CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 16, 2023

Madelene Sagstrom

Tiburon Golf Club

Flash Interview

Q. Here with Madelene Sagstrom. Off the first group at the CME Group Tour Championship. Obviously the course got a lot of rain. The conditions maybe changed. Can you tell me what your practice was like before today's round and how you managed the conditions there?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: Well, I mean I was the last person in the field this week, so I was kind of watching the leaderboard on Sunday. Drove down on Sunday. I played the back nine Monday but kind of left the front nine out, so today was my first time seeing the front nine. Been here a million times so didn't really bother me.

I was a little bit worried about the softness because I prefer it firmer in general because I tend to spin the ball a little too much. We handled it quite well. Wasn't spinning off the greens. Definitely soft out there, but the amount of rain we had yesterday, the course is in unbelievable condition and it's looking really good.

Q. You had an early bogey and turned it around the back of the back nine. Tell me what some of the things were going through your head were as you were making the turn.

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think on this course, any time the wind is somewhere out of the north, like you're just trying to hold on for dear life on the first few holes, especially, 2, 3, 4. Gets really, really tricky into the wind.

Being a little wet makes it a little longer, and have to hit some good tee shots and second shots. I knew even if I was, call it one behind the even par score, there was going to be birdie chances coming in.

I saved up a really nice par on 6. Got a bit of an unfortunate bounce on my second shot there. I was hitting my driver really well today so put myself in play. Tricked up a little bit by the wind a few times so made some bad swings early on. Found my iron swings in the end.

I've been working really, really hard on my putting and I was rolling some really nice putts today. Made a few of those and started hitting the ball closer, so added up to a good score.

Q. You mentioned being the last one to get into the field today. How did that affect your mentality coming into the week? What were some of the goals coming late into the field?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think, I mean, I missed the cut last week, so I was sitting there, well, I can't do anything right now. It was a bit -- felt a bit down, like a bit deflated. Just a little bit deflated early this week. Like I don't like not being no control.

But being here is a bonus. The fact that I couldn't really do anything myself to get myself in. But I haven't had the best of years, so this is really kind of nice to finish off on a good note. I have this one and the next tournament coming up for me is really nice ending ones.

It's a nice bonus for a not-fantastic year.

Q. To kind of forget everything that's happened from not a fantastic year and really come in here reset, play like you did today; what does that take mentally for you?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think I've been dragging on bad shots a little bit too much. I talked a lot with my coach over the last few weeks and I just like keep lingering on stuff that I'm not happy with.

I kind of felt like I really wanted to like get better letting go today, so I was kind of out there, was a few things that bugged me and irritated me and I was like, okay, let it go. Hit one shot at a time. It's really cliche, but really tried to stay in the present.

I have been thinking a little bit too much, being hard on myself. Like I didn't hit a good putt there, I didn't do that. It's kind of stopped blowing a little bit now, but it was quite breezy earlier, and it's really hard. You have to commit. I'm trying to hit this shot and this target and not trying to manipulate it, do anything else.

It was quite good conditions for me to practice that, and it worked so my coach was right and I have to keep doing it.

Q. For you, this event, it's kind of a unique situation where you can come in and be right on the number for qualification and then play your way to the top of the leaderboard. How much fun is that to come in fresh to an event like this where you were on the bubble to get in?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: Yeah, I think being here is what a lot of people want for the end of the year, especially, like I said, not having the most fantastic season coming out of last year.

I think just being here and giving myself chance to have a really good week it's great. To get a nice big Christmas bonus would be amazing.

My game has felt really close all year, so if I can just keep pushing it and see if I can finish strong, that would be really nice. I worked really hard this year and I know the good stuff is really close. I'm just going to go out there, just try to do my best and keep building on this for next year.