DANA OPEN PRESENTED BY MARATHON

July 16, 2023

Linn Grant

Highland Meadows Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We would like to welcome the winner of the 2023 Dana Open, Linn Grant, to the interview room. Rolex first-time winner here. Just, as you were coming down the stretch on 17, 18, whatever it might have been, what were some of the thoughts going through your mind?

LINN GRANT: Oh, God. I feel like I was so blank today. I just really tried to kind of be in the moment without losing -- I was playing well, but I was also scrambling a bit at the end there. So my plan was just try to keep it together without thinking too much about what could happen.

THE MODERATOR: Was there anything you did mentally, either talk to your caddie, whatever it was to stay grounded and in the moment?

LINN GRANT: I think we just tried to talk about anything else rather than the moment, I think. Movies or just jokes in general. Just be very focused while I was hitting the shot and just in between there just focusing on everything else.

THE MODERATOR: Your first time at this event. Have you ever in your career been to a course and just kind of, for lack of a better word, dominated it like the way you did this week?

LINN GRANT: Last year Scandinavian Mixed was pretty good. I mean, it's always, regardless of how you win, it's always a special feeling, like I get just as nervous if it's one shot or six or nine, it doesn't matter, it's always the same.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up.

Q. In Scandinavia you had experience with playing with a huge lead. Some people say it's really difficult. Is it, in your eyes?

LINN GRANT: I think it is difficult. I think for me I just really have to go out and have a plan, just as I have like day one, two and three. I think it's easy to just go out and think that, Well, I'll just go out there and I'll win. In my mind I'm still thinking that someone could come from behind and shoot a 9-under. And so in my head I still had to -- like if I could just shoot 2-, 3-under today, which I did, that would probably get me there.

Q. How much the chip-in was that a shot that kind of settled you down and that?

LINN GRANT: No (laughing.) I was still like -- I didn't get comfortable with it until probably after No. 6. I missed the green there. I made an up-and-down. I felt a bit more relaxed.

But that chip on 8 was like kind of difficult. So just that I hit the green kind of the way I wanted to, I was just happy that I did that. Then that it went in was just a bonus.

Q. Did you find it difficult to sleep last night or is a six-shot lead somewhat comforting?

LINN GRANT: It was all right. I slept well, just woke up very early.

Q. On 18, did you not think you were going to hit the green or what happened there?

LINN GRANT: We were standing there talking and it was like 205 meters to the green and it was into. And I said, No chance I'm reaching that green. I'm just going to aim right edge of the green.

Then I just hit this kind of, I mean, really good shot, but it was a draw. And the second I hit it I was like, Sit. Because it was really good. Then obviously it reached.

Q. What club was that?

LINN GRANT: It was a 3-wood.

Q. Winning four times last year as a pro, how much did that get you ready to do what, I guess, you did today?

LINN GRANT: Yeah, I think playing on the LET and getting those wins, like just being in very different situations, winning, coming down the stretch, even playing the last hole in so many different ways. I think, regardless of tour, tournament, like it just prepared me very well for moments like this.

Q. I assume you're going to be a clinch for the Solheim Cup. How big of a goal was that coming into the year? How much has that kind of been on your mind?

LINN GRANT: It was a big goal coming into this year. Obviously, since I played well on the LET last year, I knew if I just continued to play my game I would be there in September. And I guess it's even more clear now.

Q. You mentioned you and your caddie were talking about movies. What type of movies do you like, what movies were you talking about?

LINN GRANT: We were talking about I was going through my list what I like movies and I said the Da Vinci Code. What else did I say? Silence of the Lambs. What is the name of -- we were talking about this movie, couldn't figure out the name of it. And I can't figure out now either. Nope.

Q. You like thrilling movies. You didn't really give us a thrilling finish today. Is that pretty good though, to be able to kind of cruise to a victory like this?

LINN GRANT: Yeah, but it doesn't feel like cruise. Like, it's terrible. Like I said, it doesn't matter if it's one shot or six or whatever it is. Like, it's just awful. You just stress all the way. From the second I teed off to the last putt I'm just shaking, stressed, tense. It's fun, but also very not very fun.

Q. Breaking through in your first LPGA victory, is that relief you're feeling now then?

LINN GRANT: Yes. Very. And I'm so excited to go home. I have a late flight tomorrow night to go back to Sweden, which I'm so excited about.

Q. On that note, how nice was it to have your fellow Swedes out there on the 18th green?

LINN GRANT: Yeah, I'm so glad they stayed. Because I met Linnea Johansson when I was teeing off and I was asking her if she was going to say, and she's like, We'll see if we'll stay.

So I think they planned, if I were playing well, they were going to stay, which I'm really happy about that they did.

THE MODERATOR: One last one. You said you're going to get home, get a little break. Evian on the horizon though. What's the confidence level heading into that event or that major championship, knowing what you did this week?

LINN GRANT: Yeah, I like that course. I'm pretty confident on that course, since I played well last year at the major, had a win there this year. So I really enjoy the place.

And obviously coming off of this week I do feel comfortable. I feel confident with the way I can like make it work, even though it doesn't feel a hundred percent. Which I think is very needed.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thank you.