PORTLAND CLASSIC

August 1, 2024

Caroline Masson

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Caroline after the first round of the Portland Classic. Talk about your round today: 8-under, 64. Especially with that 29 on the back nine there.

CAROLINE MASSON: Yeah, felt good, 29 on the back. You know, the start was kind of slow, steady, played pretty solid, didn't really make any birdies.

It was nice to get it going on 10. I had a few in a row. I think I had maybe five in a row or so.

You know, I think golf is funny. This year has been a little bit difficult the last few weeks. Sometimes you feel like you get nothing going and today I actually got out of position a couple times and holed out from the bunker and holed out and chipped in on the next.

That's just a game changer. So it's good to acknowledge that and say, hey, like this round could have gone the other way and today it didn't. That's nice. I think I earned that in a way.

So it was fun to play a round like that.

Q. And what do you think it is about this course that makes it so scorable? We've had a lot of low numbers today.

CAROLINE MASSON: Yeah.

Q. Just trying to get insider's perspective.

CAROLINE MASSON: Sure. I think mainly probably the soft greens. I think you give the girls soft greens and they have so much control. I think everybody is giving themselves a lot of birdie chances.

I mean, I love those greens. I think they run a little smoother in the mornings. This afternoon they got a little bumpy, so it's not as easy to make the birdies I think.

Yeah, just that. A little bit of a shorter golf course probably that we play. Girls are just that good, you know. They take advantage.

Q. Absolutely. Seeing an 8-under round like this after putting in so much work, what's it like to see that number?

CAROLINE MASSON: It's great. I mean, it's awesome. I've been trying really hard, and sometimes the harder you try the harder it gets.

It's just golf. I think I've done it for so long I should know that you just have to keep at it and stay patient. Eventually, like I said, those possible bogeys turn into birdies and it's a game changer.

It was just really, really fun to see the work pay off and get something going and play with the attitude of, wow, under par, I can just keep going, versus trying to chase all day long.

Q. And a little bit about your son, too. What's it been like? I think we've asked you about this before, but temperature check here, what's it been like juggling mom and golf?

CAROLINE MASSON: Yeah, the first few weeks I was just so excited to get back out. I had a lot of energy; hadn't played in almost a year and a half.

So trying to do this full time, trying to play a full schedule with the baby is really hard. I figured that out. It's pretty draining.

The travel hasn't been easy the last few weeks going Europe for a week and coming back, always taking him. Definitely a learning process I think to take my breaks. I can really make sure that when I do play I'm 100% and I'm 100% ready.

It's not the same as it used to be. In a great way. Yeah, just learning as I go and trying to enjoy every second with him off the golf course.