SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC PRESENTED BY ACER

June 9, 2023

Anna Nordqvist

Seaview, A Dolce Hotel

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, I'm here with Anna Nordqvist. Great round today. It looks like you maximized on some of the par-5s out there. Talk us through your round a little bit.

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, got off to a really good start. I think I hit it stiff on the first hole and made another birdie from probably six feet on hole No. 12.

So, yeah, felt like I played steady. Not too much wind the first couple holes, so it started blowing a little bit more. Par-5s were a little bit harder because they were into the wind so I couldn't reach -- well, two of them. I didn't hit a good drive on the last.

Overall I felt like I gave myself a lot of good chances. Couple funky bounces, but that's usually expected out here. Good speed control on the greens, and it was really nice to finish with the birdie on the last.

Q. And then you clearly like the ShopRite LPGA Classic. What is it about here that you love so much?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Well, I think just coming back here year after year. I have a lot friends in the area that come out and support me. I feel very welcome. It's nice to have the spectators cheering you on.

I feel like when you do well at a golf course there is a lot of good memories, so I think that gives you a little bit of confidence and just like puts you in a really good state. I had a really good pro-am yesterday even though it was just on nine holes.

So, yeah, I just guess it's something about this place. I just -- you got to hit a lot of good shots, commit to a lot of shots with the wind and starting it.

So, yeah, off to a good start and I'm just very happy to be back playing here.

Q. How close did you hit it to on 10, your first hole?

ANNA NORDQVIST: I think I had maybe three inches, four inches. (Smiling.) Yeah, so really good shot from I think 108 yards.

Q. So when you come to a place you've had success before and the first hole you hit it to within three inches of the cup, are you like, hey, this is going my way again basically?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, so with a little bit of the heavy air yesterday we only played nine so I hadn't played the back nine this year. I skipped the practice round; gave myself a couple more days of rest.

So obviously I hadn't seen the back, and it was just really nice start starting there with a tap-in for birdie.

Q. When you see the morning tee time you know there is probably not going to a lot of wind. Is that a tee time, when you look at that you know you have to put yourself in contention, got to make some birdies, got to take advantage of that morning tee time basically?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, I think we still had a little bit of wind from our fifth hole, so you know the wind is going to be blowing. The greens are going to be a little bit smoother in the morning. Probably not as bouncy.

So I think that more than anything, and maybe just being a little bit softer. And you can predict the bounce maybe a little bit better.

Yeah, usually knowing this is a three-day event and you're starting early, you're going to try capitalize on the early round.

Q. With this momentum today, how are you looking to carry that into tomorrow?

ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, I'm just excited to get off to a good start. I have a lot of friends at Galloway National down the road, so been hanging out this week over there. Probably going to head there for dinner tonight and just hang out.

But, yeah, just get some rest and be prepared for tomorrow.

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