THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 22, 2021

Maria Fassi

Evian Resort Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We talked a lot last week, obviously, about team and being paired with Stacy and what you learned. What was different in your own individual game today from what you took away last week?

MARIA FASSI: I mean, I think the mentality was in a way similar. Stacy kept saying that to me last week, she's like, hey, make sure that you're able to do this when you're by yourself. Make sure that you feel confident enough to hit the shots that you have to hit and to feel confident and comfortable with those.

I think even last week I was in a team environment but still just trying to really feel comfortable over the ball. I was able to do that today, and pretty steady round.

I took advantage of a couple good shots that I hit, and happy to see some good golf out here this week.

Q. What does it mean to you to be playing in this event?

MARIA FASSI: I mean, it's another major. It's a great major. It's even better now with the new title sponsor. You can see their support.

I have a close relationship with Franck Riboud, and it's nice to see him again. He's so excited for the tournament, especially after not having it last year.

I love it here. I think it's a cool stop that we have. It's beautiful views. The people are happy to have us here. I'm very happy to be playing.

Q. How did you get to know Franck?

MARIA FASSI: I played Palmer Cup here as a collegiate athlete, through my agents and Leadbetter, who they're friends from a long time, and kind of he's always been great to me. We've hung out when he's been in the U.S., and he takes great care of me when I'm here. It's just a great person to know and even better when he puts a tournament like this together for all of us.

Q. On the round today, you had four birdies on Nos. 2, 4, 9 and 13. Any one of those in particular kind of stand out in the round?

MARIA FASSI: I think the one on No. 4. I made a silly bogey on 3, and I think 4 is one of the toughest holes out here, and hit a great second shot. I had maybe three, four feet tops for birdie, and it was just a good putt and was able to kind of keep going after that bogey on 3. That one was good.

Honestly, all four were special in their own way, and happy to see some of them go in, and I know that there's plenty more for me out there tomorrow.

Q. What kind of memories -- Palmer Cup you said? What kind of memories do you have from those days that maybe helped translate to just kind of acclimating to this environment?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, another team event, and just a lot of fun. Talking to some of the girls that we were here a few years back, and now we're playing in the real deal. It's just so much fun to come back to a place where I have good memories. I played good golf when I was here for Palmer Cup.

I hit some crazy shots that you wouldn't really do on a regular tournament, but I kind of know that if I need them, I know how to hit them, too. I have a lot of good from Palmer Cup. I was fortunate enough today to kind of stay in a good rhythm and put a good round together.

Q. You mentioned a couple players that you had conversations with about it; who were they?

MARIA FASSI: Well, Lauren played here with us, Kupcho played here. I was talking to a couple of the boys on my team, Al have a row, his girlfriend, Brooke Matthews, she's at Arkansas and she's playing here this week. Of course she didn't play but she knows about it all and stuff, so it was kind of nice to look back a little bit and definitely puts a smile on my face when I look back at that tournament. Just happy to be back.

Q. What year or years did you play?

MARIA FASSI: We played here in 2018, I believe. That's the only year I played because then -- that's the first year they had women playing, and then 2019 I was a pro by then.