BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 26, 2023

Anna Nordqvist

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Anna, just the last few holes, what a match to watch. What was going through your mind and what was the mentality and the fight?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, I knew I couldn't let up and I had to do my best. She made a great birdie on 15. I don't know how she got that ball to stop. I thought I hit a good shot and I was way over the green.

Yeah, we both had opportunities on 16, and then 17 she made a really good putt and I hit a really good shot in there, so I lucky to make that putt, too, to tie her.

Going down the last thought I hit a great drive and got very unlucky there. Or I don't know if it was better if it was in the water or ended up where it did, but I really had no shot. I tried to go at it, but couldn't fall forward because I'll be in the water swimming right now.

But a great five, and just a very tough hole location with the downwind, so I'm very happy with a tie today to move on.

Q. It's really never over until it's over. When you're walking off 18, how much of a relief did that feel for you?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Well, you hit good shots out here and you're not always going to be rewarded. I felt like I hit a lot good shots today and they just didn't -- weren't really close to the hole or bounced over the greens.

It's just I guess the nature of this golf course. It's playing really firm, and I feel like some of them, you got to either be cute at it or give yourself some margin, but then you're standing over a long line putt with a lot of break.

But, yeah, in general it's a big relief getting that tie on 18 and being able to move on.

Q. I know how much match play and this tournament means to you. You had to withdraw last year the night before we started. How much redemption is this to be able to play the weekend?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, so I'm very proud to be an MGM ambassador, and have been since 2017. They've done so much for me. I've been out here a few times other than the event.

So when they let us know that we were coming out here I was telling all the girls that it's going to be a real treat. They take really good care of us.

Played pretty good two years ago. Last year I was very excited to tee it up, but then I had been close contacted and ended up getting COVID, too, so I had to pull out.

So it was a little unfortunate, but I'm happy to be back this year and just playing, and I'm glad to move on to the next round.

Q. By my count there is seven potential European Solheim Cup players that are moving on. Does that say anything about your ability to play match play in Europe?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, I think we're fortunate to have a lot of opportunities growing up to play match play in both the girls British Open, British Amateur, and the European Team Championships over the years.

The European girls have been really strong this year. I'm excited to see how the Solheim Cup team is shaping up, and it's great to see a lot of them in form this week.

Q. I was also going to ask that because we asked Carlota that. Also as a vice captain yourself for this year, is that kind of in the back of your mind as you're seeing some of those players really come into their own this week?

ANNA NORDQVIST: I mean, of course it's nice to be part of I guess the team in a different way, too, being vice captain.

I still want to play, in case someone asks.

But, yeah, I really want to make that team and kind of do all roles. It's nice to see. We've been talking -- we've had some meetings lately, and it's nice to play with some of these girls and just kind of see the polls, and they're doing great.

It's going to be a good problem to have filling those 12 spots because there is going to be a lot of girls competing for them.

Q. When you're able to show the fight that you did today and the play that you've had over the last couple days, saying that you want to be a playing vice captain, how much is this week a motivator for you after what you've been able to put on the last three days?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Of course like I love match play. Maybe not every week, but we played International Crown a couple weeks ago and it was nice showing. I got to tee it up with Caroline Hedwall again, which is one of my Solheim Cup partners.

So, yeah, it's just very nice to have the opportunity and feel the adrenaline and make a putt like I did on 17 to tie the hole.

Yeah, it just gives you a lot of confidence going forward.

Q. This weekend it's anybody's game. You reset; it's that simple elimination. For you what will you focus on, especially with the round of 16 tomorrow morning?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Well, I feel like I've done a lot of good things this week. Started work with Sean Kluzy (phonetic) this week, so we been adjusting, and had a lot of good times on the golf course.

But I'm just going to try to continue playing my game. It's going to be a lot of tough competitors ahead of you so you can only take one match at a time or really one hole, because you're going to have to be playing really well because there is obviously a lot of the girls playing well this week.