DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 21, 2022

Haylee Harford

Wilshire Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Haylee, you got off to a hot start with that birdie on 2. Take me through what was going right there.

HAYLEE HARFORD: Yeah, I just started off really well. Was hitting it really well and kind of was on the money with our numbers, so was just taking it one hole at a time and was taking the pars when I got them and just knew I would have some opportunities out there.

Q. How important was it to take advantage of those par-5s today as you did?

HAYLEE HARFORD: Yeah. I was very excited. One of the biggest things for me is focusing on my game plan on the par-5s, and to be able to walk away under par on the par-5s out here was huge for me.

Q. And being able to still string in a couple birdies there. I know the back nine was a little up and down for you, but overall just how are you feeling with day 1-under your belt?

HAYLEE HARFORD: I'm feeling great. Coming from Hawaii I had probably the worst round of my professional career the second day so I missed the cut there, which was a bummer.

But this is only my first few events I've played in, so I'm learning so much. I'm really excited to start out with a 3-under today.

Q. You closed a birdie on the last. What was going so right there on 18? This is kind of an iconic finishing hole; we don't have a lot of par-3s as finishing holes out here on tour.

HAYLEE HARFORD: Yeah, it's a great hole. It's challenging for sure just getting the right number.

So hit my shot, was able to get kind of on the fringe, and had maybe 35 feet from the fringe and was able to make that putt.

So that was really special to just close that way.

Q. You say that in Hawaii, having such a not-your-best kind of round, what was it like to kind of mentally reset after that? Especially like you said, you were only in your first few events out here on tour.

HAYLEE HARFORD: Yeah, I definitely learned just so much from that round. The thing was I walked away still feeling really confident in my game. There was just some things that my caddie and I looked at from that round and were like, Okay, what can we do different going into next week?

Like I said, I'm just learning so much what works for me, and that was the big thing coming into this week. We're like, what do we need to do differently in terms of communication, in terms of our process?

Just felt really good with how we prepared this week.

It feels great to start out strong.

Q. With that, this is probably one of the first times you've been to Wilshire I'm guessing.

HAYLEE HARFORD: Uh-huh.

Q. What's it been like getting used to a course like this?

HAYLEE HARFORD: It's different but I love it. I love old-style country clubs, so it's very historic and I just think it's so neat playing these holes and seeing the surrounding areas.

Just to know that everything was kind of built around this course is really special. First time really in the LA-Hollywood area, so it's been cool to check things out.

Q. The first time like in your life to ever be in LA?

HAYLEE HARFORD: To be in Hollywood, yeah. I played in Palos Verdes, which we play next week. But, yeah.

Q. What's the mindset as you head into tomorrow?

HAYLEE HARFORD: Just going to say the same: Get some rest this afternoon, maybe enjoy the city a little bit, just go tomorrow with the same game plan.