U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 11, 2024

Rianne Malixi

Southern Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. ... summer in a span of 22 days; how does that sound?

RIANNE MALIXI: That's crazy. Just 22 days. I mean, it feels so surreal right now. Just everything just came in so quickly, and it's just an honor.

Q. Start with those last four holes. Coming out going birdie, birdie, birdie to go out there and get the win, or to go three or four in a row to get birdies there, what was going through your mind when you flipped that switch and how were you able to go out and run away with this championship?

RIANNE MALIXI: I think on the 12th hole we tied, and then I was like, just treat the next six, seven holes as your last four holes like I did with training with my dad.

And then just flipped the switch there and just kept on making birdies, and I was hitting really good shots and then putts happened to drop, so, yeah.

Q. This opens you up for a whole lot more exemptions into Women's Opens, other U.S. Amateurs. What are you most looking forward to now after winning two USGA championships this summer?

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly I want to rest right now, but I have to prep for another event in like a week and a half. I have to fly to Korea for another professional event.

Yeah, it's been a good week so far.

Q. You competed against some of the best college players in the world and you still have another year before you go to Duke University. How much does this make you more excited to take that next step in your career knowing what you can accomplish against some of the best players in the world?

RIANNE MALIXI: Whoa, you talk fast.

Q. Sorry.

RIANNE MALIXI: It's exciting. I'm still 17, still about a year left. Just says something about my golf game where I can do the job that as long as I give myself the opportunity to. I think last year it's all about my mental game where I was feeling so scared of everything.

And, yeah, I was able to get over the hurdle and then, yeah, everything just clicked in this past month or two.

Q. You played a 36 hole final where you had to go 36 in one day and this one. How much of a benefit was it to have that break overnight?

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly, it's all part of training. I think I told someone 22 days ago at El Cab that it was part of my training to play with a pro, my dad's friend. I would have match play with him for 36 holes and it was almost the same thing as this week, and it helped a lot.

Q. You mentioned that you had to kind of train yourself to be better, like mentally. What's the stuff you did to prepare yourself more for situations like this?

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly I'm thankful for my dad who kept on pushing me beyond my limits. And, yeah, I know I was kind of like self-deprecating last year and then my dad just kind of like pep talked me. He tried to let me stay in the positive side of things.

Everything is just all about perspective and I kind of realized that at the beginning of the year. Yeah, everything just went skyrocket. (Laughter.)

Q. You mentioned on 12, that birdie putt that she had, in your mind did you think she was going to make that to kind of -- I think would've been her fourth straight win.

RIANNE MALIXI: 12?

Q. When you split with par; she lipped out.

RIANNE MALIXI: I knew she was going to make it. That's why I kind of went for it and had four, five feet past the hole. I was surprised that she missed and it was like oh, we have to make this par putt and then we'll be good to go, and then I did.

Q. You guys had a great moment yesterday after the round where you guys were guessing each other's lunches. Seems you've been pretty good friends now after you guys have dueled three times this year. Your first at Sage Valley. I think you were roommates there, too, weren't you?

RIANNE MALIXI: Yes.

Q. So what's it like to have this relationship with Asterisk and be able to have those three great championships you guys have played against each other?

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly I love Asterisk. I would love to be friends with her. That's why I just kind of like kept on talking to her. Even those small talks.

I know she is a bit uncomfortable right now so I'll just give her some space. Yeah, developing a relationship with her has been so awesome. She's just a great player and a great person as well.

Q. Did you have any goals coming into this year? Like you said, your confidence kind of skyrocketed and the golf followed.

RIANNE MALIXI: Honestly I just wanted to play good golf. That's it. I wasn't expecting to win Australian Master of Amateurs like January and then won U.S. Girls last month and then this one.

I was like so surprised. Even though I was playing good golf, I was just not expecting it.