DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

September 3, 2022

Lydia Ko

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Lydia Ko. What a sensational moving day for you. Stepping off the course after what you were able to do today, how are you feeling?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I played really solid. Obviously not the greatest finish, but where I put myself after the drive -- I was kind of excited that it wasn't in the rough, but then I went there and I was like, I would rather be in the rough than this lie.

Overall I played really well and I set myself a lot of opportunities, and I rolled it good as well.

So I'm taking the positives, and hopefully that will give me good momentum for tomorrow.

Q. Able to eagle after the bogey on your second hole. What was going through your mind there?

LYDIA KO: I haven't hit a hole-out. I hit a chip -- three tournaments in a row I've had chip-ins, so I was kind of waiting for a chip-in, and then I made a hole-out, so I guess it kind of continues that pattern.

And, yeah, after coming off a bogey on the 11th I was a little frustrated, but at the same time, I think it made me play that hole a little bit more aggressively.

I hit a good gap wedge and couldn't see it go in but the volunteers were cheering, so it was definitely a nice momentum changer after being 1-over through 2 and then being 1-under through 3.

Q. For you, seven more birdies on the card. When did it really start to click today?

LYDIA KO: I think after the eagle I was able to birdie the next couple holes and then take advantage of the 17th and 18th being par-5s. Made a couple good birdies on my back nine, which was the front nine, as well.

Yeah, I think overall I didn't put myself in too many crazy positions and I was playing steadily. I think that's what you got to do around this golf course, and just keep knocking on the door and just hope for a few putts to drop.

Q. You were telling Kay that you did what you had to do today to get up there, to keep in contention. You've talked about how much you like playing here, the memories that you have here. What would it mean for you to continue and carry this momentum into tomorrow?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, with the leaders just making the turn it's not the greatest thing when you're done and there are people that have nine more holes to go.

But, you know, I just want to focus on my game. Yesterday was a bit frustrating. I didn't hit my drives really bad, but I just wasn't give myself birdie opportunities. When I did, I wasn't able to convert them.

It was just that kind of, meh day. To come off that and then have a good turnaround like today, I think that definitely helps the confidence.

Every day is a new day. You never know what's going to happen. I just got to focus on my game and have fun out there and see what happens after the end of tomorrow.

Q. You needed to make a big move today. Was your mindset before the round just kind of play aggressive and shoot as low a score as possible?

LYDIA KO: I just wanted to stick to my own game plan. Like normally I feel like if you're first off the back or like somewhere in the halfway point, you're more than like six strokes behind the lead. So it kind of felt like a pretty bunched like 70-something players there.

So with a low one, you know, you can always move up the leaderboard. I just tried to focus on my strategy. I don't think my course management changed that much between the last couple days to today.

I think sometimes when you just see the putts rolling in, you're able to just feed off that, and then I think that was what I was able to do a good job of today.

Q. I asked Lexi this yesterday. Seems like she's always in contention here too; same for you. What is it about this golf course that you're able to continuously shoot pretty low scores?

LYDIA KO: This course has changed a little bit over the years of a few holes have lengthened. Few of the course layout is different as well to when I first won here.

But, no, when you go back to a golf course where you played well you're able to kind of feed off the good memories. A lot of the people here, fans and volunteers, it's almost their annual stop as well, so it's nice to see familiar faces, too.

Q. And then on 9, you ran into a little trouble there. Is that the hardest shot on this golf course if you're down below the green on 9?

LYDIA KO: I think it's totally dictated by the lie. Like if I had a lie similar to my third shot it would've been like a pretty stress-free par at least.

But, you know, there is a lot of divots there, so when you hit it down that direction, first off you're trying to dodge the divots, and where I was I was kind of between the short cut and the rough. So it would've been better if I was in the rough actually.

So you have to play with what you get. It could have been a birdie or a par, but I stuck to that strategy and it ended up being a bogey. I can't do anything about it now.

Q. When the tee is up there on 9 on Saturday like every year, is the hole that much easier or not? Still seems like it can be difficult.

LYDIA KO: Today the wind was into off the left. I've had years where I hit a 3-wood to the front, and today like it's a solid drive. Like Albane hit a really solid drive to just past pin high.

So it's a pretty small opening, so it is a risk and reward hole. You know, you have to play with what you think is going to be the right way to play that.

Q. Fun though? Are those holes fun?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I love drivable par-4s. It's nice to mix it up.