U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 10, 2024

Rianne Malixi

Southern Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. So you and Asterisk are in another final. What's that like, just playing her in another USGA final?

RIANNE MALIXI: It's amazing. I love Asterisk. She is such a good player and good person as well. It's fun being matched up with her again.

So, yeah, it's been fun so far.

Q. Did you ever think coming into the Women's Am this week that you two could be playing in the final again?

RIANNE MALIXI: I had a feeling if I play really well this week and then, yeah, Asterisk is just playing well as well. Yeah, I kind of had the hunch that we were going to battle out there together this week.

Q. Yeah. 13 was a big hole for you, that eagle.

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah.

Q. Talk me through just that shot, the shot and the putt and just winning that hole to get the momentum back on your side.

RIANNE MALIXI: Okay, so on that hole I tried to maintain my cool. I tried to calm myself down after a bad hole. So I hit -- I hit a really poor driver shot, but had 215 yards left and then used 5-wood. Stuck it to ten, twelve feet and had a left-to-righter and sunk -- drained the putt.

Q. How much did that help get your confidence back going and get the momentum back on your side?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah, because I think I was 3-down.

Q. Yeah, you were 3-down. Yeah, after 13 you were 2-down.

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah, it's just nice to cut down some of Asterisk's lead. Yeah, it was such a confidence booster because I didn't really see some of my putts drop in today.

But, yeah, it's nice to see a putt drop in heading into tomorrow's match.

Q. 16 you had a really nice bunker shot to get a birdie there and pick up another hole. Tell me a little bit that.

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah, so I tried to hit a really soft bunker shot and tried to swing it really slower. Yeah, happened to have like a good outcome out of it, so, yeah.

Q. How big was getting up and down on 18 to go and just 1-down versus 2?

RIANNE MALIXI: It means a lot because I just chunked my chip shot on 17, so I was like not confident with my chipping at all. But it's a good thing that I made up and down from that 36 yard pitch shot.

Yeah, it's a confidence booster for tomorrow. Hopefully things get better.

Q. I'm going go back to the semifinal match. The putt you had right on this green to win the semifinals, tell me what was in that and walk me through that hole.

RIANNE MALIXI: So I chunked my 5-wood, but I had like 196 yards second shot and hit a hybrid; then I hit it to like 12 feet again, sidehill right to left.

Then I had a feeling I needed to drain that, and then just like -- things just went way too fast for me, and then boom, drained it dead center.

So it was a good feeling to have.

Q. In that match were you impacted much at all with having to wait on a few holes?

RIANNE MALIXI: Wait on a few holes?

Q. Just because of the group ahead of you.

RIANNE MALIXI: Oh, yeah. Not really because I experience a lot of tournaments where slow play is a big thing.

So this isn't as bad as compared to what I've experienced. I'm quite used to it.

Q. I think you guys played in three hours and ten minutes this afternoon.

RIANNE MALIXI: Really?

Q. I think so. That putt you had right here.

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah.

Q. Do you just have to laugh at that a little bit? You got up and down and you halved the hole. Just laugh that it went off the green?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah, because it's a funny thing because I was talking with my caddie. Oh, I practiced this in the practice round. I hit a couple putts there. And then when I stood over the ball I just completely hammered it.

Q. Looked like you barely touched it.

RIANNE MALIXI: Oh, no, I hammered that one. I was like, oh, that's off the green. I was like, I'm going to grab my wedge and hit up and down then we're good to go.

Q. You knew it was off as soon as you hit it?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah.

Q. What's the plan for tonight? This is obviously a unique situation, having to go and come back in the morning. What do you think you'll do tonight to get away?

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly I'm going to get some rest. I'm really tired today. Yeah, get myself some good food and then good sleep and then, yeah.

Q. Kind of glad you guys aren't continuing to play today I guess?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yeah. For sure.