DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 14, 2023

Mia Hammond

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Here with Mia Hammond, the 15-year-old Monday qualifier who now can say she made the weekend in her first LPGA start. How does that feel just walking off of that 9 green just now?

MIA HAMMOND: It's so amazing. It's honestly a dream come true. I've put in a lot of work over the winter and beginning of the season this year and it's so great to see it finally pay off. I had a few rough tournaments here and there so just so relieving.

THE MODERATOR: You hugged your mom for quite a bit when you came off. You hugged a lot of family and friends. What were those emotions that you were feeling when you got to see your family?

MIA HAMMOND: It's just so amazing. They have been there with me every step of the way and I'm so grateful to have them surrounding me and supporting me no matter what. They have always done whatever they can to help me and make this dream come true.

THE MODERATOR: Talk about the mindset today. Were there any differences knowing that you are already, the first day complete, check that off. Under par, check that off. What were you thinking going into day two?

MIA HAMMOND: I was a little nervous going into today. The nerves didn't really hit until the third or fourth hole. But I got myself leveled out pretty quickly. It's just a different environment than anything I've been used to. So it's just a matter of getting a feel for everyone being out there and just taking in the surroundings more than anything else. But again I'm so thankful to have this experience and I'm never going to forget this.

Q. I noticed after you made your putt on the 9th hole you walked over to your dad, you looked like exhaled really big. How relieved are you to that these two rounds are over now?

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, it's just, I mean, my goal for the week was to make the cut. That's just what I set for myself. To know that I did that, it's just, it is a breath of fresh air. It's so, just relieving, it takes a lot of stress off my chest. I can go to the weekend having fun and just never forget it.

Q. At this point is all the rest of it like just kind of gravy or, you're semi in contention, are you going to set new goals or how are you going to kind of approach the last two rounds?

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, so I would say for now I'm going to set a goal as top 20. If it happens to be better than that then that's great. I'm just here for the experience more than anything else. Playing on the LPGA Tour is a dream of mine in the future. So just getting a feel for what it's actually like to be out here is more important to me.

Q. Last night after your round, did you look at the scores and stuff? Like you beat the No. 1 player in the world yesterday. Just what did that kind of feel like?

MIA HAMMOND: I mean, it's a dream come true just to be out here in general. I did check the scores. I was nervous towards the end because I was, like, people were going very low yesterday. I was worried about where I was going to be in the field going into today, you know, making the cut or not. But I was in 27th yesterday which is a pretty good start. So I just built off that going into today.

Q. I think you only have one 3-putt in 36 holes. How happy and pleased are you with your putting?

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, it's really relieving. Putting's always been my struggle, as I said before. Just to know that I come out here and hit some really good putts, made a few, and it's just a breath of fresh air again. It's so nice to know that it's finally paying off all my hard work.

THE MODERATOR: What do you do to not let it overwhelm you? You're still so young out here playing against some of the best in the world. What kind of just kind of mellows out the whole overwhelmingness that it could be?

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, so after the round I like to listen to music, just to kind of like forget everything around me and just kind of tune out. When I'm off the course I try not to think about golf as much as possible. Just so I don't over stress about things. It's good to have my family around that I can laugh, joke around with, get my mind off of golf and just think about positives and forget about what's truly going on.

THE MODERATOR: You got quite a big break until you tee off, hopefully, again tomorrow. What do you do with a night like this after the last two days that you've had?

MIA HAMMOND: Yeah, so I'm just going to take it all in. Spend time with the people that are here, make the best of it. I mean, it's my first tournament, it's the best experience, I'm just excited to be here.