DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 13, 2023

Linnea Johansson

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. We are joined by Linnea Johansson. Just welcome to the Dana Open. Take us through your first rounds.

LINNEA JOHANSSON: It was a great day out there today. Tee'd off early in the morning. Course is great, conditions are great. Managed to play great today.

Q. Yeah. You had let's see, five birdies on the back, which was your front. What was working so well for you?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: I putted really well the first front nine. Gave myself a lot of the birdie opportunities and managed to roll them in.

They weren't that long, but you always have to make the putts. So I putted very, very well, especially the back nine.

Q. Any of those five or the ones on the front, any stand out to you as especially extraordinary to you?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: I would say maybe the one on 14 is a little trickier par-4. It was a little into the wind today so a little longer club in. Had like 20-footer that I made, so that was pretty sweet.

So I think that one stands out on a pretty tough hole.

Q. When you have a lot of these scoring opportunities and you've taken advantage of them, what kind of confidence does that give you heading into the rest of the week?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: You know, it's golf. We're going to play four rounds, so you never know what you're going to get. Tomorrow might be a totally different day. Days when putt well you create chances and you're hitting the ball well, and you have to take advantage of that.

Don't be too comfortable and be safe in your precision and just keep going, keep giving yourself chances, because girls will make birdies out there so I can. Just have to keep it going.

Q. Last one from me. Anything you took away from today's round that you're going to try and emphasize the rest of the week?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: I think the putting. Putted great. New putter in the bag, so that's always great.

And then stick to my game plan. It is a little strategic course. You have to play to certain positions on certain holes, but the birdies are out there, so keep hitting the ball great and get chances.

Q. How beneficial is it to get out here in one of the first groups, done early, and be able to process the first round going into tomorrow?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: You know, early morning tee times are always nice I think. Yes, you have to wake up early, 4:00 something call, but the greens are great, in good conditions, so when you're out there and as soon as you tee it off you just want to get it going. And be done right around noon, it's always great.

Q. Does it set the bar knowing you're able to set a good start for the rest the week?

LINNEA JOHANSSON: Yeah, of course. You have to play four rounds, and a good round is always a good round. You just have to build on that, and hopefully I can do two or three more of those and not take it for granted because you don't know what you're going to get tomorrow.

Obviously it's greater to start on this note than to start on something else.

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