DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 14, 2023

Gaby Lopez

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: We're joined by 2022 Dana Open champion Gaby Lopez. Take us through your round today. Your second round -- and especially that eagle on 13.

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, it was a very solid round overall. Off the tee my iron shots have been, my iron shots have been just on point. Yeah, on the 13 the hole I had 104 and I hit my 54 wedge 103. So it actually landed 104 and spun back and went in right in the cup.

Unlucky, I had a really bad break on probably the next hole, or the next -- I think it was 15. I was in the middle of a lip and I could barely get it out. So overall very solid. Didn't take advantage of the par-5s at all. So I got to work on that. But solid.

THE MODERATOR: We heard so much about how these par-5s are prime for scoring opportunities. You didn't take advantage of 'em, but still here you are. How key or what are some of the keys to taking advantage of those holes?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I played them pretty poorly the last two days. Very impressive that I'm still kind of up there. Because, yeah, everyone's making eagles and birdies. So just got to clean up -- the tee shots are the key in order to get a chance to get here in two. And, yeah, I mean just very solid. Just got to be very smart and not get greedy at some pin positions.

THE MODERATOR: What were some of differences in your round today compared to yesterday?

GABY LOPEZ: I guess also yesterday the putts, the greens were a little funky and they just get really tricky. In the afternoon they get a little bumpy. Yeah, so today I was able to just trust more my putts and the lines that I was picking.

THE MODERATOR: You're still up there. What's the level of confidence knowing that you're still in the mix and that you've already taken home this championship before?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I love this golf course. I love the community. Stephanie and Doug, they have hosted me with amazing warmth. My mom is here, my coach is here, so just very excited to be back here. Lots of great memories. But at the same time got to be very disciplined not to get ahead of myself because at the end of the day you're just going to play your best and if that ends up on the top that's okay. And if not, that's okay.

THE MODERATOR: All right.

Q. You had a big fist pump at the 18th after that putt. Was that kind of a, I guess a signal of I'm back in this thing?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I mean, I try to hold myself up there emotionally. I try not to get too excited, but, no, on the 18th hole when you see the ball doing what you want it to do, it's just sometimes I can't contain that excitement. That's me. It's me running through my emotions, it's me trying to be true to myself. I like showing what I am. I'm not ashamed of that.

Q. And at the end of last year you didn't look like you were ready to lose your mind or anything on the course, you know, for celebrating. But you've done it before.

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, to me kind of every single time you kind of celebrate a little victory out there it's just creating confidence, it's creating this environment of, yes, I can, yes, I will. And the more I do that on the golf course kind of celebrate those little victories they just turn into big ones.

Q. I'm asking a lot of players this week about the importance of fitness and weight training and things like that. That's as much a part of the game as going out on the range, isn't it?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I mean, I had a really good time with my trainer, physio, osteopath this past month, I mean, weeks and years. He's been traveling with me, he's been pushing me in the gym as hard as I can push myself on the golf course. So I think that's also key to be able to stay fit, stay healthy and prevent injuries.

Q. Do you watch your diet a lot?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I do. Lately it's been a little funky and I made a promise to myself so I'm going to do a little bit more clean dieting.

Q. That's got to be hard when you're on the road.

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, it's really hard to keep a clean diet on the road. Sometimes you just have to grab something very fast to eat at night because you have a turn around the next day really quickly. So, yeah, I mean being able to just eat as healthy as I can and that's why Stephanie and Doug have done an amazing job.

Q. It's got to be good to be able to grab a salad at a restaurant --

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, exactly.

Q. -- instead of a hamburger?

GABY LOPEZ: They prepared this pasta salad with cucumbers, peppers and just a bunch of like healthy stuff. So I'm really happy that I got hooked up on the golf course for that.