MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

October 25, 2024

Marina Alex

Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

TV

Q. Marina, congratulations. What a fantastic way to finish. You got to tell us about the 17th hole.

MARINA ALEX: Yeah, I had a perfect 9-iron shot and a little bit downwind, which the wind had switched for me. I hit it -- actually thought it came up a little bit short. It pitched maybe four yards short of the pin and holed.

It was hard. You know, you're hitting uphill so you can't quite see it go in. There was a couple volunteers up by the green and they were cheering so we knew it had gone in. It was a great shot.

Q. Certainly helps the complexion of the scorecard when you finish birdie, eagle, birdie.

MARINA ALEX: Yes.

Q. What's been the key this week? What have you done really particularly today to shoot a number like 64?

MARINA ALEX: The course setup was a little bit harder today than yesterday. I felt like I hit the ball a lot more solid than I did yesterday. It was my first event in three weeks so it was a little scratchy yesterday, but I still pieced together a good round.

Today it kind of clicked. Felt like my ball striking was better and holing putts. I mean, I was putting nicely yesterday; just maybe burning a little bit more edges than I was today, and they all just happened to be going in.

I hope that that continues for the next couple days.

Q. Well, it certainly bodes well. Brilliant round of 64. Marina, you've been on Tour for a few years.

MARINA ALEX: Yeah.

Q. You're in your mid-30s?

MARINA ALEX: Yeah.

Q. Do you think now that being more of an experienced player, it gives a slight bit of perspective when you tee it up in these LPGA events?

MARINA ALEX: I think so. There is a lot of positive memories to pull from. I mean, then there is also a handful of not-so-positive memories you have to kind of put aside and power through.

But there is a lot of experience and perspective. And I've been in this position before. Definitely not the first time. I've done well in this position and I've done poorly in this position. I've kind of been a bit on both ends of it.

So I hope that if things aren't going off to a great start tomorrow, I hope that they are, I can keep calm and know that been here, done that, and kind of work through it.

I think having those experiences when challenges present will be helpful over the course of 36 holes.

Q. Because you've won twice in your career.

MARINA ALEX: Yeah.

Q. Going into the weekend knowing what it's going to take, what do you think will be the winning number?

MARINA ALEX: That, I'm not sure. It will depend entirely on how they set up the course the next two days, whether they move the par-5s forward. 16 yesterday was moved forward for that risk-reward hole. It will really depend on setup.

Today it played longer. If it's set up the same I think something near 20 is going to be a winning score. It still is going to require to play aggressive for the next two rounds because there is a lot of incredible players out here who probably hit it a lot longer than I do and maybe take a little bit more advantage of that.

For me I need to stick to my game plan and play as aggressive as I feel comfortable with.