Anna Nordqvist (Sweden)
You must be pleased with the way you played today.
Yes. I played really well. I really got my putting going today so I am very happy with the day.
What do you think of the golf course?
It’s a beautiful place. It’s my first time here and I will definitely come back. It’s a great golf course. You can reach all the par 5s and still have to keep out of the bunkers.
What does it mean to you to be picked for The Solheim Cup?
It’s a great honour to be representing Europe in The Solheim Cup. It’s a dream come true and I’m just very excited, very happy and it’s one of those things you work really hard for. To experience it as a rookie is great.
How did you find out you had been picked?
Alison told me after the last round of the British Open so I was very happy.
Were you unsure?
I knew I had to be a pick but I was very pleased with the season so far. I felt I had done everything up to that point that I could do. If she wanted me on the team it would be a great honour. If not, I would just keep working hard.
What in your life has changed since you won a major championship?
It has changed a lot of things. I know I can plan my schedule a bit more now since I know I am going to be playing. Obviously that is going to help, setting my schedule. There is more attention, more media: it’s new, it’s a learning experience, its part of being a professional athlete. I’m learning a lot, I’m still a rookie and I’ve still a lot to learn.
Do you feel more confident?
I don’t think it’s just the win, which was just my fifth tournament as a pro. I’m getting more used to everything as a professional. I think just being around all these great players, being out here week after week, I’m learning things all the time so it’s not just because of the win.
Katherine Hull (Australia)
What was the key to success today?
I think I stayed patient out there and that helped me to make some birdies on the back nine. I played the front nine in one under. To be able to shoot four under on the back, I’m really happy with it.
We understand you have your physiotherapist on the bag?
She is the physio for the LPGA Tour in the States and she is my best friend. I’ve got five weeks off so I said do you want a working vacation and she said yes.
Can you take us through your scorecard?
I hit a seven-iron on number 12; to about 30 feet and made that. I two-putted from the fringe on 13 for a birdie. I think I hit a hybrid in there. On 15 I putted from the fringe again. I hit a three-wood. On 18, I hit a six-iron and made a 25 footer.
Have you been doing anything tourist-like here?
We arrived on Monday evening and then Tuesday we just drove around a little bit. I’m staying up in Criccieth. I toured the castle. I think we are going to do the steam train this afternoon. I’m having a ball.
I’ve been speaking to some of the players on the LET. I might become a member next year and play some more events.
Laura Davies (England)
What are your thoughts on the golf course?
It’s a great course; just a pure links. There are some really hard holes into the wind and some easy birdie chances downwind: just a great combination of everything. The par-3s are terrific.
What is your take on the scenery?
It’s fantastic. I drove up yesterday through the valleys and then getting here to this coast line. A castle up on the hill: it’s just lovely. Great scenery, great course, good galleries: it’s going to be a great week.
The Solheim Cup team has been picked now. What do you think of that?
Great picks. Ali has picked people who are playing well at the moment and it seems that we have a little bit of youth, a little bit of experience, you know, it’s as good a team as we could probably have put together. I mean, it will be hard because the Americans are good but if we all play our best for three days we’ll have a good chance of winning it. If we don’t, we’ll get flogged. I think if we play our best we can do it.
The Americans seem to have a mish mash of a team. Do you think they will gel?
They are 12 great individuals and there are a lot of them that are good friends. You’ve got Natalie and Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel. They are good friends. I think they will play well together. I think Paula will play with Juli Inkster again in the foursomes and four-balls as they always do great together. I don’t think they’ll have a problem. Their strength is Sunday because they are 12 great players who are up there unfortunately week in, week out. If you get on the American Solheim Cup team you are up there week in, week out. That is going to be their strength.
Krystle Caithness (Scotland)
Did this meet your expectations?
I was playing well coming into the week and happy with the score I shot. I had a double on 10 but kept going. There are a lot of birdie opportunities out there but you can get in trouble as well.
How do you feel about the golf course?
I love links so I really rate it as a golf course. There are a lot of opportunities; it’s fair. You can get stung as well so I really like it. I prefer links.
What do you think about Catriona Matthew’s victory?
I’m so pleased that she won. It’s amazing, having had a baby 11 weeks ago. I just think it’s amazing. It inspired me seeing her walk down the 18th and I’m sure it inspired every other Scottish girl or amateur.
Florentyna Parker (England)
Obviously you finished second in Ireland. You seem to like links golf. Were they similar conditions?
Yes. The wind wasn’t very strong so it played quite nicely today. Ireland, there wasn’t that much wind either, so it’s very similar. I played nicely, which I haven’t done the last few days but I got it together and made my birdies on the par fives.
What do you like about this type of golf course?
The par fives! It’s a links golf course and obviously I’m a member at Royal Birkdale so I know links golf. As an amateur I played a lot of links golf. I made some nice chips and good putting.
How is your form in general?
I’m not playing very well. It was nice today and I was very surprised. Towards the end I could be a bit more confident and I had four birdies on the trot which helped me.
You are leading the Ryder Cup Wales Rookie of the Year order of merit. What are your thoughts on that?
They are catching up so I need to do well here.
Was winning that award a goal at the beginning of the year?
It wasn’t but it would be nice. I’m doing okay so I’ll just try to keep it up.
Frances Bondad (Australia)
Quick quotes:
The best part was the weather. The best part of my game was my driving and putting. Today it was playing a lot different. It the practise rounds I thought it was tough. Today it was a bit windy but not as much so it was playing a lot easier. I hope to make a lot of putts and hit fairways.
Emma Cabrera-Bello (Spain)
Quick quotes:
I played very well and it was nice on the course. The wind wasn’t blowing as much as I was expecting. It was a beautiful day and hit some really nice shots. I missed a couple of putts but can’t complain about my round. It was a day for low scores because you don’t know what is going to happen over the next couple of days.
Lydia Hall (Wales)
Quick quotes:
It was a stunning day out there which is a change for the Welsh Open. The course is in great condition and the greens are rolling really nicely. I played really solid. I hit 11 fairways and I’m pleased with how it’s going so far.
Breanne Loucks (Wales)
What was the story of your round?
It was a pretty boring day today. I started off with a lack of confidence. I was a bit nervy to start with, I think because I hadn’t done so well last week. I felt a bit un-confident. I holed a bunker shot on 11, the par-three, and that got me going. It made me feel really good and back in my fighting spirit again so I’m happy.
Three birdies and three bogeys.
A few short game errors but I’m hitting it really nicely, which I’m happy with. Just work a bit on the putting and I think I’ll be ready for tomorrow.
Level par is okay. I’m quite happy with that. I would have taken that so it’s all to go for tomorrow. I’m excited.
Is there more pressure playing at home?
I think it’s how you handle it really. You just have to make a choice. They are there to help you and they are willing the ball in as much as you are so I think you just have to be happy and grateful that they are there and they’ve come to support me, which is brilliant. Great people and nice to have around.
