BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 27, 2022

Paula Reto

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Paula Reto coming off a 4&2 win to advance to the round of 16. How excited are you to make it to the weekend at a match play event?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, it's pretty exciting. I haven't played match play at all, so having to win all three matches is kind of good confidence.

I'm excited to make it to the 16, so we'll see how the next two days play out.

Q. Haven't played match play at all but it seems to suit you. What do find works for you or what do you like about this format of golf?

PAULA RETO: Just the one hole kind of at a time thing. You don't have to worry about what your score is and just trying to make birdies. You can sort of play aggressive in some situations depending on what your opponent is doing.

So I kind of just stuck to that mindset. Having one hole, if you make a bogey, whatever, move on. That kind of thing. You can make a couple birdies in a row. Sort of that strategy helped out.

Q. A lot of players said they play aggressively in match play and some said they can't play aggressively because of the course. What do you find?

PAULA RETO: Actually that's so true, especially the greens are really hard. Coming in shots, approach shots are just so firm so you have to sort of figure out a good yardage, and then kind of lag the putts as well.

So and I can kind of see that as having to play a little bit more safer, but in aggressive like you can go for the pin and just make sure you hit the number. Sometimes you'll have within a 10-foot putt and you can make it, so, yeah.

Q. I know you said you won all three rounds, so you were up two points today going into this match.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. How did that make you feel knowing you were ahead and leading your pod?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, a little bit of confidence. I was still trying to keep myself in the game, and when I made bogey on, what is it, 15, going into 16, I'm like okay, Paula.

Having to tie that with her, sort of secure the match as well, which is nice.

Q. Yeah, great. And what is your strategy going into the round of 16, the weekend, knowing that every match is a must-win? Does that change anything for you?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, I feel like I need to clean up on a few shots. I was also loose the last two days especially, but if I can do that and keep the same mindset, one hole at a time, see if I can make a lot of birdies.

I feel like the next couple matches I'm going to have to make a lot more birdies. I won with a couple pars yesterday and today, so having to do that, I think I need to make a few more birdies to win the matches coming up.

Q. Looking at all three days, looked like you were maybe 1-down a couple times on the front.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. But you were up on the back every day. You were playing with the lead the whole time. Did that change strategy or does the back nine just fit your eye better?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, I do actually like the back nine a little bit better, but there is a few tough holes, like 6, 7, 8, that I need to make sure I stay consistent and focused on.

But no, once I had the lead I said, okay, just one more. Okay, I can get another one, another one, and that sort of helped me out, stay calm and play my game as well.

Q. Given the heat here, the fact that you're looking at 36 holes tomorrow, maybe 72 this weekend, how do you make sure you're ready to face such a struggle?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, so I'm just trying to really hydrate, eat a lot as well. I kind of lose a lot of energy like with all the heat and stuff, so I'm really trying to just feel myself a lot and not practice too much afterwards so I can make sure that I'm ready for the next couple days.

But 72 holes, yep, I'm going to have to do a lot of that.

Q. And then there is a lot of big-name players out here that people are really familiar with. People probably aren't that familiar with Paula Reto. What can you tell us about you and your game?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, you know, I am one to just not give up. I have a lot of, how can I say, enthusiastic to play well and I want to play well.

So I'm going to keep trying, keep fighting, and especially like if I have few holes left I'm going to grind. I'm just not going to give up kind of Paula.

Q. What would you say your strengths are? Are you a good driver of the ball? A good putter? A good short game? What do you think you're best at?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, probably a little bit of long game now that I got my swing kind of in order.

But short game, a lot of good putts, 10-foot in, and I can, you know, see if I can make those. Sort of like that's my strength. A little bit of everything I would say. I'm not necessarily stand-out in one thing.

Q. If I'm looking at the brackets right, it looks like your Guyana play Ayaka tomorrow morning.

PAULA RETO: Okay.

Q. Do you anything about her game or have you played with her before?

PAULA RETO: Yes, I played with her many times. She's so sweet. Good game; she's a solid player. Straight off the tee, irons, makes a lot of putts.

So, yeah, I know to advance in the next few rounds I'm going to have to make a lot more birdies than I did in the last -- and it's hard to make birdies too, because the greens are so firm and sometimes par is such a good score.

But I'm going to have to see if I can dial it in a little bit closer and see if I can grab some more birdies.

Q. I see you made seven of your last cuts; we'll call it eight because you made the cut here; that counts. Just tell me, what is the best aspect of your game right now that has been working for you as of late?

PAULA RETO: Honestly it's like a little bit of everything. Everything is just a little bit more consistent than it was the past few years. Like I said before, like baby-sitting my habits that do get me into trouble. I can sort of get into a bogey row or something.

But being more consistent with that and just being more mentally consistent, all that stuff adds up to better golf.