THE MODERATOR: Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Aramco Team Series Sotogrande presented by the Public Investment Fund. Delighted to welcome Spanish No. 1 Carlota Ciganda, alongside two-time major winning golfer, Anna Nordqvist from Sweden.
Carlota, I'll start with you. You're no stranger to winning tournaments here in Spain. You won in Barcelona earlier this year. You won down the road here back at the end of last year at Costa de Sol.
You must be confident heading into this home event here in Sotogrande.
CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I love playing in Spain. I mean, it's my home country. I really like playing and competing here. It's a great course here this week in La Reserva. I'm just happy to be here.
I will be family and friends coming, so it's always good fun and have good nights, late dinners, and I really enjoy doing that.
It's always going to be a pretty good week for me when I play in Spain.
THE MODERATOR: There are plenty of talented countrywomen in the field this week. How big an opportunity is a week like this with the Aramco Team Series to give them exposure playing alongside some of the biggest stars in the game?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I mean, I love when I see Spanish players, and there are a few on the Ladies European Tour. I wish we had a few more on the LPGA, but, yeah, it's always great to see them, play with them.
Hopefully I can pick one tonight in the draft and play with one of them in the next couple days. Yeah, I just want the best for them. I want Spanish golf to keep growing, and I think this is a great event for that.
THE MODERATOR: Over to Anna. Anna, you have actually just been announced as vice captain for the Solheim Cup next year taking place down the road at Finca Cortesin.
Congratulations.
ANNA NORDQVIST: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: What is it about team golf that you particularly enjoy?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I think team golf, I mean, particularly Solheim Cup, is just so special because it's an atmosphere where you play not only for yourself, but for your teammates.
Even this week I think it's pretty cool because you play as a team, and it just makes it a little bit more exciting. You get to root for your team, and it just makes it special because it's not what we do week in and week out.
THE MODERATOR: And you've played in plenty of these ATS events. What do the players think about playing in them, and how do you think it's really driving forward women's golf?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I mean, I played in a few and, you know, you see it just keep growing and just the support, you know, having Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour, I think it's been a huge addition.
Just seeing from the standpoint there is a lot of players that aren't members of the Ladies European Tour that want to come play, so I think they have a pretty good problem to have. Everyone wants to play and a lot of people have to rely on wild cards.
A lot of players on the Ladies European Tour want to come play these events, and it's just fantastic. This is my first time in Spain and Sotogrande, and what a fantastic venue.
It's nice to see everything just -- everything is just so very professional about this event.
THE MODERATOR: Carlota, you will be a team captain for the draw taking place later. What do you look for in a teammate? Have you got any ideas of who you might select?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I mean, I think for me, when I play team I think it's very important to fight, to have fun. I mean, we play so many times and I just fight until the end. So, yeah, with my partners it's to have fun first, and then, yeah, to fight, give everything, and, yeah, just have a good time out there.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Anna, and how much would you like to win an Aramco Team Series event?
ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, I mean, I support the Ladies European Tour and the Aramco Team Series, and obviously I haven't won these team events yet, but it's definitely something I want to do.
It just gets more and more competitive, more big players are coming that want to play, so it's going to be tough to win.
But it'd be really nice to pull through with a win.
Q. Carlota, you finished Top 3 in Evian. Have you brought the same form here this week?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I would like to think that. Yeah, I played great in Evian. (Indiscernible.)
Yeah, this week I'm trying to win here. I'm ready to play. I think it's a great venue, great golf course.
Yeah, I'll try my best.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports