HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 22, 2023

Maja Stark

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Maja Stark. The front nine and the back nine I think are two completely different tales. Tell them.

MAJA STARK: Well, I started my front nine and I had a headache. Actually all the way through, but I don't think the headache and the wind helped my putting.

So actually had some good chances. I mean, I had missed a decent chance on both 1, 2, and 3 and missed a short putt on 3, so that didn't help my mood. But then got a little bit better. Still hit it up kind of close. Just didn't make any putts. Then I told myself, no, Maja, do this properly. Because I had a little trouble focusing in the beginning.

So, yeah, then all of a sudden it felt like my iron shots and drives were still pretty much the same, but it was just the putts started going in for once.

Q. Was nine the momentum setter for you, kind of changed everything?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, I think so. Well, maybe more 12 because that was a long putt that I made. A little slippery, right to left, a lot of wind came right when I was hitting it.

So I think that was just like a confirmation that you can actually make putts even though it's this windy.

Q. Did you get your six additional hours of putting in this week?

MAJA STARK: I think I got 5.9. I needed to be there for six more minutes this morning but I just didn't have the time or the energy.

Q. And at what point did you say, okay, this is starting to pay off? At what day this week?

MAJA STARK: I think obviously during the practice rounds. I felt, like I said, more confidence just because -- I mean, I practiced six hours last week and putting six hours last week, too, and I feel like I knew the tendencies more now.

Like I know that when I miss it, it's either like tow and goes left or I hit it -- I just open the face and it's to the right. So it feels so good to know that, and I mean, game changer.

I should have noticed this earlier, or realized that I should do more putting. You know, always room to grow.

Q. How much did you practice putting before, in general?

MAJA STARK: Good question. Like focused practice, two hours a week maybe. Not much at all.

Q. So big difference?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, yeah.

Q. And what would you say a strong finish like this to start the season, what does that do for you in terms of your outlook for the rest of the year?

MAJA STARK: Oh, it gives me a lot of confidence. Now I feel like -- I've had a good week with my driver and some good irons, and I know how to fix it -- kind of -- when something goes wrong.

The putting, too. I feel like if it keeps going like this, could be the best year yet.

Q. Are you as happy today as you were the other day?

MAJA STARK: Well, if you asked me three hours ago I would say no, but now I'm happy.

Q. When you think of last year starting the year not knowing what was ahead, coming here to the Tournament of Champions, got to give you some nice momentum going forward.

MAJA STARK: Yeah. I mean, I still feel like the underdog. A lot of people, I walk around here and people say, good luck Charley, or, are you Brooke Henderson? No, I've been called Jennifer Kupcho.

No, I think it's gone too fast almost because I can't really believe that this is not a real competition or, I don't know how to say it, not a normal competition, because it just feels like I've been a part of so many cool things since the beginning of last year.

So, yeah, I don't know. I still can't really wrap my head around it.

Q. Finally, do the stronger winds today made it easier or harder to try and chase down a leader who's playing well?

MAJA STARK: It should be easier because they can -- it's harder. You have to focus more. I think Brooke is handling it well because she's not focusing on the wind, she's focusing on every shot. If it was someone that had less routine with that, you think they could easily lose several shots just because of the nerves.

But Brooke is Brooke, and she's going to win if she has a big enough advantage going into the last round.