ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

August 11, 2022

Maja Stark

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Maja Stark. 3-under day for you. Just how are you feeling this first day here at Massareene?

MAJA STARK: It was good. Pretty steady. I didn't make a lot of putts, so, yeah, a little bit frustrating, too.

But I made the important ones I guess, and, yeah, just look forward to the rest of the week.

Q. 11 and 13 birdies to start off the day there on the back nine. Take me through what was going well there.

MAJA STARK: Actually didn't go that well. I think it was pure luck. I made a 20-meter putt on 11 and 13 I hit it to about a foot.

So I didn't think a lot of it. I missed a short birdie putt on 10 and I was frustrated. So keep on going, and I have this game with my caddie that we play three-hole matches, and I think I won today 3-0 against the course.

Yeah, I just think it was about staying patient.

Q. You were bogey-free on your last nine holes. Just what is it about Massareene? It can be tricky we've heard from players. Do you agree with that sentiment?

MAJA STARK: Absolutely. I think if you're not with it off the tee you -- I mean, it's an easy bogey because the rough is kind of thick. And then the greens are small, so it's very difficult to hit them if you're in the rough.

But my driver was pretty steady, so I didn't miss a lot of fairways. I think that was the key to this course.

Q. Taking advantage of two of the three par-5s out here today, you're known to love a reachable par-5. Are any of them reachable out there for you?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, all of them. I mean, it is kind of a sneaky one back on, is it 16, because you really have to cut, like almost hit a fade around the trees.

But I was frustrated. I had just made a bogey and then I was like, of course I can hit a fade around the trees. So I hit it up and had a hybrid in and, yeah, two-putt.

Q. Being able to walk away from AIG after the final day and reset, reflect, what have you worked on to get ready for this event?

MAJA STARK: It was a lot of just recharging. I feel like I was just so drained after that last round because I feel like I really tried to play well the whole round, but then nothing seemed to work. I just collapsed when I got in.

So I've been nice to myself and taking some time off. Not time off; obviously been playing the practice rounds and the pro-am. But then not practicing as much as I usually do, because I can feel that I've been easily annoyed and stuff like that the last week.

I feel like I just need to be nicer to myself and know that it's better to take a break than to keep on pushing it. It's always mental.

Q. Yeah.

MAJA STARK: I mean, I've my technique has been working, but it's just about being nice to myself and being a bit more patient.

Q. Absolutely. Tomorrow, switching over to Galgorm. What is different over there as opposed to maybe how you prepped for Massareene today?

MAJA STARK: I think they're very similar. They have similar tricky tee shots and a lot of decisions, do I go for it? Is it worth having 30 meters shorter?

So I think very similar, but then, I mean, some more water over on Galgorm I think. Just it's a bit more narrow.

I think on both of these courses you need to have your long game working for you.

Q. What tee shots in particular, if it you can think ahead?

MAJA STARK: Like 8 you have to hit it over a tree. What else? 10, and then 11. So you have to really know where to hit it to stay in the fairway every time.