BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 24, 2023

Leona Maguire

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Nothing like getting out with a win on day one. Leona, just thoughts on the first day of match play here in Las Vegas.

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it's been three weeks off for me, so nice to get back into the swing of things. I think is one of the best golf courses we play all year. It's in such great shape. You really have to execute your shots.

Drove the ball nice today. Let a few go. Wasn't the tidiest round, but holed a couple nice putts when I needed to, and good momentum heading into tomorrow.

Q. That's the nice thing about match play, is what we've heard all day is you don't need your A-plus game, you just need to beat person in front of you. How much fun was it preparing for this kind of event?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I didn't play last year, but this is the tournament I was looking forward to. I like match play, especially the fact we don't get to do it very often.

Yeah, I mean, two more days and hopefully the weekend ahead. You kind of just have to take every match as it comes. Like you said, play whoever is in front of you, try and play as well as you possibly can, and if it's enough, it's enough.

Q. What's it been like getting used to Shadow Creek?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Like I said, I think it's a great golf course. It's probably in some of the best condition we play all year. The greens are pure. You have absolutely no excuse if you miss a putt here.

It's almost like a major championship golf course. I think the rough isn't maybe quite as quick as it was two years ago when I was here, but it's really, really good golf course.

Q. Looked like you took advantage of the par-5s today; three birdies there. Are those the holes that you can take advantage of here. Or did you just play them well today?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, hit some really nice drives down those par-5s. They're quite narrow, some of the tee shots, the way they're angled on the par-5s, so if you hit the fairway you know you're going to have a really good chance.

The greens are firming up, so you really have to take advantage of where those birdie chances are; then there is a few you just have to play a little smart on.

I think the par-3s are really tough. You really have to pick your spots into them and almost play away from the pin on some of them.

Yeah, take advantage of the par-5 and really any other chance you get.

Q. Then is the mindset other than that par is a good score out here?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I think any hole out here par is a good score. Obviously you have to -- whoever is playing against you, you don't know what they're going to do, but I feel like lots of fairways, lots of greens, and like I said the greens are rolling pure, so you just have to give yourself as many chances as you can.

Q. I would be remiss if I didn't mention with it being a Solheim year, getting that match play experience. How much does that just aid to the fact of what a momentums fall that could be for you?

LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, we're quite a ways out from Solheim. September seems a long way away, even though this year seems to be going by really quick.

Yeah, like I said, like match play. It's a little different playing an individual format. Haven't done that in a while. Yeah, I enjoy it and enjoy the challenge of it.