LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY HOAKALEI

April 15, 2023

Linnea Strom

Hoakalei Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Linnea Strom who finished with a 3-under 69 today. Really, really close there at the end. What was going through your mind as you were standing over that birdie putt?

LINNEA STROM: I mean, I did look at the leaderboard before I putted it, so I knew I had to hole it. And, you know, I just tried to put a good stroke on it. Hit a good putt; just misread it a little bit. So not much I can do about it.

I'm super happy about the long putt I made on 17 to kind of at least give me a chance going into 18. So I'm very happy about that. Also the way I handle myself after the double on 14.

Obviously there were some nerves getting to me and I hit a bad swing and that cost me a double unfortunately.

Q. You brought up the two other things I was going to mention. We'll start with the double and make our way to the birdie. Just a bad swing there?

LINNEA STROM: Just a bad swing. I just wasn't really committed to it. Felt like a little bit less wind so I was thinking too much about the bunkers and then just had a bad swing and hit it way left.

So that was a bit unfortunate. I think that's the only thing I'm pretty much disappointed about today. Other than that, think I had a great day and I'm very happy about the amount of birdies I made, especially early in the round to kind of give me some momentum.

And I'm just very proud that I gave myself a good chance to win today.

Q. When you were on 17, had you looked at a leaderboard? Did you know you needed a birdie to pull close?

LINNEA STROM: No, I didn't look at it. After my double I just told myself just try and continue to do what I'm doing and try and make some birdies coming in.

Yeah, so normally it doesn't really bother me to look to the leaderboard. Normally I kind of want to know. But after that, I think I just had to focus on myself and just kind of get back into the rhythm a little bit.

Q. The lie in the bunker, was that all good there on 18?

LINNEA STROM: Yeah, there a perfect lie, so I do think I had a pretty good opportunity on making up and down. Thought I hit a good bunker shot; just didn't release as much as I thought it would.

So, yeah, nothing really to say. Hit a great drive, great 4-iron into the bunker. I tried to leave myself front edge of the green to have a chip to the pin or worse case a bunker shot.

So I did hit three good shots and just the putt didn't go in.

Q. Overall though, what do you take from this? It's a runner-up finish, so close. Still, an incredibly strong week for you.

LINNEA STROM: Thank you. Yeah, I mean, I'm just very happy and I feel like I keep proving to myself that I belong here. I'm obviously still looking for that win, but I feel like it's getting closer and closer.

So hopefully it's soon in the future. I'm just going to keep working hard and hopefully it's going to come soon. So I'm just very happy with this week, how I handle myself in the wind out there, and some tricky pins, too. So I'm very proud.