AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

March 31, 2023

Jensen Castle

Quick Quotes

Q. What were the highlights today?

JENSEN CASTLE: I had a great pairing. Last year wasn't a bad pairing, as well, but last year with the rain delay, it was kind of just like, oh, if you're playing and you're making the cut, you made the cut, you go now. Some people I played with didn't even speak. But this year we chose pairings, so I played with Yana Wilson and then found out mid-round I'm playing with her tomorrow, so that's fun. Then Anna Morgan, she and I go back to U.S. Kids days.

Q. What was the highlight today?

JENSEN CASTLE: I mean, highlight, it's Augusta National. It just is a whole -- me playing today just picturing what tomorrow is going to be like. Them setting up the TV stands, like the patrons, I'm seeing a lot of rope today, but tomorrow I won't see that at all because there's so many people. So kind of like getting excited for tomorrow basically.

Q. You've played some big events. How do you prepare for this one looking ahead to tomorrow? Any nerves playing it? You've been here before, done this before?

JENSEN CASTLE: Yeah, luckily I'm not that much of a nervous person. I in my opinion play better when there are people because I get so lost in what everyone else is doing on the sidelines that I'm so invested in them and who in my family is talking to who and what could it be about, that it's like, in between shots it's a great distraction. It's just different.

Not a lot of nerves. Very grateful to be here. Especially this year compared to last year of me knowing on 18 that I was really close to not playing on Saturday, so kind of just appreciating little things, and everyone dream is to make it to Augusta National on Saturday.

Q. (Indiscernible) knowing that you had to make that putt to stay in? I'm sure you were excited before that, but does that free you up a little bit?

JENSEN CASTLE: It does now that you've pointed that out and I know that I can deal with the nerves. So yeah, I think for me, just realizing I clutched up when I needed to, and I'm capable of that on the big stage, and yeah, for sure.

Q. Is there anything like this tournament?

JENSEN CASTLE: I mean, USGA is up there, but with this many people, no, not at all. Obviously and the history of Augusta National. We're playing possibly two rounds at Augusta National. Like so many men in this world would be jealous.

Q. If it weren't played here, it wouldn't be quite the same?

JENSEN CASTLE: As long as the patrons are here, but I do think the history of this event, of the golf course specifically plays a huge role. I mean, it's Augusta National. Can't make that any more clear.

Q. Do you feel comfortable here?

JENSEN CASTLE: Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't say I don't feel comfortable. I think I'm comfortable on any golf course. Like I just grew up with the grass. Not literally, but I'm very familiar, especially South Carolina, like this grass is very similar to South Carolina, so very comfortable.

Q. With the history and how important this event is for the future of women's golf, is that something that you talk with your fellow competitors about?

JENSEN CASTLE: Yeah, I do, actually. Running joke was based off the leaderboard yesterday, one of my best friends and I, Amari Avery, we're like this on the leaderboard, so we're doing the math, two, two, two, all the way from the top to the bottom, from the bottom to the top, trying to figure out if it's going to be a threesome, if they're going to send a onesome out. It's going to be make-or-break if we're playing together, because we're like, this is going to be like Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi type stuff.

Unfortunately we're not playing together. Regardless, I'm still playing with another one of the good girls, and we'll have a lot of fun. But yeah, like that specifically, we were both like, we can change this game around, like we can show them what a fun group this would be, how hype and cheering for each other it could possibly be for sure.

Q. What's the injury update?

JENSEN CASTLE: It hasn't gotten worse, which is very good. It's just basically remained very constant, and I know -- not the nerves, but the adrenaline I had yesterday overrides the injury completely. All you feel is your heartbeat, and you don't feel your rib at all, luckily. I will still go see the doctor when I get home, but it could be a lot worse injury-wise.

Q. Why is it you girls seem to have so much more fun than men? There's a lot more laughter around. Why?

JENSEN CASTLE: Yeah, it's a great question. Maybe girls realize this isn't life or death. Maybe the ego isn't as involved, respectfully.

But I think girls -- it's just fun. We go out there and it's like we realize that this is not our identity. Some girls more than others at least. I know the friendships that I have established through golf is so much more important than the game itself. Like it's great that we can play the game together, but like Amari Avery lives in freaking California. I've been there once. That let alone of all the other places that I have friends is just crazy.

I think just cherishing the little time with them, too. Me playing with Amari possibly, we were both so excited because I've seen her three times this week, but it hasn't been like six hours on the golf course, something like that, in my opinion.

Q. It doesn't diminish your desire to win at all, does it, the fact that you make it seem so enjoyable?

JENSEN CASTLE: I mean, don't get me wrong, like I'm competitive. I don't want to lose. But it's a good distraction.

Like you go out there and you bury yourself into winning all the time, like big picture, that's not going to get you real far, instead of going out there and maybe you do win and you have the best six hours of your life with this girl in California. That's just an example in my opinion.

But no, I still want to play well and obviously walk away with a trophy, but big picture it's like, okay, there's bigger things. This girl could be in my wedding; know what I mean?