PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 11, 2022

Carlota Ciganda

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Carlota Ciganda after her first round at the Pelican Women's Championship. Bogey-free round. Take us through what was going well and how you were limiting those mistakes.

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, it's always nice to have a bogey-free round. The course was playing quite soft so you could be pretty aggressive out there.

And then off the tee is pretty wide so you can pretty much try to hit middle of the fairway and wherever it goes is pretty much playable.

Yeah, I played good. Couple tap-ins on the front; the par-3s I played really good, 3-under on those.

And then I had some chances, so birdied 13 and 14 and then I had three coming in. But obviously, I mean, I also made a couple good ones, so pretty happy with my round. Excited for tomorrow.

Q. This is a first time you've ever played here in competition. I believe your pro-am was the first time seeing this course.

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah.

Q. What is the impression of it and where are some of the challenging spots and the easy spots?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, to be honest, it's one my favorite courses here in Florida. I'm not used to the grass that much because I prefer the bent grass, and where I play in Spain it's a little different to this.

So I don't play that much in Florida, but, I mean, I love the course. I think it's in unbelievable shape, one of the best courses I ever played.

Like the fairways, the greens are rolling really nice, and especially after the storm yesterday and all the rain that we had. And I think it's a great setup. You can pretty much hit it everywhere off the tee, and then it's a second-shot golf course. The greens are pretty undulating, so you have to be in the right spot.

Yeah, they can put some tricky pins and I think it's important to have that speed right for the putting.

Q. Coming off the Asian swing, I know you were both in Korea and Japan. How are you feeling? Any jet lag? I know you had a little bit of an injury in Japan. How is that doing?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, to be honest, I thought was going to be more jet lagged. It's been pretty nice. Obviously yesterday having the day off, it helped for sure.

Yeah, my ankle, I just roll it pretty badly on Sunday in Japan on the 11th hole. I wasn't sure if I could play, but I just wanted to give it a try and at least be here in Florida for next week, for CME.

And with all the help from the physios, it's been nice. Lots of ice treating, and I don't think it's 100%, but it's for sure playable. I can compete. That's why I'm playing.

Q. Are you happy that it's shortened to 54 holes? Less walking for you after the hurricane. How did you spend that time and how does did change your mentality having that day off?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yesterday, I didn't do much, to be honest. I love sleeping in so I was in bed until 11:00. That was really nice. Had a nice brunch and then just relaxed for a little bit and then I did some treatment and physio and then I went to the gym in the afternoon just to get out of the house because I was very bored; I had to do something.

So had early dinner and then went to bed, and it was an early wake up.

So it was good for the ankle for sure. Yeah, same for the tournament, because it's a great place, and I'm sure the members and everyone would like to see 72 holes.

Q. Yeah. You said it was the ankle that you rolled on Sunday?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah.

Q. When did you know that it would be I guess good enough to play? When did you make at that decision?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, to be honest, I did it a couple years ago so I knew how it felt. I mean, I knew I could play, but I just didn't want to play with pain for next week.

But, I mean, it's been going like better every day, so, I mean, Tuesday I just hit some balls to try to do some putting. Didn't do much else, some treatment.

Wednesday I tried to play the pro-am because I was like, if you can't play the pro-am there is no point to teeing it up on Thursday or Friday. I mean, it wasn't perfect, but then once they announce 54 holes I was like, this is great. I have one more day to rest.

And I can walk pretty normal. Few of the hills I can feel a little bit the outside of the ankle, but, I mean, I think we are athletes. When I think about this I think about Rafa Nadal, all the pain he's been through and how he plays, how he competes, and I'm sure this is nothing compared to what everything he's been through.

So I think you have to be a little bit mentally tough and just compete and play.

Q. Did you roll it on a swing on Sunday?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: No. I was walking from the 10th green to the 11th tee. It was a little downhill and the grass was a little wet and I just slipped a little bit and just roll it, yeah, pretty badly.

Q. Last one from me. You were 1-under through 7. What kind of switched on those final 11 holes and when could you tell you were getting into a good rhythm with the birdies?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, the front nine I played really good. I think I hit 8 greens, so I had a lot of birdie chances, pretty close, and I just didn't make them.

I just talk to my caddie. I was like, let's just keep being patient, try to hit good shots, and I'm sure they're going to go in.

So that's what I try. Hit a great shot on 8 for a tap-in. Made a great putt on 9. Then I made two, three good pars on 10, 11, 12, and then great birdies on the next three. So I think being patient out there, it's important.

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