LPGA QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT STAGE II

October 21, 2021

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard

Plantation Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What a day, 5-under 67, clean card, bogey-free. What was going so well for you?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: I mean, I don't know. Sometimes golf is about being in the fairway, being on the green and just two putts or one putt. Today was more like about that, just taking it shot after shot, not being rushed into a birdie race or anything, just the process on every shot.

The back nine was a little bit long because I didn't have any birdie until the last hole. I had good opportunities, but the putts were -- decided not to go in.

Can be a little bit frustrating, especially after good shots, but it was a good day of golf. A bit further from the flags on the back nine, but just remained patient and do what needs to be done to just keep going in the right direction.

Q. Playing in majors, you've been kind of at the upper echelon of the amateur ranks. How much advantage do you have coming into a week like this knowing what that pressure is?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: I think it helps. I think every experience that you have from huge tournaments, Augusta National, U.S. Open, Evian Championship, all these tournaments that you play as an amateur or as a pro gives you some background when you get on these kind of tournaments. It's another type of tournament. It's a different type of pressure.

But in the end of the day, you're just asked to play your own game, not trying to be someone else, just keep doing what you do great, so that's what it's about, and just focusing on that. Obviously playing different majors and big tournaments helps, having some clarity, some -- I don't know how to say it --

Q. Stamina?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: Like it's clear. It's easier to think about it. It's easier not to go mad because I'm missing a few putts. It's easier to just stay patient, whatever happens.

Q. We hear a lot about Q-school being very grueling not only from a mental standpoint but also from a physical standpoint. You've been playing on the LET, obviously have done well so far. Do you think that helps you kind of keep stay conditioned when it's kind of a long week like this?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: Yeah, exactly. I haven't played a four-round tournament for a while. The last one was the Evian Championship. I would just say I have some experience on how I want to handle this kind of week in terms of physically and then mentally. I guess I have routines, and yeah, it's just -- obviously -- every time I'm in South Carolina I'm just going to work out for -- have a very specific purpose in everything I do.

This week is an important week for me, so I worked for this week, but past this week, as well, for the tournaments or different type of tournaments, not only this week. Like it's not the end, it's just part of a process.

Q. Looking ahead to tomorrow, you're headed to the Bobcat course which I've heard is a little different than the Panther course, not only the greens but different with ball-striking, as well. How do you change your mindset heading to a course like the Bobcat?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: I mean, it's the same. The mindset I have doesn't depend on the course I play. It just depends on me and how I feel. I mean, I have a specific strategy that is already clear, and it's just a different round. It's like -- I don't know, it's like if it were the same course but windier or with like rain or -- I don't know, it's just something I don't really think about, different course, different strategy golf-wise but not mentally wise. Just keep doing my thing.

Q. You told me a couple days ago that you had found a caddie in one of your last events that had kind of helped you stay happy on the golf course. Do you think that's carried over into this week?

PAULINE ROUSSIN-BOUCHARD: Exactly. I think it was the perfect timing to have him on the bag. The week before was a very good preparation for this week, and just go back to simple thoughts. Sometimes it's just important to just look up and see how lucky we are to play in such a great office and just lucky to be here and get the opportunity to compete. It was the perfect timing for these kind of thoughts and this kind of perspective. Yeah, I definitely went into this week excited and happy.