Q. We're joined by Linnea Johansson after a strong effort in the first round of the Drive On Championship. 6-under 66. You started on 10. Opened with four straight birdies. How crazy was that?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: That was pretty crazy. Started off with four birdies straightaway. Hit the first one super close and then made a decent putt on 11 and then hit it close again.
So it wasn't as crazy as it sounds, but it was for sure a good start.
Q. Did that give you some good momentum for the day and just maybe a little more positive energy to start?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: Yeah, for sure. I mean, making four birdies in a row there in the beginning, get off to a good start, it's golf; you never know what's going to happen. I was just trying to stay in the moment and appreciate the birdies that I made.
Thankful they came in the beginning, but I just wanted to keep going.
Q. Seems like there is some strong alleys of wind on certain parts of the golf course.
LINNEA JOHANSSON: Yeah.
Q. How challenging was that, and how did you calculate that to overcome the conditions?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: I mean, it was for sure very windy today at times, especially when you get down to like 14, 15, 16 there. It narrows down and it's very windy. You just have to pick a target with a little bit more cushion and try to hit a shot that gives you a little bit more error opportunity, and just, you know, try to make good commitments and good lines and hit as good a shot as you can from there.
Q. During your practice rounds, what did you think of the golf course and how it played, and how similar or dissimilar did it play today?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: I mean, the wind has been a little bit different all days I feel like, especially today was a little bit different wind than compared to the practice rounds.
But, you know, it's a beautiful golf course. It firms up for sure. It's bouncing quite a bit out there and the greens are pretty firm. You need to find your areas off the tee and try to bounce it up there really sometimes.
Q. You finished in a tie for eighth at the 2021 Q-Series in December, just a little over a month and a half ago. How much motivation did that give you to use in the month and a half of preparation for the start of the LPGA season in what you wanted to accomplish on the big tour?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, I played two years here before, and it's been a little bit different with everything going on with COVID. Hadn't been playing great, so going back to Q-Series was obviously not really what I wanted, but good play there made me really think that, Okay, I want to get back on the LPGA and maybe get a new year, new chance, a little fresh start and start over.
You know, I've been pretty motivated to come back out here, and after Q-Series, when it went that well, it was for sure giving a little bit momentum for me to keep working hard.
Q. Would you say you're more motivated than ever?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: I would think so. I mean, I am motivated to be out here. After Q-Series it for sure gave me a lot of energy. There is other parts of life, too, so having a little perspective about life and what's going on, golf is not everything, I think, yeah, a little bit realization about that has given me a little bit more motivation to, you know, it's not the end of the world.
Q. One shot off the lead. You've had plenty of opportunities in your Epson career. What's it like to see your name right at the top of the leaderboard in an LPGA event and give chase tomorrow to the leaders?
LINNEA JOHANSSON: I mean, obviously, you know, come off a great start. We played 18 holes. There is still 36 holes left to play; everything can happen. Tomorrow is a totally new day and everything can be totally different.
So it's a great start. I am very thankful for it. I will just try to stay in the moment and keep doing what I been doing and hopefully will go a long ways.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports