NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 27, 2024

Maria Fassi

Pinnacle Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Maria, what a time for you, especially at a place that means so much to you. Overall take me through the first day here in Arkansas.

MARIA FASSI: It was awesome. I mean, getting to play with Maria was awesome as well. You know, like I think that in a way helped both of us to just kind of enjoy it a little bit more.

To have some of the current Razorbacks be on the tee there in the morning was very special. For me it was a great day. I mean, didn't start the way that I would've hoped. The way maybe we had planned, but we kept our heads in it, kept fighting.

We kept just hitting good golf shots one at a time. Birdies just starting to pile up and add up. Yeah, just extremely grateful to be here, extremely grateful to see the support and the love that I constantly get out here.

Yeah, just very grateful for my caddie as well, that kept us entertained, never looked at the leaderboards or anything and kept my head in it the whole time.

Q. For you to have the consecutive streak, after the beginning not being how you pictured the start, talk me through those consecutive birdies.

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I don't really even know when it started. We made nine birdies today. I had been playing good. I played very good last week in Cincinnati. We had a bad day on Saturday, but overall I know my game is as good as it's ever been.

I think my mind, my heart is also as good as it's been in long time. So I'm just happy we're seeing some of those results that we want.

Yeah, just kept hitting very good golf shots. If we didn't quite hit a perfect shot, the putter took care of the rest I guess. So, yeah, just overall, I mean, pretty flawless round.

Couple things that if I'm being critical I can tidy up in the beginning, but, yeah, just very proud and happy with today's round.

Q. Then just in general for you, 18 there, to get the birdie on the closing hole, walk me through that.

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, hit an ugly, very ugly drive off the tee. I was fortunate to find it, to be able to have a swing from the trees down there.

We hit a phenomenal golf shot. I mean, for the claps and people, they might not have understood how hard the shot was. Me and my caddie were like, man, we have a tough crowd today.

It was just such a good golf shot to give us an opportunity to two putt and try to walk out of there with a birdie. I hit a great first putt. Very quick. Yeah, being able to make that six-footer coming back, yeah, and give me the solo lead for right now, it's very special.

Yeah, again, just very happy it happened here and very happy I got to share it with a lot of the kids from my foundation. Yeah, was a great day.

Q. And just overall, I think this is your eighth appearance. Just how does having familiarity with this course help you going into tomorrow as well?

MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I think comfort, you know, especially down the stretch or in situations of a little more pressure. It's always nice to know that I've seen this golf course; I've played it a million times, both during the tournament week and off.

We were even joking with my caddie, I was like hey, I took a shortcut here on 18. Don't worry. I know this place like the back of my hand. So even just stuff like that, I think it really helps lighten up the mood and help you feel comfortable.

At the end of the day this is home for me and definitely felt like it today.