T-MOBILE MATCH PLAY PRESENTED BY MGM REWARDS

April 3, 2024

Rose Zhang

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

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Rose

Q. All right, here with Rose Zhang after her first round to the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards. 5-under on the day on a very tough course. What was working so well especially this streak of four in a row on the front?

ROSE ZHANG: For sure. I felt like I was just really patient out there. I had a really good game plan coming in it and when you're attacking pins. You kind of can't really go at pins on this golf course, so making sure that I have my targets and iron play was pretty exceptional.

So I really gave myself as many opportunities out there.

Q. What is it about this course that maybe brings out some of the strengths that you have, and what are you going to be trying to navigate as we head forward into the week?

ROSE ZHANG: For sure. This tournament, the golf course in general is, it's in amazing shape. It's always a pleasure to come to Shadow Creek and be able to play such an amazing venue.

And for me, it's really just taking it in my stride. I had to kind of learn how to recommit myself to playing every single shot I could and that's what you really have to do out here.

One of my strengths when I play well is being able to have a really good game plan and executing that. That's kind of what I did here.

Q. How familiar were you with Shadow Creek before this week? Played it before?

ROSE ZHANG: I've played it before, but I've never really played it in tournament conditions or rounds.

I mean, I feel like if anything, when you're not in tournaments the greens were a lot more slick and firm. It was a little bit better to approach greens and approach pins today.

So I think I've known a little bit, played it twice when I was 15, and then once last month.

Q. Since you moved to Vegas do you have a home course here now?

ROSE ZHANG: I do have a home course now. It's going to be Summit, so be right in that area. I'm only ten minutes away, so it's super easy, super easy drive. I'm really lucky to be there.

Q. Can you talk about those final four birdies in a row. What was working on those holes in particular?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, I gave myself many opportunities, like I said before. I was able to kind of pin seek a little bit more. Felt really confident with my irons and I had good yardages coming in.

So taking all of that into account, got a couple putts within five, six feet, within three feet, and that really helped me. Then capitalized a longer putt on the last.

Q. Then given the format of this tournament with two cuts and only eight people making it to the end, how important is the good start and does that change your strategy for the next couple days?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, it definitely doesn't change any strategy, but I know that the next couple days weather is going to be a little bit different.

So keeping that in the back of my mind and still trying to grind it out, that's what's most important when you're trying to make cuts. You really just can't think about it. You have to fully execute whatever you can when you're out there, especially with it being a very difficult course, difficult track to get up and down from.

So, yeah, pretty easy.

Q. It's on right behind us, but the Augusta National Women's Amateur kicked off this week. As the defending champion, what do you remember most about that week and what were some of the highlights and how do you compare your game and maybe yourself then to now?

ROSE ZHANG: Yeah, well, I mean, it's only been a year ago, but it honestly feels like quite a while. It's really nostalgic to think back and know that I was able to play Augusta National Women's Amateur four times. Every since I was 15, 16 I was able to play the first inaugural one.

And now kind of it's not on my schedule anymore, so it does kind of sting a little bit. But I'm rooting for a lot of my teammates, friends out there. I'm really excited to kind of watch the replays. It's always a good time to watch Augusta just back-to-back weeks with the Women's Amateur and Augusta.

So I don't know. It's great. I just feel really thankful to be in this position. It's been a while since I've been an amateur, but even before then I was sort of just playing my game. I kind of want to go back to that.

Q. Any tips or tricks for your teammates or friends as they navigate Augusta National?

ROSE ZHANG: It's really similar to here. You really have to commit a lot out there. The winds are swirly. You really don't flow what the wind is going to do mid-shot, so really just grab a club and full send hit the ball.