Q. All right, here with Maria Fassi, our clubhouse leader after the morning wave here at the Pelican Women's Championship. Just a really great round from you. Bogey-free; eagle on the card. Just take us through the round and what really clicked for you today.
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, it was, I mean, everything really. I mean, to put a round like this together you got to have every aspect of your game in line. I really did. I mean, I had two birdie looks on the first two holes and didn't make either of them, and then saved a good up and down on 3. I think that kind of got me started a little bit. I was almost getting a bit frustrated even at the beginning just because I hit a couple poor shots, but then after that up and down I started to keep giving myself opportunities.
Putter was just impeccable today off the tee. I hit it probably good as I ever have. So it was a pretty good combination.
Q. I hear the course is playing a little long today. Did you find that to be the case? And as one of our longest drivers on tour, did that play to your advantage, do you think?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah. Definitely. I mean, of course we maybe were getting a couple yards of release on tee shots. So it was, yeah, playing a little bit longer, but, I mean, I think, like I said, I just hit it so good off the tee I just was able to give myself a lot of good numbers to then be aggressive on my second shots.
I had plenty of birdie looks, and I feel like Gary and I did a very good job of staying smart and playing to the fat part of the green. I think these are the best greens we play all year, so if you're within 20, 30 feet you can actually make a lot of them because the ball just rolls so perfect.
So I think we just did a very good job of hitting one shot at a time and definitely taking advantage of it playing a little bit longer.
Q. Looking at your standings on the CME points list, I know you're couple places out of next week's event, which is a big one, but how much is that on your mind? Seems you're trying to avoid that topic. How much are you thinking about that and how big could this week be?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, I mean, I think every single one of us out here wants to finish the year at CME. Both because of what it means, because of what it means for next year, you know, you're pretty much set for the year, and because it's a great golf course.
So it's many things that kind of are encouraging all of us to get there.
For me, it was a very tough season at the beginning and kind of got back on my feet towards middle, end of the season. So now that I have a chance, and especially after today's round, it's just keep doing what I've been doing today.
I would definitely love to finish the year there, but -- it's one of our goals for sure, but I think if I just keep taking care of myself and hitting good golf shots that it's just going to take care of itself at the end.
Q. Could you walk us through the eagle on I think it was 14 or whatever hole it was? What kind of went right and what was your approach there?
MARIA FASSI: I hit a very good tee shot, probably one of the longest ones all day. We actually took my 5-wood out of the bag for today and kept the hybrid. We didn't think I was going to use the 5-wood, and that was the perfect number for a 5-wood.
So I was like, okay, this is interesting. I was just thinking we were barely going to get to the front edge, maybe even five yards short. I got a little bit of wind helping and hit a perfect hybrid just nice and high.
It maybe pitched like five, six yards on the green and went to like ten feet straight up the hill. Honestly I couldn't have left myself a better putt for eagle, and it was good to just finish it with a good putt.
Q. You mentioned the slow, rough start to the year. What helped flip that? Anything you were working on in your game or mechanically? Was it more a mental reset that allowed you to find that rhythm now?
MARIA FASSI: I think a little bit of both. I knew that a round like this could happen at any point in the year. I saw a little bit in Cincinnati, Dow playing with Stacy; I've had hints of good play.
But I think it was more mentally and just kind of letting myself go out and play; kind of get out of my own way. That was my biggest goal this week, and just going out there and playing. I love this golf course. It's one of my favorite ones that we play all year.
So was just like kind of coming in with a different mindset of just enjoying the day. It worked out pretty good so I'm very happy and proud of that.
Q. Your driving gets a lot of attention. When you get the putting going, and you got it going early today, how much do you feel the freedom across all of your game?
MARIA FASSI: It's huge. I mean, last two weeks we played in Japan and Korea and I really struggled with putting, so it's very nice to see that it's there and that I can still get it going hot.
I made short putts, I made long putts, my speed control was very good, so it's nice. I mean, driving is usually my strength and I know I'm going to be in the fairway most of the time and pretty far ahead, so, yeah, I mean, just getting the two working out all day today was huge.
I think it definitely frees up the second shots, because you know if you don't make a birdie on this hole you can attack the next one. So it definitely all kind of just works out together and continues to create more and more confidence.
Q. Did you make any adjustment after Asia with the putting?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah. I changed to putting with a claw.
Q. Okay.
MARIA FASSI: I kind of switched back and forth, yeah, working with the claw and left-hand low, which is what I was doing before.
I've done very well with the claw. In college I putted with the claw most of my career and it worked out pretty good for me then. Hopefully I can keep it going these next couple days.
Q. This was the first time you used the claw since college?
MARIA FASSI: I actually switched on Sunday in Japan. I think I used it a couple times here and there in my four seasons here, but it's something that I feel very comfortable with the claw, and it wasn't a huge change for me other than just kind of trying to have a different look at when I'm looking down to make a putt and just kind of switch it up a little bit in my head.
You know, it definitely paid off today.
Q. How did you navigate the unexpected off day when you're building --
MARIA FASSI: I loved it.
Q. You're building up to a Thursday and all of a sudden you have it off. How do you approach that?
MARIA FASSI: Yeah, it's the end of the, and especially coming from overseas, I think I was very tired and I definitely took advantage of it, just taking it easy.
When it was nicer outside we were able to, you know, like walk with the dogs a little bit more. Went to Target and just walked around and stuff. So I stayed moving, but I think I really needed the extra few hours of sleep and an extra day for my body to recover. I was actually very thankful for it.
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