AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 2, 2022

Alexa Pano

Quick Quotes

Q. Hi, Alexa. Three years you started as the youngest participant in this tournament. Tell us a little bit about the evolution of how comfortable you feel year after year and making the cut this year.

ALEXA PANO: Champions Retreat is such a crazy course that it was always a struggle for me to, obviously, get to today, but I was finally able to do that this year, and it definitely did not disappoint. I've been lucky to watch it from outside the ropes, which is something I think everyone should be able to experience, but playing inside the ropes was unreal.

Even after a bad shot I was just still enjoying myself out there because looking around at this beautiful golf course and where I am and I'm playing with a great friend, it just couldn't have been better.

Q. How many things did you learn inside the ropes today, and how many years did you -- how many more at Augusta National Women's Amateur are you going to --

ALEXA PANO: Definitely learned this week that it's a very tough walk. I obviously played the practice rounds before, but it's brutal doing it two days, and especially after all the rain delays and stuff that we had, but I feel like I know the course pretty well now. I really enjoyed learning about it.

I saw how Ingrid used a lot of the slopes a little more than I did, and it worked out so well for her, so I think I definitely learned a lot, and I'm glad to know Augusta National now.

Q. So how many more tournaments do you think you'll play?

ALEXA PANO: I'm not sure. We'll see how it goes.

Q. Between Thursday and Friday and today you played a lot of golf. Was there any factor of exhaustion at this point?

ALEXA PANO: I don't know. Yesterday I was definitely exhausted playing in the practice round. Walking this course is always super tough, but after the long couple of days, it was brutal, but I was a little tired this morning, but I was just excited to get out here. I mean, I enjoyed that round so much, and it's something I'm never going to forget. I don't think the tiredness go the to me whatsoever.

Q. Did you use a local caddie?

ALEXA PANO: No, my dad caddied all three days.

Q. Tell me about your decision.

ALEXA PANO: I think it was just because he knows my clubs really well. One of my best friends, Rose Zhang, the same thing. We were talking about it. Our dads know our clubs, and our game so well that it's a lot easier for them to help us pick spots.

While a local caddie might have more knowledge of the course, it's just they can help us a lot more with club selections and also on the mental side of it, I guess. That was fun, and he was a good caddie. Gave some good reads out there, so I enjoyed it.

Q. I know you touched on it earlier, but after three years how special was this round?

ALEXA PANO: It was everything I thought it would be and more. The first tee shot, I get to see Annika and Nancy Lopez, Condoleezza Rice, so many amazing people. Throughout the round I've never had that many people watch me play golf before. It was insane, and you are on the most beautiful golf course in the world as well, so not much more you can ask for.