THE ANNIKA DRIVEN BY GAINBRIDGE AT PELICAN

November 10, 2023

Louise Rydvist

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, joined now by Louise Rydqvist. Louise, 2-under in your first two rounds on the LPGA Tour. Take us through what kind of -- what's it been like for you out there?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: I mean, it's been a journey for sure. Been a lot of stress. Teeing off yesterday was a lot of nerves and then just walking out there.

LPGA is one thing to play, but then you're playing on the cut line for 18 holes, it's also another type of nerves. I enjoyed every second out there. This is why we play the game and I'm just extremely happy.

Q. Was there ever a moment maybe in your first or second round where the nerves, the excitement maybe settled down and you remembered, oh, I'm playing golf? I am good at this? I can do this? Did you have that kind of moment?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: Yeah, so my caddie, he was like you need to walk out here and look around and see what's actually going on right now. He definitely tried to tell me yesterday walking up 18, and he is like, just take it all in, soak it in, because this is it.

Q. You mentioned whenever we talked to you Wednesday your assistant coach was coming down. How has it been having him here, another comforting presence? Give you any tips, advice? Or is he just a presence for you you?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: Just been here for me basically. It's great to have him here. I have him around all the time playing college golf, so I was extra happy he was able to come down here and watch the first two rounds.

Q. Outside of the obvious, team versus non-team, any big differences you've seen between collegiate play and LPGA play?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: I mean, I would say it goes a little faster out here. College golf is really slow so I would say that's a difference.

Otherwise everyone is really friendly. I'm closer with the Swedish girls and just to have that environment is really helping with some sort of transition to see myself out here.

Q. Have they given you any advice or anyone come up to you, been, welcome, offer you some advice? Any cool interactions?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: I mean, I've been talking to Annika she's been like, oh, we're so happy to have you here. Talked to Rob for the ANNIKA Foundation. Been walking with me out there for a lot of holes, so just to have that support means a lot to me.

Q. How much has the last two days been a confidence boost to you knowing you can compete, make the cut, make it to the weekend?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: I mean, it's a confidence boost for sure. I mean, as of right now I'm kind of out of words. I can't wait to give my family a hug. It feels awesome.

I'm super happy that I could play my game and that it fits out here, and it makes it a lot easier for me to picture myself out here in the future.

Q. Two more. I told to ask about this on Wednesday by my colleague, Carly, who played who played golf at JMU. She said you have some -- you know, the glasses are on, your coaches come and approach you; just what is that? I butchered it horribly.

LOUISE RYDQVIST: Yeah, so I talked a lot with my mental coach. I have a tendency, I guess a lot of golfers, do to get ahead or be in the past, and it's all about being in the present.

So what we worked with is to kind of have a very clear strategy of when are we on the golf course and when is the time to actually relax.

So with my sunglasses I've been kind of like a free zone for me to just put my mind on something else.

So when I wear my sunglasses my coaches know that, okay, we don't talk golf with Lou right you now because she's in another headspace, which I really appreciate, and just makes it a whole lot easier for me and the people around me.

Q. And last one: What is going to be the mindset or what will you improve on for the weekend?

LOUISE RYDQVIST: I think I am just going to keep on playing with my strategy out there, my game plan. But there is definitely pins that will be more accessible and that I will try to go for a little more now that I know I'll play two more rounds. It's super exciting. I just want to go out there and go low for sure.