COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 11, 2023

Maddie Szeryk

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Maddie Szeryk after her first round at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Really good round today. Just one bogey on the card. What was the easiest par of the course in your game out there today?

MADDIE SZERYK: I think I just gave myself a lot of chances. I had kind of an unlucky start. I knew that wasn't going to be the tone for the rest of the round and knew I was playing -- hitting it really well.

Felt good with the greens, so had to wait for it to happen and not try to force it.

Q. You mentioned that you hit a lot of close birdie shots. What was working so well on your approach into the greens today?

MADDIE SZERYK: A lot of them were on the par-5s, so my wedges were really sharp. They were mostly inside six feet, so just the distance and the direction was spot on.

So just gave myself good chances.

Q. We were talking a little bit about how you have gotten a little longer this year. Been working out. How comfortable are you with your shots off the tee, approach shots, now that you have some extra distance?

MADDIE SZERYK: Yeah, it's fun to see -- to not be one of the shorter ones in the group and kind of be up there. Just to stay -- you know, I have some of the shorter clubs. Driver feels really good, and so just staying with it really.

That was always a strength, but having a little more distance helps.

Q. Just wanted to ask a couple questions about the schedule this year.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. You had to wait until March to make your first start. What's your opinion about that? And moving forward would you like to maybe get some more reps under your belt earlier in the year as we get into the swing of the major championship season?

MADDIE SZERYK: I think yes and no. I think it was nice to have -- so I had to go to Q-Series so I had three months off. Other players had maybe like five months.

I really worked hard in the gym and had a lot of time to practice. I think it would be nice maybe a little earlier, but not necessarily -- it's nice to have a break.

Q. What did you do during that layoff? Was it really just working on your game? Did you play any other tours?

MADDIE SZERYK: No, just working on my game. Practicing really hard. Had a trainer as well. Just really stepping up my practice.

Q. And one more question on a different topic. It's coming up on 20 years since Annika Sorenstam played at Colonial. I know you were young, but do you have any recollections of that? What did that mean to you? How do you think that impacted the women's game?

MADDIE SZERYK: Oh, huge. I remember watching her when I was growing up and she really got me into golf. I remember going to her tournaments and getting her autograph and just -- so that's pretty -- that's amazing. She played a huge game in growing the game and very thankful for that.

Q. Last question here. Had some really good finishes this season.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. Two really good finishes.

MADDIE SZERYK: Uh-huh.

Q. What are some of the similarities between this course, the course at Chevron, the course at Superstition Mountain, if any?

MADDIE SZERYK: I think you just have to plot your way around these courses. I think they had some tougher greens, lots of different tiers, so I think you have to play with the slopes and plot your way around the course.

I think we've done a good job of that.