AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 4, 2024

Cayetana Fernandez Garcia Poggio

Quick Quotes

Q. Cayetana, happy birthday. Tell us what happened when you got off the 18th green.

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: It's just the last two holes was so much tension going and then I finish and my dad was like, come here, and I went and they were singing happy birthday. I went emotional and I cry. I don't even know why.

It was so hard to make pars today and I think I fight super good. On the last hole I just went lower back of the green and I made an incredible up and down.

Q. What does today mean to you in being here and being able to celebrate I think 19th birthday here in Augusta?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: It's awesome. I'm with my family, with the people that I care about. I don't know, I'll see what I do tonight, but I'm just grateful to be here.

And, yeah, thank you to all my family that came here from Spain. They are enjoying being here and I'm so proud and just I hope I play really good at Augusta.

Q. I have to ask, it looks like there was a candle on that cake. Can you disclose the wish you made in blowing out the candle?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: It wasn't like turning in, so I was holding like this and I needed to check my scorecard and I was like, I need to go, but at the same time I wanted to stay there.

I was just like, I need to go there and then I'll come back.

Q. Who from your family is visiting this week?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: My parents, both of them. My sister, and also my something from Spain and some people from the Spanish Federation. So it's awesome to be with them here, and I think that's why I'm playing good.

Q. You mentioned today's course and conditions, very challenging it sounds like; everyone was saying. How much does it help you to have your family there as you're going through a tougher round I assume?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: I mean, having my sister in the bag, it's awesome. She has to like listen to me, everything I say, like, oh, bad shot or whatever. But she's so nice with me.

I don't know, you make a putt and you listen to everyone shouting like, let's go, or vamos, or whatever, and it feels great to have people around you that they love you and care about you.

Q. Inside the cut line by a couple strokes now. Sense of relief or how are you feeling post round?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: Yeah, relief. So much relief. This course drives me nuts. I don't know, I'm so happy that I'm here. The day is good now, but it wasn't this morning, so I feel great for like passing this challenge.

Q. Playing team golf at home, how has playing college golf elevated your game?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: Just different, feels different. It's another step in my life and I feel grateful about Texas A&M, that they recruited me. I'm just enjoying it, trying to like see myself playing there and it's tough because I'm a freshman, but I think I'm getting into it.

I'm just happy to be there. The team is awesome and the coaches are awesome. I'm really happy to be there.

Q. What parts of your game have you been focusing on in your freshman year?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: Chipping and putting a lot. I'm all the time chipping and putting. I feel like that's the most, but also sometimes I always work on my swing, but I feel like the most important part is putting and chipping, so I'm all the time practicing that.

Q. How did your experience at Augusta National last year contribute to that?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: I feel like knowing more the course and knowing that every girl is nervous when they go out there. So just like feel like you're in the same position as them and just you know you have more knowledge about the course than them, so just feel privileged about that.

I guess also when I'm playing at Augusta in two days I'm going to have more knowledge about the course and that's going to help me for sure in my last round.

Q. How has it been having such a strong Spanish contingent here with you?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: So nice. It's great. Everyone is here. It feels like we are in Spain playing a tournament, so it's super nice to having them here.

They are all the time with me saying like, oh, we miss you there, and I don't know, it feels nice. It feels like home.

Q. What's it been like growing up with them and playing so much golf with them?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: Nice. I think in Spain we are really lucky to have so many good players. I think it makes you better. All of them are here and I think this year has been one of the greatest years for Spain. I think we deserve it.

We are fighting and we are like practicing a lot, and I think it's going to be a great year, this one, also for Spain.

Q. For people who I guess aren't as familiar with the women's game and in terms of how popular it is in Spain, how would you explain that to them?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: I would say that it's a sport that maybe people think is another way, but it's so nice to see. I don't think they can see like -- I don't think they realize how good we are and what things we can do. They just focus on men's sports.

I feel like when people see us playing like the first time they realize how good we play and they just start liking the game more for sure.

Q. How do you plan to celebrate the rest of your birthday?

CAYETANA FERNANDEZ GARCIA POGGIO: Probably with the friends that they have come here to see me, and my family of course. I don't know. I'll just call some of my friends in Spain and I'll talk to them.