GAINBRIDGE LPGA AT BOCA RIO

January 28, 2022

Ryann O'Toole

Boca Rio Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, Ryann, you had another steady day.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Yeah.

Q. Back-to-back 70s to open up; four birdies on the scorecard today. What's been making it nice and smooth and steady start of this tournament?

RYANN O'TOOLE: I feel like my irons are definitely on this week. I think that's what I struggled with last week. I think I putted great, and I just think usually my irons are my key, so those are dialed in this week. Just trying to get a few more putts to drop.

Yesterday I stripped it. I had so many putts around 10, 12 feet for birdies that just getting to the hole has been a challenge. You look at that distance or even like a 30-footer and you're just like, it's a guess how hard to hit it.

This week has been a little bit different, especially west coast (indiscernible - wind) and coming here to Florida where there is a ton of grain. I think same thing with reading putts. I finally figured that with that much grain -- because typically they've cut them that really short that we don't get that much influence.

Out here they're on the longer side, so just trying to add the grain into the read and watch -- I mean, just trust it.

Q. Uh-huh. And you had birdies today at 2, 11, 12, and 14.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Uh-huh.

Q. Did any of those in particular stand out as you look back on the round?

RYANN O'TOOLE: 2 -- what did you say, 2, 11...

Q. 2, 11, 12, and 14.

RYANN O'TOOLE: I mean, 12 I made -- I mean, I stuck it to like a foot so that was definitely a good one.

And then few others were inside ten feet.

Then I made a long one on 14. I made like a 30-footer so that was nice. You know, just trying to take where I can, I guess.

Q. Did that give you some good momentum?

RYANN O'TOOLE: It did. It made me say, Okay, I think what I'm focusing on is good and just be patient. That's the key out here, is literally like you could are striking it good like I have been, and just have to be patient with the putts.

Q. And then conditions were obviously different from yesterday and they're going to be even more different tomorrow.

RYANN O'TOOLE: Correct.

Q. How much did kind of I guess the weaning off of the warm weather help mentally prepare you for a weekend to come?

RYANN O'TOOLE: Definitely, yeah, rather than going from yesterday like sweating to tomorrow where we're absolutely freezing, definitely helped to have a cooler day today.

You know, coming off last weekend it was freezing, so I kind of know what to expect so I definitely will be prepared for that.

The ball is not going to fly as far, and just once again, this course, it's a good -- they set it up good. There are some long holes and it's nice to see that. Mixed with you got some wedge shots as well.

So there is opportunity, but it'll be interesting to see when it gets cold.

Q. Last one for you: Obviously you won last year to kind of get over that hump. Then you start off 2022 at the Tournament of Champions. You continue to reap the rewards of your win. How nice was it to get that head start and compete in a champions-only event to start this season off fresh but hopefully find the podium again?

RYANN O'TOOLE: It definitely helps. Four-day, no-cut is great. I can't complain with that. It also is the first tournament back, so you're kind of just seeing where things are at, how they handle in competition and under pressure.

And so having that week and then kind of getting a few days prior to this event starting to kind of work -- do some hard work again on what I worked on in the off-season with Jorge has been good.