MARATHON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY DANA

July 9, 2021

Matilda Castren

Quick Quotes

Q. Matilda, starting on the back nine today. You had three birdies in your front nine holes. Just take us through the first three birdies.

MATILDA CASTREN: I made some pretty good putts. I gave myself good opportunities. I think I hit a lot of greens on the front, so it was a pretty solid nine overall.

Making those putts, I don't think any of them were very short, maybe like 12 to 20 feet, so those are always nice ones to make.

Q. I know you had that bogey on the front nine. What were some of the differences you think between maybe today and yesterday?

MATILDA CASTREN: I think my ball striking is still good. I just put myself kind of in a bad spot on par-5, 7 and had it punch out under the trees and made bogey there.

Other than that, it was a pretty solid day and I hope to keep it going.

Q. I was going to say, I saw you at the range yesterday working on those 3-woods and drivers that you talked about. Did you see an improvement, you think?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, it was a little better. Yeah, it was only a couple shots that I kind of missed and I wasn't in a spot where I wanted to be, but a lot of those times I still managed to make an up and down or managed to hit the green, so it didn't put me in that much trouble. Just that one hole I bogeyed.

Q. You still are up there in contention. How much do you reflect on your week at VOA and how you did last week as you continue through the weekend?

MATILDA CASTREN: I mean, you can always be happy when you're in contention and you have a shot at it for the weekend. I'm in a good spot and I look forward to the weekend. I don't know what's going to happen this afternoon. I see some low scores coming.

So we'll see where we will be tomorrow.

Q. I also saw you talking to a couple out there, some Finnish familiarity.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yes. So they're a Finnish couple this Raleigh. I met them last year. They've been following me and my career for a couple years now. They came to watch in North Carolina when I played a Symetra event there. Played the pro-am with them.

They came to watch in Virginia this year and they just drove last night eight hours to come watch me play today, so it's super sweet to see them.

Q. What does that mean to you? Not only when you have people like that, but, I mean, this place is famous for the fan enthusiasm. What does that mean to you to see the crowds like they are?

MATILDA CASTREN: It's really cool to see them. Last year was my first time here and we didn't have any spectators. We still saw some people on their back yards having like a little Barbecue and still trying to watch. I heard from everyone that this tournament is known for the fans, and I can see now why.

Everyone seems to be super excited that we're here and we feel very welcome. I played with Paula Creamer the last two days and we had a pretty nice crowd following, so it was nice.

And to see some of my Finnish friends was awesome.

Q. With the year you've had, what does that support feel like? (Indiscernible.)

MATILDA CASTREN: Well, it's always nice to have support. I mean, the more the better. Yeah, I guess I managed to made some fan this year. It feels nice to have people supporting me and following me, sending me those good luck messages and congrats messages. I feel special.

Q. When you are playing well like you have for months of the season, does that kind of build on itself? Do you kind continue to play well?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, it definitely helps with my confidence being in contention again and kind of seeing my game -- see myself playing well out there. Last week I finished second.

It's all kind of -- it helps. As a rookie you need those moments to kind of build your confidence and kind of find your way and find your spot on the tour and make your mark.

Q. If you were told at the beginning of this year that you'd have a rookie year like this, would you have believed it?

MATILDA CASTREN: Probably not. (Smiling.) I mean, I didn't see it coming this soon. Obviously this year counts, so in the beginning of the year I was kind of like, Okay, how do I keep my card? How do I avoid going to Q-School?

I just played my game and I had a couple really good weeks, and yeah, that was it.

Q. Just kind of happened.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, it's golf.