U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 30, 2021

Annika Sorenstam

Brooklawn Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Annika Sorenstam, 3-under 69. Talk about the end of that round. Just on an unbelievable stretch.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, no, I finally rolled in some putts on -- I hit some really good shots 7, 8, 9. Crucial there towards the end. It was getting dark and we didn't know if we were going to finish, and I was a little frustrated with not making any birdies.

I really felt like I hit the ball well today, so it was nice to see them go in and get some red numbers there on the board. Overall it's just a good finish always makes the round feel a little sweeter than maybe it was.

Glad we finished. Going to have a good night's rest. Our kids came into town, so maybe I should take the rest away. We're just going to have a good night. How about that? And have a fun weekend.

Q. We heard that your gallery got a little bigger there at the end. What was it like when they showed up and you saw them?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It was fun. They came running down the seventh hole. I mean, I knew from the time standpoint they should be somewhere. You just don't know how the traffic is from the airport to here. Just so glad they got to see the last few holes and give me a little extra spring in my step.

Q. I don't know the final stats, but you had hit 25 of 27 greens to start the championship. Talk about your ball striking right now.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I mean, I'm super pleased. I really am. The driver today was maybe not as sharp but my irons were really on spot. Mike and I think we have a good system in trying to figure out where to go, and of course the rain last night makes the greens quite receptive, so I was able to fire more at the holes today.

You also have these false front. You got to be careful, because if you land on top, what happened on my last hole, No. 11, just kind of released a little bit from the rough.

But the course is playing great. I love the condition. I really think that they drained superbly. It was almost two inches of rain. Any other course would probably have a harder time, so grateful for that.

Q. You and Neumann able to feed off each other late, and it looks like you're going to be playing with her again tomorrow after not playing with her for however many years its been. Just thoughts playing with her again.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, like I said yesterday, I was very pleased with my pairing both with Liselotte and with Laura. And then looks like I'll being playing with Liselotte again. She's a great player. You know, she's a role model growing up, and when she won the Open there in 1988, I will never forget. I saw her photo on the billboard and that's what inspired me to really believe in myself.

It's kind of I would say special to really be able to play with her now as seniors, to be together. It's just, yeah, it's great. She's just good rhythm, good player, so it's -- I look forward to it.

Q. Bring back memories of having a lead on a weekend and what it's like and being able to handle that like in the past?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I really haven't been leading in the weekend for what, 13 years?

Q. Right.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: So I hope that tomorrow I wake up and it's going to feel like it was yesterday. But I'm just going to take all the good momentum I have. I'm hitting the ball well and I love the golf course. Going to go out and try to be more aggressive on the greens.

They scared me a little bit with the speed yesterday, and today they were a lot slower and I just really couldn't get there. I have time in the morning to work on that, and so just going to fine tune everything I can and go out there and do the best I can.

It's tough competition. Some players are still on the course in red numbers. Who knows what they will do. I just got to look forward, keep going forward, see what happens.