WOMEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 7, 2024

Celine Boutier

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. Could it have gone any better today?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: It can always be better with golf. But, no, I'm really over the moon with the way the tournament started for me. Definitely wasn't sure what to expect today, but I was able to take advantage of a few opportunities out there.

So I definitely feel good about my round and hopefully keep going for the next few days.

Q. How do you calm yourself down or keep a steady emotion when you have so much support and so much singing and flag waving and everything?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Yeah, it's definitely challenging, and it's definitely not something I'm really used to from what I usually experience on the LPGA. So it's nice to have that much support. I definitely think that coming last weekend, being able to watch some of the men's round and their tee shots and stuff first definitely helped me out just because I was able to kind of see the support and the crowd that they got and was able to help prepare myself for today and for the rest of the week.

So it's definitely challenging, but I try to focus on my game. And it's such a tough course that you have to focus on your game. You can't just look around and, you know, laugh with the crowd. So it's definitely nice to have some support, but you definitely have to focus out there.

Q. Did you like it?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Yeah, it was nice. Definitely a little bit much for me sometimes. But it's just nice to have that many people excited about golf and about where my round is going and stuff like that.

Q. How important was it for you to get out there and play the way you did, given the atmosphere, and to get off to a good start, and clearly not let the emotions of it overwhelm you I guess?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Yeah, it's very important. I think every time I play at home I never want to disappoint people, to have that many people show up. And obviously they want to cheer for some things. So it's always nice to be able to give them that, and I never really want to play bad -- nobody wants to play bad on home grounds. So it's always nice to get a good start, but I also know that it's still a long way to go and I have to focus on the next round.

Q. Does the support feel similar to Evian, greater than?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Definitely more targeted. But, I mean, they're so loud and they're so excited, it's very -- it comes from a good place. And I think the only way I could compare it is maybe like a Solheim Cup event, there was kind of similar energy. But, yeah, definitely nice to experience that.

Q. Did it carry you at all? Did it help you? Did it lift you?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: I mean, I think so. It's definitely nice to get some energy from the crowd after I make a putt. And sometimes I try to take from that, and they also sometimes take from me. So I hope it's an exchange. And I think it's definitely fun when you're getting the momentum going.

Q. What's been turning in your game that you really saw come to fruition today to post a number like that on such a difficult golf course?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: I think my putting was very solid today. I tried to be a little bit more aggressive with my speed, and it definitely worked out. I noticed a lot of my putts were on line, just sometimes a bit short, sometimes a bit too fast. But when the speed was there, it was going in.

So it was very nice, a nice feeling, and definitely helped me out because I don't think I hit it that close, but I was able to be within range to make a birdie chance, a birdie run. So I feel like I definitely took advantage of that.

Q. What were some of the couple birdies that you were particularly proud of today, some of your favorite shots?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: I mean, I think the first like longish putt that I made was probably on No. 5. And then the chip-in on 16 was definitely a bonus. The one on 15 also I kind of wanted to get a chance and get it at least to the hole, and then the fact that it went in is also a bonus.

So a few of them like that.

Q. What was the loudest cheer you heard?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Oh, I have no idea.

Q. They were all loud?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's hard to remember.

Q. Do you think it was an advantage for you knowing the course, compared to some of the other players discovering the course for the first time?

CÉLINE BOUTIER: I think maybe a few weeks or a couple months ahead maybe an advantage because you know what kind of course you're expected to play and what kind of shots, like there's a lot of rough, stuff like that. But I also think it's a very straightforward course, and after you play it once or twice, you can get the gist of it as well.

So I think it's a little bit of an advantage. I wouldn't say that big of an advantage, though. You still have to go out. Like the fact that you played it before doesn't necessarily make you play better.