NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 22, 2022

Nasa Hataoka

Pinnacle Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, we are here with our defending champion, Nasa Hataoka, before this week at Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

I want to know first off, just how many memories there are here and what you remember from your win last year about this place?

NASA HATAOKA: I'm really happy to be come here, and, yeah, was really nervous on 18 green last year, but I have so many good memories in here.

THE MODERATOR: What do you like about playing this course? You won twice here. Obviously it suits your game. What do you like about it?

NASA HATAOKA: Three days tournament and it's really similar to the greens in Japan, which I'm very used to, so it makes me play very well.

THE MODERATOR: I was reading some of your stats earlier today. You have got seven top 20 finishes in a row. What is working so well for you right now where you're able to put yourself at the top of the leaderboard each week?

NASA HATAOKA: I think my distance really helped me, and being able to be in the top 20, I can just keep thinking of winning. I think that gives me a good mind to keep me going at this pace.

THE MODERATOR: We've got lots of questions for you in the room.

Q. Nasa, in addition to winning twice, you have the scoring record here. What is it about this golf course that makes you think you can go really low?

NASA HATAOKA: I think it's more the distance isn't very long and I think the greens really stops, which helps me a lot.

Q. Do you enjoy a golf course where there are a lot of birdies or would you prefer a golf course where par is a good score?

NASA HATAOKA: The birdies.

Q. You got your first win I think ever here, right? That was your first-ever win on the LPGA?

NASA HATAOKA: Yes.

Q. Did you think back to that and like playing here and have good memories because of that?

NASA HATAOKA: I think when I was going through my first year, being able to win on this course really gave me the confidence to keep winning. I think that's what it is on this course. It also fits me very well.

Q. People who don't know this area show up and are surprised by how nice it is. Have you found some things here that you enjoy doing in the Rogers area?

NASA HATAOKA: I think watching the city grow. Every year we come there is new buildings and new things happening, and also the jewelry that I get every year. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: I want to ask about the environment of this tournament. It's always really loud. Do you like playing in a loud environment with all the fans out here?

NASA HATAOKA: Yes, I really like on 17, par-3.

THE MODERATOR: Yeah. That one is a really fun one. I can't wait to see it for the first time out here, too.

I want to talk about some of your stats. You have one of the most rounds in the 60s on the LPGA Tour. How do you take advantage of birdie opportunities and just limiting your mistakes while also making a lot of birdies?

NASA HATAOKA: Having those birdies is the only way that I could keep winning on this course, and my iron shots are giving me chances recently to get these birdies.

THE MODERATOR: Last question from me. We're going on ESPN+ again this week. I know they did that in Cincinnati with you. How do you enjoy having all that coverage of the women's game in Cincinnati and being on ESPN+?

NASA HATAOKA: I think being so close to the players, knowing what they're thinking, being able to see those things, I think the real core golf fans would love it, so I think it's a really nice things.

THE MODERATOR: Perfect. I think you're free to go. Thanks for coming.