HONDA LPGA THAILAND

February 24, 2024

Madelene Sagstrom

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Quick Quotes

Q. I don't want to start at the back, but I think I have to after the way you were able to end this round today. Overall what was it like walking away with an eagle on 18?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: It was nice. I started really -- I birdied 1 and 2 and then I kind of hit bit of a struggle bus there after that. So couldn't really find the momentum, and I looked at Shane and I was like, okay, I feel like Patty was playing really well. I feel like this is falling away from me.

I kind of said to him, okay, I just need to focus on my own game, trying to find some kind of thought that makes it work. I wasn't hitting the driver very well so wasn't giving myself any chances in the fairway. I think just grinding it out. Made a really good par save on 17. Obviously that's just the bonus on 18.

I think it kind of proves to me that the grind makes it worth it. Like I can get good things with me when I don't get frustrated and when I don't get too down on myself and just like try and take one shot at a time and really stick with it.

Q. I think it would be hard sometimes when someone else in the group is seemingly running away with it. What did it mean to you to kind of draw on that experience of just knowing not to give up even if the game isn't exactly where you want it to be maybe at the middle the round?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I mean, Patty is playing beautifully. She it hitting the ball lovely and she is putting even better. She left a few putts short today and she could have gone really low today.

I think you kind of know that to really have a chance for tomorrow you have to play good golf. You don't really do that by comparing yourself to somebody else or trying to react on their games. All I need to do is get my own zone and out of my own way.

I mean, playing with players that are playing well is a lot better. Seeing her momentum, knowing that there is good scores out there, good stuff, is really good. I kind of just have to pace myself and try to find my stuff.

Q. Over the last couple days what's it been like to start with that -- and obviously you've been here a few times -- but what's it like to start with that par-5 on the first hole, to be able to know there is an opportunity as soon as you're teeing off?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think it's good and also a little bit -- it's also you really want to go -- I mean, have the birdie on the first because you kind of feel like you're losing a little bit on the field if you don't.

So I think it's both. Both 10 and 1 has quite tricky green areas, so if you miss it in the wrong spot you can have a really tough short game shot.

Especially this week the greens are quite bouncy. They're not fast but they are bouncy, and the first bounce gets really tricky with the short game.

So I think that -- I mean, if you can take advantage of it it's great. If not, you might get a little bit of stress. It's always fun. I like the par-5s, so it's good.

Q. You talked to Shane in the middle of the round you said about when you feel it you're saying oh, I feel like I'm falling apart. Did he say something to you to get that back on track or was that your mentality making sure that you're still getting out there?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think that I've come to the -- I mean, we've worked together for three years, starting our fourth. I learned over the years that the more I keep things to myself the less he can help me deal with it, so I think that by me voicing the thoughts in my head, at least he knows, he's aware of what I'm thinking. He might be able to encourage me along the way kind of out of that.

I think just talking about it, it helps just saying that, okay, what are we trying to do here rather than me walking away thinking about, well, I'm not playing good, da, da, da, da, da.

I think it's good to have somebody there you can fall back on and he knows where I'm at, and also kind of can have those little bit of words of encouragement along the way. I felt really I pulled myself through today. I mean, obviously he helps me but unless I really try -- unless I dig deep it's not going to happen.

But it's good. It's always nice to have a shoulder there to lean on.

Q. This is a course where kind of anything can happen on the final day. I also want to know as you've come up today, especially playing with someone like Patty, are you one to look at a leaderboard here and there, or is it just zoned in on the game?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: No, I mean. Everyone says I'm not a leaderboard watcher, but no, definitely if it's there you look at it. I definitely see what's going on. I try not let it influence me too much and try to play my own game.

But it's hard sometimes, especially if you don't really feel like you're in it yourself. But at the end of the day, you just got to go out and play good golf and you need to find what -- how I get into that momentum myself.

Q. What's the one thing maybe to work on or that you're walking away from today saying I want to make sure I hit it exactly well tomorrow to just see me more rise up the leaderboard?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I mean, to have a chance tomorrow I really need to hit my driver better. You can't really be in the trees here. You're not going to get close to the pins.

That was kind of the big thing today. I started hitting it better in the end but I'm going to go to the range and hit a few drives straightening up a little bit. It's my weapon and also my biggest weakness from time to time. Just going to straighten it up and try to take away some big numbers and give myself birdie chances tomorrow.