PORTLAND CLASSIC

August 31, 2023

Angela Stanford

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Angela, a 5-under day today. How does it feel to get back in the swing of things here at Portland Classic?

ANGELA STANFORD: I love this golf course, so it's easy. I feel like I could play it in my sleep, good and bad. So it's just nice. Started off warming up in the rain and it was kind of nice. Felt like we got the good wave. Didn't play much in the rain; just had to warm up.

Yeah, good day.

Q. For you to kind of come off broadcasting to competing again, broadcasting, competing again, how do you balance that competitive mindset while also preparing for TV broadcast?

ANGELA STANFORD: I think because I'm on the ground walking and commentating it's easy to stay in the mindset. When I'm out there walking I'm thinking, okay, where should she hit it? Why is she hitting it there?

So it's been nice because I have been able to kind of stay in the course management mindset. I think that's probably helped the most.

Q. When you're at a course that you know so well, how much is it just kind of muscle memory sometimes, or were there some moments today where you were like, oh, I didn't remember that?

ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, No. 8. I've never been in that bunker I don't think. It's funny to be here all this time and say I've never done that before. It's golf.

But it's good and bad. It's good because you remember all the good, and then there are certain holes out here that I still don't get. So it's good and bad.

Q. I think I've known you for a little bit. Even when you took on the broadcasting role you still said, I'm still a competitor. I still want to come out here and I still want to do it. When you have days like this, is it kind of just the sense of relief that you're doing the right things?

ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, and I think off the course my life has evened out a little bit. I'm finding that when I'm on the road broadcasting I'm going to these really random places to hit balls and practice.

I catch myself thinking, well, I must still love it. If I'm willing to walk around all day and commentate and then go find a golf course and hit yellow stripers, then I must still love it.

That's what this year was about. I tried to be very unemotional about everything happening this year and just kind of find out where I am. I have loved broadcasting. I love those people. I love working with them.

I hope that that doesn't go away just because I have a few years left maybe. I don't know.

Q. I mean, you also did happen to win the Senior LPGA Championship, so not like the competitive fire is all the way gone.

ANGELA STANFORD: So my instructor caddied for me that week, and I remember telling him, you know, I lost my confidence completely. But when I started thinking about it, it had nothing to do with golf. I didn't know how to separate those two, and so I think now that I understand the grief part, how to deal with it, I think that's -- I certainly don't take this for granted.

I don't think I ever did, but warming up this morning in the rain I'm like, why am I enjoying this? Nobody likes this. I'm just in such a better place that I just loved it today.

Q. And it's been a fun couple of days being an assistant captain, being able to announce the rest of the U.S. Solheim Cup team. How much fun for you was the last couple days and what were some the emotions you've been feeling since announcing?

ANGELA STANFORD: It's a lot of fun. It's been fun watching Stacy. She's had a game plan and she's following it. It's fun. We did a team Zoom last night, and it's fun seeing their faces all together and how excited they are and ready to go they are.

It's my favorite event, so just I get all excited, too, even not playing. So it's been a fun couple days.

Q. Saw you on the green also congratulating Megan Khang when she was able to clinch her first victory last week. What's it been like for you being not only a competitor and broadcaster, but then also a sideline observer for something that's upcoming right around the corner?

ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, you know, I made the mistake when -- because I have been trying to be very careful about when I'm broadcasting, I'm broadcasting. When I'm playing, I'm playing.

There is a fine line and I'm trying to keep it. I wasn't on the green when Cheyenne won and that kind of bothered me. This time I thought, I got to at least stay, and since I'm here I got to say I was happy for her. I think sometimes that's hard, because I want the players to respect me when I'm doing that. I want them to respect me when I'm playing.

Sometimes you just -- it was just a very cool moment for her and I know what it's like to wait for something for a long time. Had to say congrats.

Q. Another round ahead of us tomorrow. What do you take away from a solid performance from today going into tomorrow?

ANGELA STANFORD: I hit it good, so, you know, my putting will come and go, but it was nice to hit it good. It was nice to have the right thoughts, the right swing thoughts, and actually see good shots.

So this is one of those moments where I'm glad I don't have to wait long to get back out here.