MARATHON CLASSIC PRESENTED BY DANA

July 10, 2021

Elizabeth Szokol

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Elizabeth Szokol who just shot a third round 67. It was a colorful first four holes for you. Open with a double bogey then birdie, birdie, bogey. That's that stretch like where you're so up and down right there?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: I kind of had a similar start yesterday. Was 2-over through three holes yesterday, so after that double then I made the birdie on the second hole. My caddie and I looked at each other and started laughing. We just kept a smile on our face.

I knew there were plenty of birdies out there, so just kind of stayed patient and kept making birdies, which was great.

Q. There were lots of birdies there besides the two on 2 and 3. 8, 10, 11, 16, and your whole group birdied 18. Any of those that particularly stood out for you, or what was the mentality of getting yourself turned around, besides laughing, and then carding all those birdies coming in?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: I would say 8 was a really good birdie on the par-3. Hit it close and made that birdie.

And then same with 10. I felt like I got some momentum going with those few birdies and finally got it under par, so this was nice, and felt more comfortable there to fire at some more pins.

Q. You're in, what, your third year on tour.

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: Yeah.

Q. And last year being so weird, how do you fell your game is coming together now that we're getting into the first real stretch in a while of good, normal golf?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: It's been so nice. This is my sixth week in a row, but it's been so nice just to play, especially after the weird year last year.

It's been great to keep going. Felt like my game was pretty close last week, so nice to see those results paying off this week.

Q. I'm exhausted and this is only my third week in a row. How do you keep yourself together during these long stretches?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: After KPMG I went home for a couple days and got to Dallas kind of last minute. Just took a couple days off, which was nice. Just wanted to play. I felt like my game was in a good spot, so happy I played last week and was just smart about taking those few days off, and tried my best not to overdo it.

Definitely some naps after some rounds, too.

Q. Nothing wrong with that. What's it been like this week being back? We were last year. There was no build around 18, there were no fans. Today is the most fans I've seen in a very long time, I think even pre-pandemic. What's it like here this week?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: It's great. Crazy to think we were here a year ago for the restart after COVID. It's great to see fans. There are a ton of fans out there. I love this golf course. I love being back here. I just love this event.

Q. Awesome. When you go into that final round and you're down six but going off there at the end, how do you approach that? How do you kind of try to reel Nasa?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: I'd say just keep playing how I'm playing. I feel like I've made a lot birdies, and just keep doing the same thing, fairways and greens and get some putts to drop.

Q. You are down by six, but is there a real feeling that you still can go win this thing?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: Definitely. I mean, there are so many birdies out there. I've definitely made some birdies even though I've had some colorful scorecards. I think so.

Just get the birdies and keep a clean scorecard, and I'm looking forward to it.

Q. You're going to be in the final group tomorrow, final group on a Sunday. Final group I think with the same two players that you were with today.

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: Yeah.

Q. Does what maybe help you out a little bit, or what do you think your game plan will be for tomorrow?

ELIZABETH SZOKOL: I think the same thing as today: just stay patient and just enjoy it. It was my first final group today on a Saturday and final group tomorrow, and I'm just going to enjoy that experience.

It was so much fun having the fans out. It was great playing with the two girls I played with, so I think we'll have a good time tomorrow.