FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 22, 2024

Madelene Sagstrom

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. I'm not going to lie, today, Madelene, we seen a lot of birdies on the front nine holes and you were clearly able to take advantage of your last few holes. Just what was working well, especially on the back nine for you today?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think it got into the momentum again. I didn't have the same flow as I did yesterday. I was making a lot birdies yesterday.

My putter was still putting well. Nothing was really going in. But I had a few troubles off the tee. Managed to do a few saves on my front nine.

So overall, I mean, this is golf, you're going to have days where you're going to have to fight a little bit harder. This is one of those days.

Still very happy. Very happy that I grinded the whole way and kept giving myself chances on the back nine and finished with birdies on 16 and 17.

That kind of signs it off and have an average day of 2-under. It's always good.

Q. Average day but still able to see some longer putts go in. We saw a long one on the broadcast, 27-footer. Take me through especially on the back nine coming down the stretch what does that do for your confidence with a few holes left?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I really worked hard over the last -- like I've always worked hard on my putting and believed I'm a good putter. When I play well I putt really good.

I mean, po gets a big tricky and bouncy so you have to be a bit lucky, but that was one of those it looks like it's going to be right-to-left but I'm like, no, it's left-to-right. I hit it and I can see my line was rolling perfect. It just flops in.

I was like, oh, I want to do that all the time.

So, no, it's just always fun when your read matches your speed. It makes you feel good about yourself, the process, all the work you have done and put into it.

I like seeing long putts go in.

Q. I know you put a lot of work in over the last few weeks, the last few tournaments. This is not an easy golf course. We've seen this throughout the entirety of this week. What is it about the back nine holes for you that you've been able to take advantage of kind of more than maybe the front nine that we're seeing a lot more with the fairways that people are taking advantage of?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think that -- I mean, I do tend to drive the ball pretty straight then quite long. I do think the distance helped me.

I've been able to hit 8. I mean, I hit it on the green on 16 yesterday in two, and today it was greenside.

I think my length when I can keep it in play is definitely an advantage. I don't mind a long iron, which we have had on both -- 11 is going to be a long iron and 13 is just a tricky par-3 down the hill.

You just kind of trust it because you know the ball is going to hang in the air for so long.

This golf course, anybody who plays well, any golf course will fit. My game is in a good place so I think at the moment, it would probably fit any golf course.

So suits my eye. I mean, it's nice. It's nice and lush and green. I do like that. I like a little bit of fluff so it's good.

Q. Weather aside, especially tomorrow you talked about yesterday and I think just kind of open about the fact that you're working on your play on the weekends. What are you taking away from your last few events as you head into the weekend where you are on the leaderboard?

MADELENE SAGSTROM: I think that my big mindset over this weekend is going to be to try less. I tend to try harder when I get in difficult situations, when I feel the pressure. I just try to do more, so I'm just going to try and do less. I actually kind of felt that on the back nine today. I was like, okay, just like commit to it, hit a good shot, and just stop trying.

I made some birdies. I was like, great, of course, that works. I think that's going to be the mindset of just going out -- it is what it is. We can't control the weather. Going to be the same for everyone. Take it for what it is and try to hit good golf shots and just try less.

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