NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 26, 2021

Nasa Hataoka

Pinnacle Country Club

Press Conference

Q. You win, second time here. How does that compare, how does today's win compare to the others?

NASA HATAOKA: It was pretty tight, very stressful because I was so -- the other player was so close to me. So it was pretty stressful for me, yeah.

Q. I was going to ask you about that. On No. 18, your first putt, 15 feet past. Were you a little amped up or what happened on that first putt?

NASA HATAOKA: This week, I haven't had any long putts this week, so I guess -- plus it kind of looked like it was going uphill so I just went for it.

That's what I got.

Q. Does your mom still travel with you?

NASA HATAOKA: (No oral response.)

Q. Tell me about this little hop you do for your tee shot and your fairway shots?

NASA HATAOKA: It kind of helps me relax. Not every time, but it helps me relax, get into the shot.

Q. Okay. Talk about the Olympics a little bit. What was it like to represent your country in the Olympics, and having that time in your home country, what was that like?

NASA HATAOKA: Being extended a whole year with the Japanese golf level going up, I was really, really honored to be able to be chosen. Because I was chosen, I wanted to really prove myself. Kind of didn't work out that way, but at least I'm very honored to be chosen.

Q. You seem to always play well at this course. What is it about this course that suits your game really well?

NASA HATAOKA: The grasses type, it matches what I was doing when I was young, and so I'm able to kind of know how it reacts, so that kind of helps me. And so I like this course, yeah.

Q. I was going to ask today was a little crazy. We had a different kind of tee time that we're not used to. What were your nerves like as you were setting up for the round today?

NASA HATAOKA: Morning I was so easygoing I was kind of worried that maybe I better start getting a little stressed out and control myself.

But that came to the end and kind of got me. (Laughter.)

Q. I have a couple questions from people that texted me. Playing in the group that you were with, the other two golfers, and you guys were really close, within a shot or two of each other, do you feel more pressure playing when they're that close or does it matter?

NASA HATAOKA: Here and there I did feel pressure, but they're shot makers. I did feel pressure on the second shots because they are players that really get close to the pin. So that's where I did feel the pressure.

Q. All right, 50-foot par putt on 13. How fortunate of a break was it just to hit the hole and keep it just a short bogey putt?

NASA HATAOKA: I think it was really, really good that I was able to keep to a bogey because it was something that might have been a three-putt.

So I was lucky on that one, yeah.

Q. Then on 18, the nerves there on that final hole, did it remind you of that putt that you had on 13 just a few holes before?

NASA HATAOKA: 18 was a little different. I was shaking there, so it was completely different.

Q. And then this tournament, your second win here, two aces, beautiful weather. How memorable is this win out of all the other ones you've had?

NASA HATAOKA: My first win being here and of course the two hole-in-ones, it kind of feels like it's my power spot.

Q. I like that. When you were going through the par-3s today were you thinking of maybe holing just one more?

NASA HATAOKA: Yes, it was in the back of my mind, yes. Like on 11 I was pretty close so yeah, it is in the back of my mind, yeah.

Q. What kind of confidence does this give you about the season you're having as we go through the next stretch of tournaments and close it out just soon?

NASA HATAOKA: Winning here with so many few tournaments it's really giving me confidence to keep going and go for it.