ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

July 29, 2021

Krista Bakker

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Start with the round today; you had three birdies, Nos. 1, 4 and 16. Any one of those in particular kind of help get the round started for you and get you into a nice groove?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah. I just like tried to make a lot of pars because it was quite tough today with the wind. I got a good flow on the back nine, and yeah.

Q. You started on the back nine, so you made --

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah.

Q. So you made the turn at even and then a couple birdies on the front nine; how nice was it to settle in and find those two birdies to shoot under par?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, yeah, it was nice. Like on my back nine I had good saves, so I managed to get good pars, so that was good.

Q. Was there in particular any save that really stood out?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, I had a couple of good bunker shots and one bunker that I made it, so I made a birdie, so that was nice.

Q. Which one was that on?

KRISTA BAKKER: It was the par-4 before the par-3.

Q. So No. 4, the par-4.

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah.

Q. Do you remember how far you were out at the bunker, how far to the hole?

KRISTA BAKKER: It was like 10 meter bunker.

Q. What was the emotion that went with that?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, it was good. It was nice to hole that.

Q. You've had a pretty good year, I think. You didn't play at all last year.

KRISTA BAKKER: No, actually not.

Q. Can you take us through -- obviously with COVID I'm sure, but any other reasons?

KRISTA BAKKER: I needed a break. I decided to quit playing like 2019 end of the season. I just did something else. It was nice to do something else, and now maybe I have more perspective about the game. Yeah, it was a good break and good time with COVID.

Q. When you talk about doing something else --

KRISTA BAKKER: I did a bit of work and not much golf. Well, I played, of course, but not any tournaments.

Q. What kind of work?

KRISTA BAKKER: I was in a sports store.

Q. What was it called?

KRISTA BAKKER: Budget Sport in Finland.

Q. Did you take time off, make some money and kind of regroup?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, make some money and -- yeah, it was good. It was good for me I feel like, and now I enjoy more playing.

Q. I've got to ask you about Matilda Castren's win a few weeks ago. Do you know Matilda?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, we are good friends. It was awesome. Awesome to see her playing so well.

Q. Provide some inspiration for you and maybe other Finnish players?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, for sure, yeah.

Q. What have your goals been when you entered the week with this type of event, men and women out here?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, well, my goal for the season is to get the first win and to be like a lot in top 10s, but for this week just go out there, have fun. Like that's my goal, and let's see what it brings. But it's great with the guys playing, as well.

Q. Have you ever played an event -- did you play the Scandinavian event earlier this week?

KRISTA BAKKER: Not that one, but I played the Vic Open in Australia.

Q. Did you play in 2019?

KRISTA BAKKER: It was 2019 or 2018 or something like that, yeah.

Q. Do you remember maybe some of that experience that helped you just kind of feel comfortable here this week?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, maybe. Maybe. I feel comfortable. Yeah, it's a nice event to play.

Q. Linnea obviously from Sweden, Nuria from Spain. Have you ever played with them growing up?

KRISTA BAKKER: Not much, but I know Nuria like when she played LET, so yeah.

Q. Good group, though?

KRISTA BAKKER: Yeah, good group. Nice group.