AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

March 30, 2023

Hannah Darling

Quick Quotes

Q. Wanted to ask but the closing stretch there, of just being on the cut line and what that feeling is like, what were you feeling out there?

HANNAH DARLING: I guess for me my strategy was not to know what the score was, and then when you walk to the 10th tee there is a massive scoreboard as you're walking to the tee.

At different points there is one scoreboard kind of where you can circle around on the back nine, and then there is another scoreboard on the 18th.

So for me, I knew where I was. Didn't want to, but I knew where I was.

Had a really good bunker shot on 16 for birdie. That was really nice. Then just had an unfortunate three-putt on 17. Didn't really hole anything today, so that just kind of led to it.

Yeah, made a good par on 18. Yeah, we'll see what happens.

Q. So saw you standing there looking at the board. Was that first time you were kind of knowing exactly where you stood?

HANNAH DARLING: Yeah, that was the first time I really knew where I was. I'm just looking at it right now, 31. So, you know...

But there is still nine holes of golf left to play so it's going to keep going.

Yeah, that was the first time I really saw it.

Q. What's the feeling like? You say you saw the scoreboard last on 10?

HANNAH DARLING: Yeah.

Q. Okay. So then you're playing all those holes. Are you feeling the nerves of trying to make the cut?

HANNAH DARLING: Definitely. It's definitely in the back of your mind. I think I had almost birdie putts on every hole coming in, other than 16, 17.

So I guess there is added pressure on those putts, and I would say that's probably why they didn't drop, to be honest.

But, yeah, I mean, you just got to go with it. There is pressure whenever you're playing. Yeah, you're always playing with that.

Q. The three-putt on 17, what were the lengths of each of those putts?

HANNAH DARLING: First putt was about 60 foot; then hit a really good putt actually. I was kind of up the tier on the left and had to crop down and cross it, and so then put it to like four, five foot and then just, yeah, read it right. Yeah, missed that putt.

Q. And then 18 here, I missed seeing what you had for a putt. What did you have length wise?

HANNAH DARLING: That was about like 20 foot straight up the hill. Again, actually hit a lot better of a putt there than I had on the previous hole, but just left.

All pretty good putts. There is nothing wrong with my game right now at all. I guess when the pressure is on and you know you need to do something, you can execute.

Q. However the cut falls, how does that change your experience tomorrow and what you do when you go to Augusta tomorrow?

HANNAH DARLING: It doesn't, to be honest. I played the course last year, so tomorrow is a practice for Saturday, and then pretty much go out there and have fun. If not, you know, yeah, got family here. Got my teammates. So we just want to go have fun tomorrow. It's such a special experience.

Being able to play Augusta on Friday when no one else is there is surreal. You do not get a day like that ever. That regardless is going to be a moment.

Q. When people ask you what was your favorite part about playing a competitive round at Augusta, what do you typically say?

HANNAH DARLING: At Augusta National? I think it's hard. There is actually so much pressure, which I don't think people truly understand how much pressure there is on. There is a lot of people there and that's all you can really see is the people.

But for me last year my favorite part was definitely 13. Able to hit that shot and having a good look at eagle. For me, I'm a long hitter and I relish par-5s, so that was pretty special.

It's just the whole experience.

Q. Can you take us through that hole?

HANNAH DARLING: 13?

Q. Yeah.

HANNAH DARLING: It's a long time ago. I hit it middle of the fairway. I believe I had 5-iron in, really good shot to like 12 feet maybe, and then (indiscernible) for eagle. Yeah, it was close.

Q. First tee, what do you remember about that with all the crowds?

HANNAH DARLING: Yeah, that's very nervy, I think. It's actually worse because on the range you see people filtering in but you don't appreciate it until you get on to like the first tee properly and you see all those people.

It's overwhelming and you're like, wow. You don't quite appreciate it until you get there.

I guess if I do get to tee it up on Saturday I'll at least now know what that feels like.

Q. Having been there and being able to compete at Augusta National, if you were to not make it today, would it still be just as disappointing even though you played competitively there?

HANNAH DARLING: Yeah, I mean, for me, yes, I would love to play on Saturday because it's Augusta National. But I would love to play on Saturday because it's another tournament, another cut that I will make or I will miss.

For me I'm a very competitive person, and almost regardless of situation and the course I'm playing, I want to make the cut. I want to have a chance in the last round to go and do something special.

For me that's where we sit. Yes, I'd love to play a competitive round at Augusta.

Q. How good is a Rose Zhang?

HANNAH DARLING: She's very good. Saw a few highlights of her yesterday. Her putting is pretty good. She holes a lot and she's just steady, very steady. Does a lot well and I said this yesterday, she's No. 1 in the world for a reason.

She's does a lot well, so credit to her.

Q. You've been on this golf course for two days. What she's done, how impressive is that given the setup and the conditions?

HANNAH DARLING: Yeah, I mean, definitely see it as impressive. She's played very well to do that. The course isn't easy.

However there has been some very gettable pins. If you roll them well and hitting it pretty good, you know, it's there. I see where she's doing it.

I see what she's doing. Pretty much all the greens there is collection areas. If you get it in the right area, pretty close to the pin. So I see where she's done it. The fact she's been able to execute it is very impressive.