SOLHEIM CUP

September 23, 2023

Carlota Ciganda

Linn Grant

Finca Cortesin

Team Europe

Quick Quotes

Q. What are the emotions right now, just looking around, clearly a long way to go today.

LINN GRANT: Yeah, no, I mean, we played some great golf today, both teams. We just had a blast out there. A lot of birdies, a lot of good putts. Just a great game of golf.

Q. Carlota, you played two and you won two. What is it that brings the best out of your game?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: Well, playing in Spain in front of my family, home crowd, friends, I just love it. I love this. I'm embracing this week. I think it's been great. I still have a big day tomorrow, but I'm just trying to enjoy it.

As Linn said, we played some amazing golf. I mean, everyone, not only us, but Danielle and Lilia, they played some amazing golf. I think we shot 8-under on the front, and we made eight straight birdies in a row, so I don't know how many birdies we've made, the four of us combined. But yeah, just a great round of golf and very happy we won at the end.

Q. The answer is a lot of birdies. Linn, you're a rookie out here, but you definitely didn't play like one. You had a very hot start making six birdies in the first six holes. What's bringing the best out of your game going into tomorrow?

LINN GRANT: Well, I'm on my own tomorrow. I don't have this one next to me. I'm hitting the ball really well and then if I can get the putts to go in, it will be great.

Q. Finishing that game and looking around seeing your team behind you, all the vice captains, just sum up the atmosphere for us here today.

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I love Suzann, I love the Cup, and I love, I mean, Laura, Caroline, and I think it's been a great week so far, and I want to win here in Spain tomorrow. I really want to win for Suzann because I think she's been a great captain. She deserves this. Hopefully, we can go out there and get as many points as possible and win the Cup.

Q. Another bit of blue on the board for Europe. Linn, I think were you 6-under through your first six holes. I mean, the score doesn't count, winning the match is what counts. But how much was that building off that adrenaline on 18 in the foursomes this morning coming into the four-ball?

LINN GRANT: Yeah, for sure, that was an important part of it, but I feel like we all played so well. I think that was what was needed out of both of us. We all made a lot of birdies and it's just so nice to have someone next to you that you know that they're up for making birdies on every hole, so you can be aggressive and you can go for it and just kind of relax but still be on it. It's just a great feeling.

Q. You've been up for everything on this course in front of your home fans, Carlota, but I suppose you don't know how you react to that until you're in front of it. How have you used the adrenaline, the emotion, of this week to get the best out of your game?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: To be honest, I wasn't that nervous. I think it's just more adrenaline, like, just excitement that, I mean, it's a dream come true. I've been playing professional for 12 years, so I'm just happy to be here, happy to be playing in Spain. I think it's great. The atmosphere on the first hole and then on all these holes that you have a lot of people. I think the crowds are amazing. We need them tomorrow. Yes, very loud.

But I'm just enjoying moment, and playing with Linn is just such a pleasure. She's just, she does everything great. Great ball striking. As she said, we can both be aggressive. We love going for the pin, making birdies. I think, yeah, we showed something today. So it's pretty amazing.

Q. Really impressive stuff. It all changes tomorrow into the singles. Your first taste of it in the Solheim Cup. How do you try and maintain the momentum within your own game?

LINN GRANT: I think today I showed some momentum and just try to bring that out for tomorrow and kind of keep that feeling going, keep the excitement going and be one with the crowd.

Q. You know what it's like on singles day, Carlota, how much confidence do you have within this team, within yourself that you can get the job done tomorrow?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: I mean, the Americans excel in singles, they are really good players. But I think we have a great team and I think we can do this. I think the team is ready to go out there tomorrow, fight and give their best. Hopefully, we can get to those 15 and a half points and the Cup stays here in Spain.

Q. Successful pairing for the second straight afternoon. What is it that makes you such a strong duo for the European side?

LINN GRANT: I think like today and yesterday when everything works, we're hitting the ball great, both of us, just giving ourselves two chances everywhere, being able to be aggressive and kind of enjoy playing without any stress and just be there for each other and go after it.

Q. Carlota, getting to play the Solheim Cup for the first time in your home country, how would you begin to describe the atmosphere out here today?

CARLOTA CIGANDA: It's been amazing. Yesterday and today, but certainly today in the afternoon I knew we were doing good, because I could hear the people cheering pretty loud. So amazing feeling. I just can't believe we're playing here in Spain and so happy to be a part of this amazing team. Very happy to play with Linn. She's such a great player. Just, yeah, very comfortable, very confident. I can't wait until tomorrow.

Q. She's such a great player. She's going to play all five sessions for Team Europe. Linn, how do you begin to keep up the stamina, the momentum, battle the fatigue tomorrow for those Sunday singles?

LINN GRANT: Well I'll try and tell myself it doesn't exist and then we go out tomorrow and we just go from the start, from hole 1. Continue to play well and kind of go bring the momentum from this game on to tomorrow.