AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

March 31, 2022

Hailey Borja

Quick Quotes

Q. Can you compare the conditions of yesterday to today? With the wait and the length and all that good stuff.

HAILEY BORJA: Greens were a little bit softer today, so the ball was more receptive, and it was checking a little bit harder. So not having to take so much yardage so that it rolls off as much. As well as the fairways are a little bit wet, but as long as you hit it clean, I think you're good. Not too bad out there.

Yeah, it's been a long day. I was originally supposed to go off at 9:06 and ended up going out at 4:36. Definitely a long day, but it was a day to be patient. So that's exactly what I did.

Q. How do you flip the switch after waiting around all day, maybe not knowing when you're going to go out or if you're going to go out. How do you flip the switch and start like you did? You came out fire.

HAILEY BORJA: I think today, like I said, it's all about being patient. I really thought about the positives of today. Yeah, it's bad weather, and I think everyone here is trying to do the best they can and have the best conditions that we can play on.

I just really started to think positive about it and all that stuff. I was able to putt around a little bit before I like really started my warmup, took a break, and then actually fully started my warmup. So it was kind of -- not like a routine, but something before my routine to get me going.

Q. Were you happy that the horn kind of blew when it did and that you have several holes to play tomorrow in what should be calmer and kind of early conditions?

HAILEY BORJA: Yeah, I think it will be pretty good. Today started out really windy on my first couple holes. So I think tomorrow morning will probably be the same as how I finished today. I think the greens will probably roll out a little bit more than they did today just because it's probably going to dry up a little bit.

I think it's good that we finished. Again, it was getting dark, and my last putt I couldn't really read the green so much.

Q. Interesting day tomorrow, Hailey. You're tied for the lead. You come out and play seven holes, and then you head over to Augusta National. What excites you the most about tomorrow?

HAILEY BORJA: I think definitely just seeing Augusta itself. It was my first time going and seeing Magnolia Lane, so, again, just like a dream come true. It's the best thing I've ever seen in my life.

Q. The driving or just going down Magnolia Lane?

HAILEY BORJA: Yeah, I think all of it, just seeing Augusta in general, again, is just the best thing ever. Like everything was just cut perfectly.

Q. How do you separate the fact that you're playing really nicely in this tournament and you're going to go have a little hit over at Augusta National later in the day? Can you distinguish between the two? What's that word I'm looking for? Compartmentalize, thank you.

HAILEY BORJA: Well, it's funny because when I play golf, I'm not really thinking about golf, if that makes sense. I really kind of like to distract myself and talk about other things.

Like today me and my caddie, we were talking about like shoes, we like really love shoes, and things like that. So I think talking about Augusta tomorrow and looking forward to that will keep me going.

Q. Did you play your first round maybe in the back of your mind thinking that there's a chance that that would be the only round that was played before the cut, just knowing the forecast? So you wanted to get off to a quick start and put a good one out there?

HAILEY BORJA: Yeah, I definitely was prepared to just like not have to play today. Again, I was just kind of looking at the positive side of things. Again, trying to make the best conditions for us. I heard that it was possible that we might have played 18 tomorrow and then played Augusta practice round as well, but yeah.

Q. On 11 there when you hit the stick, it was kind of a bad break where it came back in the bunker. When something like that happened at the end of the day, how do you erase that going into tomorrow?

HAILEY BORJA: I think that was the other girl. Mine kind of landed short and came back down as well, but yeah.