KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2023

Carlota Ciganda

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Carlota Ciganda. Nothing like a final day 64. What was the mindset as you wanted to attack this final round?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I wanted to be aggressive today. I thought I could have a low round on this golf course. I've loved it since the first time that I came here. It's tricky, but I think after the rain we had, I thought it was gettable, and I was trying to hit as many greens as possible.

Today the putter was pretty hot, so very good start with those two birdies on 4 and 5. Great eagle on 7. Really long putt on 9 that I think that's almost a little bit of luck.

Then yeah, great shots on 10, made the putt. Great birdie on 13. Then 14, 15, we had the rain delay, so I had to come back and play the last three, which I thought a couple birdies I thought was going to be good to be there, maybe a playoff.

But I think 6-under is going to be a little short.

Q. How long were those putts that got you going on 4 and 5, and what do you feel you unlocked with the putter today?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, so 4 was probably five, six feet. 5 was maybe 18, 20 feet. 7, I hit a great shot, but it was still 20, 22 feet. 9 was really long. I want to say at least 55, 60 feet. That was from side to side. Birdie on 10 was 10 feet, and 13 probably the same, 10 feet. So those were the five birdies and the eagle.

My putting, I saw my coach yesterday and he told me one thing to feel a bit more relaxed on my hands, and that's what I tried today, and it worked out really well.

Q. What was the small adjustment you made?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Just a bit more relaxed on my hands, just don't feel that much pressure on the grip. I did that, and it was much better.

Q. I believe you were eight back to start the day. Did you wake up thinking that you could move this far up the leaderboard?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, with the par-5s I did think I could get to 4- or 5-under, but then when I was 5-under after nine, I was like, let's keep it going, be aggressive. The greens are pretty soft. If you are hitting the ball good, you can go aggressive to your targets, and then if you make putts, I think there is a low one here.

Obviously you have to hit it good, hit greens and make putts, but I did think that I could get to 4- or 5-under.

Q. Was it difficult mentally and/or physically to get back into the swing of things after you had such a good start and then a two-hour weather delay?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I would have liked to just keep going and finish 18 holes obviously because I was playing really good, but there is nothing you can do against the weather, so we had that delay.

Then maybe I was a little bit more nervous, but I think it's just good nerves, adrenaline, and I love when I am up there, and I love what I feel. This is what I live for.

Q. You've come very close a lot of times in the last couple years. How are you staying patient and really just waiting for your time to come?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I love playing. I love competing. It's not an easy game. I think you just have to keep going, and I think the more opportunities you create, it will happen eventually, so I'm just trying to be patient, keep playing. I know my game is good enough to win and to be up there.

I love the majors. I love the challenge. I love tough courses. Hopefully I can win one one day.

Q. What does this tell you about where the state of your game is? We've got three more majors the rest of the season, but where does it tell you where your game is at right now?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable. I've been doing a lot of work this year with my coach and my caddie on my swing and working really hard. I want to play good this year. I think if you put the work and you believe in your team and what you do, I think the results are going to come.

Just keep doing what I'm doing, keep giving myself some opportunities, and hopefully I can win soon.

Q. You had another round this year, 63 already, but what does this round mean at this course and this championship?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I think 64 in a major on a Sunday, I think that speaks especially because I was playing pretty good lately, and then the weekends, they were a little tough. This week it was a little opposite. I didn't play -- I played pretty good, but we didn't make many putts, so my score wasn't as good.

I thought I was doing a good lot of good things. I was like, just keep being patient, and since yesterday, the last two holes, and today I shot 10-under in the last 20 holes. That's pretty good golf.

Q. Did your last tee shot clip the branch on the tree?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: No, so I was trying to aim just inside the water and then hit my fade, but I think I aimed a little bit too far left and it didn't fade enough. But it didn't hit any trees.

Q. What did you have in yardage wise to even get the next one on?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I had 200 front with tees 220 yards, 230 to the pin, like 255, and I hit a 5-wood.

Q. How fun was it Sunday at a major to make a charge like that? For you, you say this is what you live for. How fun was it to be in that moment?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I love being up there. I love the adrenaline that you get. I think it's a lot of fun, and I really like the challenge. I think when you are up there, it's just more of a mental challenge, like just think what you want to think in the right moment and staying present. It's very easy to just go ahead of yourself or look at the scores, but I do think if I can present every time, I have the game to win.