Q. Back again?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Déjà vu.
Q. Worth it, was it not?
LOUISE DUNCAN: It was worth the 4.30 alarm. He wouldn't be happy if it wasn't worth it. I'm glad it's over with and I played well.
Q. You played well start to finish, your driving was phenomenal?
LOUISE DUNCAN: I've kind of been struggling with the driver recently. I got a new head in it and that seemed to have sorted the lefts and the rights.
Yeah, really happy with driver. Just overall really happy with my game. Hit loads of greens. I hit loads of great putts and I stayed patient as well which led to holing a putt on 17. So yeah, it was a good day.
Q. You're feeling quite relaxed this morning. Was that very much the case?
LOUISE DUNCAN: I didn't take it too seriously this morning. I just went out and enjoyed my warmup. Had a we chat with Deane.
It was more mediocre for me this morning, cracking jokes. But it was a relaxed morning considering how early it was and I think that's kind of what helped me shoot that score.
Q. It's early days, but how do you feel now that you're in the professional ranks?
LOUISE DUNCAN: It doesn't really feel that different. Still the same game. I've been asked this question loads.
Like I said yesterday, I haven't had a paycheck and still feel like auto I'm an amateur. Yeah, I'm rolling with the punches and see where it takes me.
Q. Were you disappointed last week?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Yeah, obviously I was a wee bit disappointed to miss the cut and really not do that well. But I actually played all right. The score just didn't reflect it. So yeah, I was a wee bit disappointed but I'm glad that was my first week as a pro and not this week.
Q. What did you learn most of all last week?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Just to go out and enjoy it. Don't take it too seriously. I got a with wee bit down on myself last week. It was obvious. My head was down. I just wasn't in a good mood to be honest.
But yeah, today was in a good mood and played well.
Q. As you got on that run on the back nine, how much were you feeding off memories of last year?
LOUISE DUNCAN: It was in the back of my mind. Obviously had a good run back nine last year. It's a tough back nine here. I thought level par was going to be a really good score and I knew there was a chance on 17.
So if I did make a bogey, I wasn't going to be too upset and I missed a wee put on 15 for birdie. So I tried not to let that affect me and it didn't, really. So it was -- that was a decent back nine.
Q. What was the yardage on 17?
LOUISE DUNCAN: 240, something like that. I hit a hybrid. There was a wee bit of grass lying behind the ball, so I couldn't really get the club to the back, so I just tried to chunk it a little bit. Obviously didn't know where it bounce but it looked good as soon as I hit it and it was good.
Q. 18 was a bold shot as well. You have a good round in the bag, going over the bunker --
LOUISE DUNCAN: I had an all right lie and it was sitting up a wee bit. Dean said it's going to come out with no spin so it's just going to be a normal 5-iron. Hit it all right. Came off a wee bit high but there was no spin on it and it came up on front of the green. Unfortunately I missed the putt but hit a good putt and that's all that matters.
Q. Catriona Matthew, 30 years older than you, hitting the first shot. Can you imagine hitting the first shot in the Women's Open 30 years from now?
LOUISE DUNCAN: That's a long time away. Hopefully it will be.
Q. An inspiring figure?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Definitely. She's really inspiring to all Scottish girls rising through the ranks, so it was really good to play with her. Just quite calming.
Q. Did it help?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Yeah, it was nice to know I was playing with another Scottish person. There's just something about playing with Scottish people in big events.
Q. What did she tell you?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Just enjoy it and work hard and see where the game takes you. Obviously I've had a lot of success, so it's not impossible and she's proved that for all of the us coming up.
Q. What was the best thing Dean said?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Just kind of told me to stay patient. He just said good shot and all that sometimes. He was just like, just stick to this one shot at a time and that's kind of what I need going around. I get a wee bit ahead of myself sometimes.
Q. Going back to the driving, what was your average distance off the tee, clubhead speed?
LOUISE DUNCAN: I feel honoured here. Clubhead speed ranges from 102 to 104. Maybe it was a wee bit more today. Maybe I was a wee bit more pumped up.
Then average distance, if it's a good one, it will carry 245 and it will bounce for miles out here.
Q. How much do you use numbers during the week to prepare for events like this?
LOUISE DUNCAN: The TrackMan numbers? Just like carry distance and start line, that's all it is. I'm not a very technical person. I get confused easily. I try to keep it simple.
Q. You're more of a feel person when you're out there?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Yeah, I'd say so. Just pick a shot as a draw, fade, hold-up, and the trajectory. That's kind of all we go through, get a number, front number, pin, and then we just pick a shot.
Q. Have you ever thought about the fact that you picked a profession where you're going to fail more than you're going to succeed?
LOUISE DUNCAN: Yeah, it's quite annoying. That's something you need to get your head around. I'm very guilty of just getting angry at poor shots but they are always going to happen and I kind of tried to keep on telling myself that I am going to hit bad shots. Everyone does. Just matters about the next one, try to get it in the hole as quick as possible.
My putting is an area of weakness for me to have a good putting round today is quite nice. Gives me a bit of confidence, as well, going into the next however many days.
Q. Is it a claw you use?
LOUISE DUNCAN: It's kind of claw. I kind of fiddle about with it quite a bit. I quite like freshening it up. Dean's helped me a lot this week. He's introduced a lot of breathing techniques and sounds weird but I breathed quite well today.
Just try to keep it relaxed. I get a bit uptight. Because I want to hold it so badly.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports