TRUST GOLF WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

August 12, 2021

Yuka Saso

Dumbarnie Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Fantastic start to the tournament, no signs of any jet-lag coming from Japan.

YUKA SASO: Yeah, not much wind this morning. So that really helped. Last seven holes, six holes, wind catch up, but I think I hit pretty good shots today and holed some putts. Hope to keep this going.

Q. Par after the first nine, so you finished really strongly on the back nine, didn't you?

YUKA SASO: Yeah, I hit some good putts. Better than the front nine. Greens is not really fast, so I kind of have to hit it a little bit -- I think I did well on the back nine doing that. I think I should practise more but yeah, I think I finished good. Overall I'm happy.

Q. Is it an interesting challenge? A modern course but has that links feel?

YUKA SASO: Obviously the golf course is so beautiful. It's different golf than what I'm used to. You don't really use driver, second shot around the tee. But it's really fun and it's a new experience for me. So I'm really enjoying it.

Q. Good form with your big win early in the summer. You must be setting your sites high this weekend?

YUKA SASO: We'll take it day-by-day, one shot at a time. I think I'm still in a learning stage and here trying to have fun and learn from the players who have experienced the links course. So yeah just take it day-by-day.

Q. With the major win, have you been able to reflect on that?

YUKA SASO: Yeah, obviously I was very happy. Like I always say, I think I'm still in a learning stage and every week, I think I'm learning something every day. You know, I still have a long way to go. Yeah, I was happy but I want to get better and we all want to get better every day. So I'll keep working and get my golf to where I want it to be.

Q. I was talking to Lionel, I know it's been a little bit since you have been on the links, what's your experience getting used to Dumbarnie and coming to Scotland from the Olympic Games?

YUKA SASO: I only played links once in London, I'm not sure. But yeah, it's very different golf from what I'm used to play. I've talked to many legends. I talked to Justin Leonard and I played with Stacy in a practise round and they gave me good advice. Those stuff is fun for me and I really enjoyed it.

Like I always say, it's a new experience for me and I'm learning something new every day. I'm really happy with where I am right now, yeah.

Q. Stacy, who won this event last year; you played with her at Marathon, what was some of the advice she gave you?

YUKA SASO: About links she said -- wait, I don't want to share it. Well, she said like -- she said a lot of things. Different kind of chip shots. In America we kind of have to go high and try to stop the ball but here, it's like you have to be more -- you have to have more like rolling low ball and trying to chase the hole. That's the shots that I'm not really used to.

Watching her doing that, I practised yesterday, this morning, trying to do those stuff, and that helped. So yeah, I'm really thankful and hope to play with her more so I can learn from her.

Q. You mentioned the greens are slower; but there wasn't much wind today and your back nine you took advantage. What was working so well for you in those last nine holes?

YUKA SASO: I think my putts. I think I got used to the speed of the greens. Like I said, you have to hit it firm, and that was key and I'm glad I holed some putts and finished strong.

Q. One of the many Olympians who journeyed from Japan. Have you been able to get enough rest? Have you been able to think about what last week was like for you at all?

YUKA SASO: I rested a little bit inside the plane. It's so different from last week. It was so hot, so humid, and now here we have to wear jackets; it's so cold.

I think that's one of the fun things about golf. You experience a lot of things and you get to many places. I enjoy it. After next week, after British Open, I don't have a tournament. So I'm just trying to keep this going and rest after that.

Q. What did you take away, especially from that back nine that you'll want to continue into tomorrow, especially if the weather picks up to more of that Scottish weather I feel like we were all wanting to experience today?

YUKA SASO: I think it's going to be really fun. Like I hope to putt like the last nine holes tomorrow and hit some good shots from the tee. I think it's going to be very important.

So yeah, I think I'll just take it shot-by-shot and try to feel what I have to do, and you know, take it from there.

Q. This is a brand new course for everyone. Were you excited because of the challenges of links golf to come figure this out or was it just another week for you?

YUKA SASO: I was pretty excited because it's different golf. Like I said, I think I'm learning something new. So yeah, it's pretty exciting and really fun.

Q. Is this your first time in Scotland?

YUKA SASO: Yes.

Q. I know we haven't been able to do much with the bubbles and everything, but what do you like most about being here these last few days?

YUKA SASO: This is summer. It's summer but we're wear jackets. I like it, yeah.