PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 11, 2022

Gaby Lopez

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Gaby Lopez after her first round at the Pelican Women's Championship. Good round. Near the top of the leaderboard after one day. With only 54 holes, what's the pressure feeling like to catch up in such a short time, and how satisfied are you with your round today?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I'm pretty happy with the round after taking a month off. You know, just kind of coming back to competing, I was telling my caddie that I really love what I do, and those feelings, those nerves, that excitement that squeezes into my body. It's probably the best feeling that I have, just by playing professional golf.

So, yeah, I hit the ball pretty good today off the tee, into the green. We hit a lot of greens and birdie chances, so, yeah, it was a very solid round.

Q. Take us through some of the highlights of your hound today. Maybe that eagle on 17, par-4.

GABY LOPEZ: I hit this juicy 60 iron wedge into 80 yard shot, and, yeah, actually hit behind of the pin and it just went in from the back of the hole.

I saw it in my mind. Like I actually picture it just perfect, just like that. And I told my caddie, I don't know, but I kind of knew it that it was going to go in.

But it was a very juicy, juicy shot. (Laughter.)

Q. I'm very interested to know your hurricane plans yesterday. What did you do while we were all sheltered inside, and how do you stay mentally, physically prepared for a round when you can't do anything?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, yesterday, you know, it was kind of scary in the morning. I really kind of woke up with all the winds, and where I'm staying it's an apartment that's kind of built up on a second floor with the garage underneath the apartment, so it moves quite a bit. It was pretty windy.

And I don't know, just kind of felt like COVID, really just relaxing. Honestly, was kind of good to just take some time more off. We went to the movies. We watched Wakanda Forever mand I encourage everyone to watch it.

Q. When you showed up this afternoon, could you believe there was a hurricane here yesterday?

GABY LOPEZ: Honestly, the maintenance crew, the golf course, Pelican Golf Club and the LPGA have done an amazing job. It's crazy how good the greens are rolling after five inches of rain. The golf course is in unbelievable condition. It drains so well.

You know, all the people coming together to put a golf tournament just as quickly as that, it was just impressive.

So, you know, big round of applause for them.

Q. The owner of this place, Dan Doyle, his goal and objective is to make this the Masters for women's golf. Is he close?

GABY LOPEZ: I think so. I really love this stage. It's a championship golf course for sure. The greens are tricky. No. 18 is not an easy piece of a golf hole.

It is amazing the conditions that we play in. You walk through the fairway and there is no divots. You walk on the green and the ball is rolling perfectly well after so much rain that we had yesterday; the greens were pretty quick.

So I love it. I love this stage and I love how Dan loves the LPGA. We need people like him more around us. How much support we get from him and his family and just sponsorships around, it's incredible.

Q. Last question from me. How are you using this week to sort of prepare for the big one next week?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, you know, it's kind of taking momentum, kind of warming up after coming back from a month. It never gets old, the feelings, emotions, the excitement.

So just kind of see, measure where I am in my ball striking and putting and pace. I love next week's golf course. Tiburon is also another amazing golf course, so I'm excited to see what's going on.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...