LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 24, 2023

Maddie Szeryk

Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Maddie Szeryk. You had a day out there today at Superstition Mountain. One bogey, let's see, six birdies and an eagle on the card.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. Got off to a pretty good start. Par'd the first, birdied the second, and then had another par but made birdie and eagle on the 14th. Tell me about the eagle.

MADDIE SZERYK: I drove the green. I knew I would be close, but I didn't think I would quite get there. It was super downwind and it rolled out a lot and they were on the green, so I felt bad.

It just like bounced up there. I was like, oh, sorry. But I hit it and it was like online just seven feet short and made the putt, so I was like, okay, that's a pretty good eagle.

Q. Did you catch up with them at all on the next hole and be like, oh, my God, I'm really sorry?

MADDIE SZERYK: I caught up with them on the green. I was like, I'm so sorry. I didn't think I could get there.

Q. You told me yesterday you've been working out a little bit in the off-season. Have you noticed that, much of a gain with your distances?

MADDIE SZERYK: A little bit. It definitely has improved and I just feel stronger and I'm able to get more out of the ball, so I think that definitely has a big impact on it.

Q. So had what happen, had a little bit of a blip on 17, but then made the turn, had a clean card, made four birdies, including the one there on the last. Gave a little fist pump going in. To have that kind of day, I know your rookie season wasn't really what you were looking for out here, but to be able to bounce back, what are some of your emotions right now?

MADDIE SZERYK: It's so amazing to be back in this position because I love being out here and I'm just so thankful to God to have another opportunity to be out here and to really compete with the best players.

But I'm just on such a high. I just wanted to have -- going into today I'm like, okay, couple under. My goal for the week was to get to double -- like to get to double digits and I'm past it so, I'm like, okay, great.

Just to go out tomorrow and have another good day and just focus on what I have been and just let the birdies happen.

Yesterday when I tried to force it I kind of got through a lull, and just to play my game and let the birdies happen because it's there.

Q. What were you doing in the gym that you noticed made a difference?

MADDIE SZERYK: Just a lot of weights, bands. I had a trainer and they have a great program. They have a lot of -- they have a lot of the sports, football, baseball, softball. They just really know what they're doing.

Q. Going to be sleeping on a 36 hole co-lead up there with Moriya Jutanugarn and Jenny Shin, who are both veterans out here. Just how excited are you to be able to potentially play in the final group, one of the last groups over the weekends?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, it's awesome. It's a great learning experience either way. Just really excited for what the weekend has in store and happy that -- I knew the last few holes that I was kind of up -- I knew they were at 12-under and made some birdies coming in and just focused on what I can do.

But it was great to see those putts go in and make those birdies coming down the stretch.

Q. With that in mind, stuffed it on the last. In there to what, three, four feet, made the birdie as the sun was setting. What was going through your head on that shot? Did you know where you were? If so, how have you learned to use that position to motivate you?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, because it's still so early in the tournament that it is the co-lead, but there are still 36 holes left.

I think just to be able to put myself in that position. And I had a great number. I was super excited that it was a full pitching wedge because we had been in between a couple times today.

So I just really want a nice full swing and not try to halve it in there. So I was pretty pumped and hit it really well.

Q. Last one from me. Last year I remember couple times you were in a similar position after 36.

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah.

Q. What did you learn that maybe didn't work that you're going to try to do over the weekend?

MADDIE SZERYK: I think just relax more. I was just really intense, and last year coming down the stretch it was, I have to play well to go to Q Series and not second stage, where this year it's a brand new year.

I feel like I've learned a lot and grown. And I'm more comfortable out here. It's not as, where am I? What's going on? But really just I'm more comfortable. And I love being out here and competing and really embracing the challenge of it.