ARAMCO TEAM SERIES - BANGKOK ROUND ONE

May 12, 2022

Ana Palaez

Thai Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Not a bad couple of weeks for you really, is it? You've won last week; your life really changed. You've come here and currently in second place in a really, really big tournament. I mean, what can I say, what can you say? Please say a lot.

ANA PALAEZ: Honestly, actually speechless. I had a great round. I had a lot of fun. I had to be patient because I started with I think it was like par, par, then birdie, par, birdie, and then I didn't get another birdie until hole 16.

For me, it wasn't that tough to be patient, but I did want to get more birdies in, at least for the team. And then I finished with three in a row, so I'm extremely happy. A boost of confidence for tomorrow actually.

Q. Yeah, it was a great finish. Of course coming here you had so much to do, book flights, get the Thai pass. It was all very last minute coming here after your win last week. I bet it all feels worthwhile right now, huh?

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah, I'm just happy we were able to get everything in place and that I'm here. I cannot believe I'm actually awake after traveling so much and all the emotions. I should be wasted, but I'm good. Yeah, hopefully (indiscernible) tomorrow.

Q. Have you had time to reflect? I know you did an interview with the BBC. A lot more interest from someone who struggled to get a card to playing every event and doing international interviews. What's it like?

ANA PALAEZ: I don't know. Like I said, my mental coach, I was like this is a new week but I'm still like having emotions from last week. Like how can I handle this? I'm starting tomorrow and I want to be focused on competing again. I don't want to carry all these emotions from the course.

He helped me through that. I mean, said like it's normal. All of these emotions are great and just use them for good tomorrow.

So, I mean, I think I did a good job, yeah.

Q. I was going to say, because a lot of golf is about momentum. Keeping the momentum going, which is so hard to do.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah.

Q. Classic so hard to pull off a good round with another one. So far you're following a good week with another good week. I guess looking ahead to tomorrow, it's keeping that energy going, that mental ability strong.

ANA PALAEZ: Yes, definitely. Just trying to shoot as low as I can. I mean, less shots that I can. Trying to keep it easy. I know I'm tired, so I think maybe that helps. I'm trying to be more patient and I'm understanding that I can be (indiscernible.) I don't know. It's all good.

Q. A little bit more background information. When did you get in? When did you get here?

ANA PALAEZ: I got here Tuesday 6:55 pm.

Q. 6:55 roughly.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah. (Laughing.)

Q. I mean, must have come on an adrenaline high. Did you manage to sleep? Were you just exhausted?

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah, so that Sunday night or Monday morning, whatever, I wasn't able to sleep. Like I just couldn't wrap my head about everything that happened that day, that week. It was just too much, you know.

And then also having to pretty much plan a trip in hours, it was just crazy. So I definitely didn't get sleep that night, but did I get sleep on my flights on my way to Bangkok, yeah.

Q. Is that one direct flight or did you go via, was it two flights?

ANA PALAEZ: No. So actually, I went from Malaga to Barcelona, Barcelona, Dubai, and then Dubai Bangkok.

Q. Goodness.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah.

Q. How long were you traveling for? It's like 20 hours.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah.

Q. You drove home?

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah. So I feel like I've been --

Q. So how long was the drive? Five hours?

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah. Well, me on the wheel it's like four.

Q. Zoom, zoom, zoom. Then I saw you yesterday.

ANA PALAEZ: Yes.

Q. I think I saw you walking, and I don't know if you were walking with your coach or something, walking around the course. Was that --

ANA PALAEZ: No, it was a caddie I met. I think he's a local -- not local caddie, but he's from --

Q. What I'm asking is did you get out on the course yesterday?

ANA PALAEZ: Yes. So I actually played -- yeah, I actually played from 1 to 9, like the front nine, and then I walked 10, 11, 12, 13, and then went to have a BBC interview.

So, yeah.

Q. Well done. (Indiscernible).

ANA PALAEZ: No, because it was in my head so I was like I rather get it done than just like rush in.

Q. Yeah, yeah.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah.

Q. So you said some of your buddies came on the last few holes, holes that you had, what, never even seen before?

ANA PALAEZ: Yes. Well, actually yesterday, like once I got to my room I opened up Google earth so I was able to kind of like see the holes.

Q. Google Earth and now you're second. (Laughing.)

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah. That's how you save energy.

Q. That's great. One last thing. If I'm looking at the scoreboard right now, Patty is first, you're second, and Van Dam is third. The Jutanugarn sisters right behind you as well. That's pretty good company to be in. How do you feel?

ANA PALAEZ: Yes. Honestly, like I don't know how this is going to sound, like I knew I was capable of one day being the top of the leaderboard.

Q. Good.

ANA PALAEZ: You know, with other good players, but I don't think I expected it to happen this soon. So I cannot begin to tell you how happy I am to see my name up there with all the other good players.

Q. Obviously you first turned pro at the Aramco Team Series Sotogrande.

ANA PALAEZ: Yes.

Q. Now did you expect to be playing another Aramco Team Series this year?

ANA PALAEZ: No, because my (indiscernible) was really, really bad. Maybe the Sotogrande one, but, again, like it's such a nice tournament. Like so many people want to play this event. I did not expect it, so finding myself here, it's unbelievably amazing.

Q. You must feel a nice relationship with the Aramco Team Series.

ANA PALAEZ: Yeah, it's like everything, like for me it feels like me winning last week was meant to be so I could be back for the Aramco Team Series. Yeah, that's how I feel.

Yeah. I don't know. Maybe I have something special with the Aramco Team Series.

Q. I think you've just got something special with your golf.

ANA PALAEZ: Thank you.