AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 1, 2022

Emma Spitz

Quick Quotes

Q. What's your energy level like right now?

EMMA SPITZ: A little tired. It's been a long day. Get some rest now and go again tomorrow.

Q. What's the most challenging hole out here, you think?

EMMA SPITZ: I don't know actually. I think 5 is a really challenging hole. I think the green is really tough depending where they put the flag. The first year, I was at the bottom of the slope, and it was kind of hard. So I think that might be the toughest hole on the course.

Q. Do you feel like you're under the radar? There's so much talk about Rose Zhang all the time and Rachel Heck and Lindblad and those types of players. Do you feel like you're kind of an underdog?

EMMA SPITZ: A little. They've been winning everything. I play in the same conference, and Rose and Rachel have won like almost every single tournament.

I played well here last year, so I think maybe a few people had me on their radar. I don't really mind. I play my game and see what comes out of it.

Q. What are you going to do differently this year compared to last year?

EMMA SPITZ: Probably not much. I played really well last year in the final round except for the last two holes. I think, if I can just play the way I played last year and hit a lot of fairways and greens and maybe make some good putts, I should be fine.

Q. What do you do besides golf? What are your hobbies?

EMMA SPITZ: I go to school, so that takes up a lot of time. But I like to hang out with friends and maybe watch some movies sometimes or just be outdoors.

Q. Do you cook as well?

EMMA SPITZ: I do, yeah. I'm the chef in our apartment. I cook most of the time. I think I'm decent, but I enjoy it. It's kind of fun. It takes my mind off things, yeah.

Q. That's a pretty tight leaderboard. What type of mindset do you go into tomorrow knowing that everyone is kind of in the same boat?

EMMA SPITZ: Yeah, so many players are within four or five strokes. I think almost everybody from those players are capable to shoot a low number and win. I just have to focus on my own game and play what I can do, and the rest, I mean, I can't really do anything about that.

If I play well enough, then maybe. We'll see what happens.

Q. Can you remind me what happened last year the last two holes?

EMMA SPITZ: I was playing really well, and I was kind of going back and forth. I didn't even know that I was leading or super close to the lead. I hit the bunker on 17. I lipped out for birdie actually, and I missed a really short putt, which was unfortunate.

Then on 18, I got a bad lie on the bunker. I was like right on the edge, and I didn't have a good stance. I hit it good, but I ended up on top of the ridge, and I three-putted from there. And I missed the playoff by one.

Yeah, the rest of the round was really good. I think I gave myself a really good opportunity to win but didn't end up happening, but that's fine.

Q. Did it take a long time for the sting to wear off?

EMMA SPITZ: A little in the beginning like right after, but in the end I was fine. I finished T-3 in probably the biggest amateur event of the year. So that's still a great finish.

I had so much fun last year, so maybe it hurt for like ten minutes, but after that I was fine.

Q. Would you consider yourself more of an aggressive player or more of a conservative player?

EMMA SPITZ: Maybe like a mix. I feel like I tried to be like aggressive like when I know I can be, and less aggressive when I know that the pins are really tough. I think out here on this course, a lot of tough pins, but there's also some that I when you use the slopes to your advantage, so yes.

Q. How would you compare the course conditions?

EMMA SPITZ: From this year to last year?

Q. Yes.

EMMA SPITZ: I think like the course overall is pretty similar. Maybe some of the greens might be a little soft. I think last year they were pretty firm, especially on the first bounce. But I saw there's like a couple of like new greens that they're still pretty firm.

Overall, this course is always in amazing condition.