LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

February 3, 2022

Giulia Molinaro

Crown Colony Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Giulia Molinaro. Just take me through what this round was like out here. New course for everyone, but how are you feeling after day one?

GIULIA MOLINARO: I feel very good. I played really good golf. I even started with a three-putt on 1.

But I'm really happy that I was able to keep calm and keep going. Putting is something I been working very hard recently so it's sometimes like a wake-up call and maybe relaxes you a little bit or gets you kick started.

So I putted very well. Played an exceptional game tee-to-green, and I'm very happy with my round.

Q. What did you notice about this course? What were some of the things you picked up practicing here?

GIULIA MOLINARO: The greens are incredible, probably some of best greens this year; very long. I mean, it's a long course. Now that it's really blowing all this wind some holes are extremely long.

So it's not easy. It's not an easy course. That was my first impression even on Monday.

Q. Do you think you had a little bit of an advantage going off in the morning when the winds tend to be a little bit slower?

GIULIA MOLINARO: For sure. Yeah, for sure it's an advantage. First tee time, except the 4:20 wake-up call, is the best tee time you can have.

Yeah, the first five, six holes we didn't have much wind and then it kicked up. So even the last few of the back -- the front nine we had a good amount of wind, but I don't even know what's going to start happening now, so I'm happy to be done.

Q. We definitely saw a couple birdies out there. Being able to close with that birdie-birdie finish, take me through the last two holes.

GIULIA MOLINARO: Well, you know, I played 17 twice Tuesday and Wednesday and knew exactly what club to hit. Had a very good 8-iron in and had a, I don't know, maybe six-footer, nine-footer for birdie.

Here I had a very good drive and 3-wood that went just to the front of the green and very good chip up and tap-in. So stress-free birdie on 18 is always fun.

Q. This is definitely one of those different kind of events where we don't have week to week, the Drive On Championship in its fourth edition. What's it like being a part of the fourth one of its kind?

GIULIA MOLINARO: I'm very thankful that the LPGA gives us so many opportunities to compete. I think it's great and I love playing.

I'm very happy to be here and thankful that we have it.