CURTIS CUP

August 26, 2021

Elaine Ratcliffe

Quick Quotes

Q. Really great start for GB&I. You must be very impressed with how the girls played today.

ELAINE RATCLIFFE: Oh, just amazed. Not amazed, because that sounds dreadful. I'm just thrilled, thrilled with the result. Thrilled that they have played the golf that I know they can play. I loved the fact that they have had such a great time doing it. The foursomes this morning started with a bang, we had one foursome pairing birdie the first and the second and then carry on. Four-ball this afternoon I think started quite flat, I think, after the golf this morning. But then people built on it and came good. Hannah and Annabell just, yeah, just kept throwing birdies and it's just, yeah, I'm kind of, I'm not shell shocked because I know they can play golf, but to have the points on the board that we have at the moment is brilliant. But I've also got to shelf that and we're got another day tomorrow. So it's kind of a really strange one at the moment because we have had a wonderful day and it's brilliant how well they have done and how they have played, but we have got to come out tomorrow and continue that. You don't win the Curtis Cup on day one. We have got to continue that golf and continue that momentum because for sure the American team will come back. I'm over the moon with where we are, but I think that's why I'm not as emotional, because I know we have got two more days ahead of us. A fantastic start, but shelf it, start again tomorrow.

Q. Do you feel like that's where your role as captain becomes really critical, because tonight to I guess help the girls celebrate what they have achieved today but keep their mindset that they need to keep the foot down and for another day tomorrow?

ELAINE RATCLIFFE: Yes, I think. So I don't want to squash anything, but obviously the last match was really tight and went both ways in the last six holes. Then the manner which it finished, two of the girls will be upset that they didn't show their best golf. So we have got to deal with that and that might take a little bit off the fact that we have done so well. But actually that might actually be the nice balance because, yeah, to have got something out of the last match, my God, yeah, yeah.

Q. Coming into the match there was a lot of talk that perhaps the GB&I team were the underdogs, but I don't think that that's how you all felt. You knew that you had exceptionally talented golfers and do you feel like the girls have come out and really proven themselves that, hey, we are here and we are here to contend and win this, win the Curtis Cup?

ELAINE RATCLIFFE: Yeah, I don't know the American players, obviously due to COVID and things. Just as it happened I hoped to go to the Augusta Women's so I could see how good these girls are, because clearly the American players are really good golfers. So I haven't seen a lot of them. I've not delved deep into what they have done, other than obviously I know Rose is No. 1 and Rachel, you know, the stuff that's hit me between the eyes, I know that, the rest I've just sort of left alone. I've had a wonderful summer watching the girls you've seen play today and I have seen some wonderful golf. I think over the years the teams I've captained I've been fortunate not to always captain people that have been world class, but I've also witnessed people playing against world-class players and I know we have got some world-class players in this team. If you come to this event with world-class players, you've got a fighting chance. And I feel truly honored and blessed that we have some world-class players in our midst and I think today they have taken it to the Americans and shown that they can play golf. But I don't doubt that they will bring something back tomorrow.

Q. Before we go, we obviously we can't leave you without commenting on all the incredible fans that have been out here today. We have had great crowds out at Conwy and obviously that hometown advantage and having all those GB&I fans out there, what role did that play for the girls?

ELAINE RATCLIFFE: I think the atmosphere was brilliant out here. It's been I've, from a personal point of view, I come from Cheshire, next door county, and I've seen so many people, so many familiar faces, so many people coming to say hello. I think everybody here has similar, people cheering them on. I think just in general there's just been a really appreciation of good golf. It's just felt, it's felt very comfortable out there and it's just been a very, the golf course is playing beautifully well and with the fans it's just, it's felt like the venue that we all hoped it would be, so it's just been an amazing day and thank you to all the fans for all the cheers and everything and long may it continue tomorrow and through to Saturday.