HANWHA LIFEPLUS INTERNATIONAL CROWN

May 4, 2023

Anna Nordqvist

Caroline Hedwall

Madelene Sagstrom

Maja Stark

Harding Park

Press Conference

Team Sweden

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the media center at the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown. Here with a victorious Sweden team.

You got the lead; never gave it back. I assume you hadn't played together in a minute. What was it like being back out there together?

ANNA NORDQVIST: I really enjoyed it. We got off to a great start, birdied the first three to go 3-up. I think it was a little bit different playing Jodi and Bronte who's normally Solheim Cup teammates, but I felt like both of us, we complemented each other really well today and she had my back and I had hers.

Yeah, I felt like we hadn't missed a beat.

Q. Caroline, how were you able to ham and egg it so well today?

CAROLINE HEDWALL: I think like Anna said, we got off to a really great start. It just felt good and solid. We had each other's back.

Q. Madelene, Maja, Maja, I know this is first time in a team event as a pro. What was it like being out there with Madelene hearing the walk-up songs being played, and what was it like getting a win?

MAJA STARK: I was very nervous when we started so I thought it was going to be smooth sailing but it really wasn't. I was eager to hit further and really beat them, so I was a bit too eager in the beginning.

Luckily Madelene played really well. We were 4-under through 3, so that was nice. Then I managed to pull my finger out and make a couple birdies on the back nine to seal the deal.

Q. Madelene, how was it like playing with Maja today and talk about that hot start.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I mean, well, Maja made birdie on the first and then I played solid on the front nine. I kind of felt like I knew what I was doing today and it was more trying to get her in a good place.

You weren't really struggling but you weren't really finding your momentum. It was more just like, okay, I'm playing well, just keep trusting me and keep finding your own game, and she really stepped up on the back nine; started playing some solid golf.

It was a really good matchup. We played really well together. Our games are fairly similar, so it's fun.

We've never played team events before because I'm a lot older than her, so it's cool. It's awesome.

But I think at the same time my experience also kind of helps me being out there. I talked a little bit about how I felt in previous Solheims and stuff, so it was good. I'm happy that -- we played super solid all day, so it's really nice to get away with a big win.

Q. Maja, what did you learn from Madelene in the first couple holes that helped you calm down and get your head back in the match?

MAJA STARK: It was mostly nice to see she was not frustrated with me that she knows what it's like and can relate to it. It was very nice because it made me more calm and I could focus on what I was doing wrong like technically in the shots, which was that I was thinking about technique and not the pins because I was trying to be perfect.

So yeah, I think it was just calming.

Q. It was a theme in press conferences earlier this week that the course was playing tough, the course was playing long. What led to you both birdieing --

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I take that back from yesterday.

MAJA STARK: She said -- after five holes she was like, maybe it's not as difficult as I said it was.

ANNA NORDQVIST: I think LPGA did a great job setting up the course. You've got to hit fairways to give yourself chances. The greens probably softened up a little bit since we had that rain from earlier in the week, which I think helped it a lot.

But there's some really tough holes out there, and if you're not finding the fairway or the right line off the tee, it's definitely going to be a lot tougher.

But if you get a great lie, great, but it's just a really big chance you're not going to get a great lie and then you're going to be struggling from there.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I agree with Anna. Holes like 4 I hit a 5-iron in and I hit it far. It was fun and then you can reach some par-5s. I think I agree that the LPGA did a really good job, great for match play.

Definitely the softness of the green helped out a bit but it's fun. It's a good course. I'm happy we made birdies.

Q. Both of you ended your matches early today. Didn't see a handful of holes out there, which is always what you want to do. When you finish matches early like that and don't see those holes, as you get later in the week do you feel like having those reps in that match, like in a match really help, or do you feel like it's fine, I haven't seen the 18th all week, no big deal?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think if you win a match early you're playing well, so then it really doesn't matter what it looks like. Like Anna said, you want to hit fairways out here and that's a big key. When you're in the fairway you're going to have a pretty decent chance. I think it's more important to play well than to see the whole course.

Q. I know matchups are already done for you guys tomorrow. Talk about why you decided to switch up. I know Caroline and Madelene joked about it earlier in the week. Did you feel like it was important to get everybody with everybody else?

ANNA NORDQVIST: No, I feel like we have two great teams so why would we change it. We were successful today. We're excited about tomorrow.

Q. Do you mind me asking what the matchups are?

MAJA STARK: Can we say it?

ANNA NORDQVIST: I don't think it's official yet until the other ones are submitted, but I don't see our team making any changes for tomorrow.