to rest and make sure I sleep a lot and eat well.

Q. When you can have a week like this, speaking of sleep, when you can have a week like you did, on outstanding week and we had a six-hour weather delay, rain, wind picks up over the weekend. When you have all these external factors and really demanding both physically and mentally, is it that much more satisfying to put forth an effort like this?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, definitely. That six-hour delay, it was definitely a lot of sitting and waiting around. Yeah, it's been a pretty different week. I played all four rounds in the afternoon, which is not my favorite thing to do in the 90 degree heat.

I'm happy how it turned out. Yeah, just keep going from here.