DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 24, 2022

Madelene Sagstrom

Wilshire Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Madelene Sagstrom, a 66 to close out the week here at DIO Implant LA Open. Clean card today. Five birdies; no bogeys. I mean, what was a round like that for you out there, how did it go?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: In the beginning it was real easy. I was really putting well. I think I told my caddie after probably the 4th hole, I was like, It's one of those days where I just knew I was going to make a lot putts.

So that was a whole mindset. Fought a little bit more in the end but, really, really pleased with how I played today.

Q. Back-to-back days of 28 putts. You opened with 26 putts. Had kind of shaky putting in the second round. What did you find on the greens this week? They're kind of tricky greens.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: Yeah, I think it's kind of one of these greens you just have to trust them. They don't look as fast as they are so they are rolling -- like the downhill putts are quite slick so it's easy to give yourself some long putts coming back if you miss them.

So I think it's just about being conservative when you have to, and then being aggressive when you get the chances. Also staying below the hole. I don't think I did that as much the second day.

Played a little bit better strategically today so gave myself a lot of good, easier putts.

Q. Did any of those birdies stand out? You rattled off three, 8, 9, 10, three in a row.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: Yeah, no, I think the birdie that kind of started it all was on 3. I made a really long putt on 3. I find that hole quite tricky with that big tree in the way. It's like you have to hit a good shot, but at the same time you're never really going to be close.

So that kind of started good momentum, and then I birdied 4. I think you got to start somewhere. You don't know what you got in the tank when you start, so I figured I had some birdies in there.

Q. A round like this on Sunday, kind of -- I mean being you put yourself in contention, right? Going to probably finish Top 5. How much confidence does that give you heading into the rest of the season? We've got a meaty schedule coming up.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think any time we play -- we all go out and try to win. We're trying to shoot low scores, trying to play well.

I been playing well over time. It's just trying to find that consistency and just level up the bad shots a little bit better.

I think now I've been -- I mean, I haven't missed a cut since last May, so it's really built a lot of confidence. Because before I was kind of, oh, I just want to make cuts. Now I'm making cuts, so now I want to start climbing up the leaderboard.

It's just really accepting where I am and believing that I'm good player, that I belong in those spots. It's just a huge confidence boost every time you play well.

Q. I mean, you've won out here. You know, it's an interesting mindset to hear from an LPGA Tour winner that you're trying to make yourself more comfortable than just climbing up leaderboards. Just take us through that. What's that been like for you?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think all of us are so in the present. You're only as good as your last round really. At the end of the day I can't really say, oh, I've done this. I know it's good to have in there, but I'm only as good as I was today or yesterday.

You're always looking at the present, what is everyone else doing, what do I need to do get better in my game. COVID was probably the best thing and the worst thing that happened to my game. I really finished on a high note before the big break, but when we came back I struggled again.

I had a lot of realizations both about my game and kind of where I was at and just that you're never done in this game. There is always things to work on. You're always going to go out and try to get better than you were the day before.

For me it's just accepting where I'm at, playing with what I got, and just learn to get the ball in the hole faster.

Q. Are you heading down to the road to Palos Verdes?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: Yes.

Q. Are you familiar with that golf course? If not, this kind of round has to give you confidence heading into an unfamiliar territory.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I have heard it's going to be hilly, so I'm just going to -- I'm playing well, so I'm just going to preserve energy now and go out and see the course next week.

I have a good feeling about LA right now, so just going to keep that going.