HSBC WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

February 28, 2025

Sarah Schmelzel

Sentosa Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. 5-under round today. Really good round today on this course. Just talk about what went well.

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Yeah, it was nice to get off early. Yesterday I went off last. So it was tough with the conditions yesterday. Just battled wind the whole day really. So today wanted to get off to a good start, having a little bit more calm conditions for the first few holes. Fortunately took advantage of it. Had a few putts roll in early and was just able to keep that momentum. Once the wind picked up, playing really solid the rest of the day.

Q. Talk about the birdie, eagle combo back-to-back.

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Yeah, I hit a great shot into 4 and was able to roll one in. Got lucky with one. Hit a great drive on 5. Didn't hit the most awesomely struck second shot, and it covered the water, which was right on the green and I made a 40-footer. That's just an added bonus on the day. But it was nice, like I said, to get the momentum going at that point and be able to ride it the rest of the day.

Q. Talk about anything that you saw in your game compared to yesterday, as well?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: I saw a ton of positives yesterday. I faltered a little bit on the back nine but felt like I only really hit one bad shot that cost me. So I was really, really positive after yesterday. I was positive with the work I was doing with my caddie, too.

I think I had a couple more things go my way today and fortunately was just able to ride that momentum better instead of just kind of hiccupping on the way in.

Q. How you regroup after a round like yesterday, especially, there was a lot of high numbers but just seeing that number, too, how do you regroup and prepare for today? Obviously what you did worked.

SARAH SCHMELZEL: I doubled 8 yesterday, which was my 17th hole and came back with a birdie on 9 and I just tried to remember that instead of the other hiccups on the way in and just tried to take that into today.

Q. You had a mixed round, birdies, an eagle and a bogey on the last. What was actually going on?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: It was pretty solid. Like I said I just got off to a hot start. I hit 15 greens today and had a lot of looks and was able to roll a few of those in.

18 is a pretty tough hole. Just missed the fairway, and when you miss it right, it's just hard to get to that front right pin. Lipped-out. Lipped-out the putt for par and put a good roll on it.

So that's all I can kind of ask for. Unfortunately it didn't go in but lots of positives to take into tomorrow.

Q. You know you seem to play well in Singapore. Last year you did well here. Is there anything about playing here and on this course that suits your game or that you enjoy?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: Yeah, it's a challenge, which you know, I like how much of a challenge it is. It's fair. So when you hit good shots, you get rewarded. But you have to stay super focused and when the wind picks up it's a really challenging golf course. It's hard not to like Singapore. It's fun staying in the city and being able to walk around and take in the sites and sounds of Singapore. I've always really liked it here, and the golf course really suits my eye. I'm just hoping to take advantage of that.

Q. Last season I think you went through a bit of a rough patch and came back and got on to the Solheim Cup team and stuff like that. What did you take away from last season?

SARAH SCHMELZEL: I think every year I've been on tour, you always have a high and you have a low of a season, and I think the longer you're out here, the more you realize that you get out of the low, you get on to the other side of it eventually. In the middle of it, you don't feel like you're ever going to.

I think it just added a little bit of perspective. You keep the hard work going, you stick to your process, and yeah, you might stay in that little bit of a valley for a little while but you always come out on the other side. I think it's just made me a little more appreciative of wherever I am in the present and just try and work through it rather than panic and try and rush through the other side of it. Just added experience, I think.