SOLHEIM CUP

September 4, 2021

Matilda Castren

Anna Nordqvist

Inverness Club

Team Europe

Quick Quotes

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Q. Your first Solheim Cup and you're out with a Solheim Cup legend. How did that feel today?

MATILDA CASTREN: Honestly I could not have asked for a better pairing. She is a very nice person and great player, so she made me feel super comfortable out there, and I could play my own game and trust her. I really enjoyed it.

Q. Anna, your seventh appearance in the Solheim Cup. You've got many experiences, but that experience on the firth tee, how did that rate?

ANNA NORDQVIST: It's obviously special. I got to do it in '13 and I've done a few in Europe. Obviously not first, but it's always a special feeling. I love the atmosphere.

It's such a cool honor to be able to hit the first tee shot, and we striped it down the middle, so we got off to a great start.

Q. The match was pretty nip and tuck the whole way. Just talk us through your putt from off the green. Was it in a divot or a little hole?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, it was actually in a massive divot that wasn't quite big so I feel like I could only get to half of the back of the ball, so I didn't really have much choice there.

We knew it was going to pop out, but didn't think it was going to get airborne for 10, 12 feet. But you know you've got to leave yourself short and Matilda has been putting really well, so she got us covered there.

Q. And that putt, never a doubt?

MATILDA CASTREN: I've been putting great today, so I just figured I'd trust my putting and just try to do my best.

Q. Catriona Matthew put two of her rookies right out in the fire, you were right in the mix. What was the experience like?

MATILDA CASTREN: It was really cool. I was nervous on the first tee even though I didn't have to hit the first shot, so I'm glad Anna got me covered there. She was a huge help today. It was really nice playing with her. She's awesome and an awesome player, so I can really trust her, and I really enjoyed playing with her.

Q. Anna, you have so much experience, your seventh Solheim. Today was your 14th point earned. You've been a stalwart in these matches. What was that like for you to guide this wonderful rookie?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Well, I'm really proud of Matilda to go out there as a rookie and just be fearless. She putted really well today and kept us in play. It's nice to be able to play with some of the younger girls. I guess I start feeling a little bit older out there.

But it's just really nice. Matilda has a great personality and I really enjoy playing -- we played a lot of the practice rounds together this week, so I really enjoyed getting to know her, and I think her game is fantastic. She's been playing so well on the LPGA Tour, so I couldn't ask for a better partner.

MATILDA CASTREN: I couldn't ask for a better way to start my Solheim Cup career winning the first point and playing with Anna. She's a legend and such a nice person and just someone that I can really trust on the course and have fun with.

Q. Anna, when they made the par putt on No. 7, big fist pump, crowd erupted. Felt like there was a little shift in momentum. They ended up winning the next one to make the turn 1-up. What did you tell yourself and what did you tell Matilda to maintain your composure?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Well, I mean, I felt we were doing good. The course is hard, and the greens being this firm it's hard to get it close. If you're standing there with longer irons, sometimes you have to take one side of the golf course out of play because you know you're dead if you hit it right of the pin or left of the pin.

I felt like we were doing great. We also had a great par putt there on 7; got a little bit unlucky with the lie in the rough. She basically didn't really have a shot; just missed the fairway. It's just things happen.

She made that putt and they got a little bit of momentum, but I felt like Matilda putted really well all day, had great speed, and I didn't barely have to putt today. She made a couple really good ones that took the momentum back for us, especially the one on -- good par putt there on 9 followed by a great birdie on 10.

Q. Matilda, besides playing with a vet an in Anna, what was some advice that you received this week that you took to heart that you implemented heading into your first match today?

MATILDA CASTREN: Definitely to have fun. I mean, it's a serious match and we're playing against the Americans, and we take a lot of pride in this tournament. Everyone is telling me to have fun and enjoy it and embrace the crowds and embrace the whole experience, so that's what we tried to do today.

Just getting on the first tee I was nervous, but I was just looking around and thinking how cool it is and what an experience and just how much fun it's going to be, and it was really fun. I really enjoyed the crowds, even though there was a little bit too much "USA" chanting.

But it was still so much fun playing with Anna, and I putted great, which I'm really happy about. It was a great day.

Q. Anna, kind of a three-part question. What was it like to hit that first tee shot, and what have you learned over the years to drown out the Team USA chants when you're on American soil and to pull out a victory like you did in the morning session?

ANNA NORDQVIST: I mean, I live for moments like that, hitting the first tee shot on 1, and I got to do it in '13. I remember I striped it probably another 25 yards down the first because I had so much adrenaline.

But it's just a huge honor, a great honor for Catriona Matthew to believe in me and Matilda to lead off the team. Obviously we're very happy to get off to a good start, and Matilda played fantastic. For her to go out there as a rookie, it's not easy. You don't know what to expect.

And putting really well, hitting it really well, and just staying in there with me, and that's obviously really awesome.

Q. You were the first out for Team Europe and you were the first to win a point for your team. What was the key to pulling out that win?

ANNA NORDQVIST: It was an honor for me and Matilda to get the team started. I loved hitting the first tee shot. It's moments like that I live for. I feel like we played solid. The course is tough, especially if you hit it in the rough. There's so many long clubs in, and with the greens being as firm as they are, it's hard to get it close.

I feel like Matilda putting really well today kept my putter in the bag. But yeah, it was a little bit back and forth, but it's just such small margins. But I feel like we got a little bit of momentum back there after they caught up on us on 10. Matilda hit a great putt.

But just keeping it solid, trying to hit fairways and greens, and winning 18 was a great feeling.

Q. Even the rookie got off to a great start over here. Great playing. How did the first experience playing in the Solheim Cup today meet your expectations?

MATILDA CASTREN: It was more than I could have expected. It was so much fun. I managed to enjoy it, and even though I was nervous I could still just enjoy the feelings and enjoy the emotions and enjoy playing with Anna. She was a great partner.

I feel like we stayed really patient out there, and that rewarded us in the end.