WOMEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 9, 2024

Mariajo Uribe

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. I know you're going to feel differently tomorrow morning --

MARIAJO URIBE: I'm not thinking much about it. When I see other athletes retire this week, I saw the wrestling guy and all the other guys, it was a little tough.

But it's been a normal week for and just trying to enjoy it. It's a pretty special week for all of the girls, but of course I think it's going to be a little hard tomorrow when that last putt falls. No matter what happens, it's going to be an emotional day. But right now I feel calm and excited for it.

Q. As well as you're playing, tied for the lead at one point and in good position, can you want it too much?

MARIAJO URIBE: I think, no. I think after 15 years, I know win or lose it's going to be the same tomorrow. I'm going to be the same person and it's not going to change my life that much. Especially being the last tournament, it's not like it's going to change my career or anything.

I think if anything, I'm an underdog this week. No one expecting me to win a medal. It's been nice. I like to come from behind. Disappointed the last couple holes, but I'm glad I'm coming not from the last group but on the other groups, and try to put a number out there.

But yeah, right now, I'm like, after all these years, I just know that I want to enjoy it and see what happens.

Q. Two shots away from Bronze. Is it a different way of thinking?

MARIAJO URIBE: It's an aggressive week. Like it's third or nothing, really. Fourth place means nothing this week. That's why I've been hitting a lot of drivers and playing aggressive and it the kind of play that I like, and the course sets up for it. It can go really good or really bad.

That's just how it goes this week. It's going to be exciting and hopefully we put on a good show tomorrow.

Q. You're the only person bringing a flag on the first tee. What's the thought process behind doing this?

MARIAJO URIBE: It's just an awkward moment. This is my third time, and I had the flag there and I asked Heather, can I put it? And she said, Well, no one has said anything and no one has done it.

I saw gymnast from Colombia who brought a traditional hat and did something cute with it. It's just a really long five seconds; so not that much about it, but I thought it would be a good touch.

Q. You've played in over Olympic-type thing you could ever play in. Was it always going to be Olympics where you were going to CALL it quits?

MARIAJO URIBE: It was Tokyo 2020, and COVID hit and I got pregnant and life happened. It was always at the Olympics. The Olympics are such a big deal back home. Like my friends never come to watch me at a tournament and they are all here.

So it's just a big deal for us, and I know a medal, it's so important for Colombia, even on those Olympic cycle tournaments. That's why I always want to try to get more help and support for golf because for them, the government doesn't really think we need that much. So the more medals that we give them, the more they notice us. That's why we've been going to all those events.

It's been special. I'm glad I picked Paris, the crowds are unbelievable.

Q. What's it like to represent Colombia, not just as a professional golfer, but in that way, as well?

MARIAJO URIBE: For me, I've always felt so proud of my country, but the TV only comes when it's this type of tournament. Normal LPGA events, maybe if you win, or, maybe, second place they show you on TV. But other than that, people don't really know.

I'm really happy I'm here. I mean, in the other tournaments, when they say the National Anthem when they give you a special moment, and if it can happen in the Olympics, it's great. It's not been a great year for us, our country in the Olympics. But to put another medal out there would be really important for our people.

But I'm just so happy to be here and it's such an important week.

Q. How old were you when you learned the words?

MARIAJO URIBE: Super young. I mean, my kid is 3 1/2 and we just played the Copa America soccer. So he was listening to it, and now he's humming it. That's really young, 3 1/2. I think we just listens to it all the time.

Soccer is huge back home and they play it every soccer game before it starts. You learn it super young. When I won the U.S. Am, they played it, too, and it was so special. I think nothing can beat that.

This week just gives you chills, like anything, just like people are so excited to see any sports, and it's just such an emotional week.

Q. Your win in Australia, is that what got you into the Olympics?

MARIAJO URIBE: Pretty much. I knew I had to maybe venture out of the LPGA and do other tournaments. I even played an LET Access last year in October. So I was just trying to get points wherever I could because after pregnancy, I didn't have enough tournaments. So I could just play, play, play.

I'm so glad the Australian tournament gave me that invite because it changed my year.

Q. Have you written a lot of letters in your career?

MARIAJO URIBE: Yes, I always write. People are kind of scared of doing it. I just write them. The worst thing they can say is no. On the women's side, we have a lot of majors that give out invites. I'm like, why not, maybe I'll have a chance.

This year was a little tougher at the beginning with the LET but the Australian ones were the first ones I got, and luckily I won the first one and it's been history after that. It's been an amazing year. I'm so happy I decided to play one more year because it's been special.

Q. How much does experience factor in? The golf course is tricky. Maybe wisdom keeps you steady.

MARIAJO URIBE: I think for sure just not getting ahead of myself like with so many years on tour, you know all the things that have happened. People leading by two and for the last hole losing and also people coming from behind.

You just have that hope, and for me, like I said, even like this year is crazy because this week in 2007 I won the U.S. Tamarisk which started my whole career but the next day you have to weak up, start practising again and it goes all over.

When I won the tournament, I was like, wow, what's next, nothing. You keep practising. The next tournament, you don't have any advantage. It starts from zero.

I'm so proud of my career and all these years that I've played and all the tournaments I've won, it was special to win in Australia, but it is what it is with golf.

So I think just downplaying it a little bit and being the underdog, may be in my favor.

Q. And you don't have to practise.

MARIAJO URIBE: No recovery this week. I didn't even bring my recovery boots. Like, what I going to bring them for?

It's going to be a great day, like I said, no matter what happens. It's a special day for me so it's just a matter if it's going to be extra special or just the normal but I'm really glad I made the decision for it to be in Paris. It's been a great week.

Q. You're the only golfer wearing smileys on your socks?

MARIAJO URIBE: I just got them on Amazon. They have the Colombian flag on it. I know it's a big deal to wear logos here and I wanted something plain. Yang when she won the KPMG, she won a smiley face -- it's a knock off brand, it's not like it's my thing. -

Q. You have the yellow, blue, red, shoes, socks, clothes, hat, nail polish. Is there any part of you that you could go any further, tattoos on your cheeks?

MARIAJO URIBE: No, no. The yellow is hard to put on a uniform. So I'm trying to put some touches there. That's why I did the shoes. Yeah, just enjoying the last week and trying to have some touches. There's a lot of Colombians out here. They love it. They are probably not golfers, so they are happy I'm wearing some kind of Colombian stuff on.

It's hard here because our colours, blue, red and white a lot of people have. If I just wear that, no one going to know I'm from Colombia.

Q. Is that why you chose UCLA? They have two of those colours.

MARIAJO URIBE: Well, I was between UCLA and USC. USC was similar, too. UCLA was always my dream school, and it did happen that way luckily. But it's been great.