Q. Joining me here after the first round of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is Leona Maguire. Leona, great round today. What do you think went right for you?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I just played really solid, especially on the back nine. Gave myself a lot of chances. Gave myself some good chances on the front but kept leaving myself above the pin. Greens are so slick so you really have to be very mindful of your speed.
On the back nine gave myself some shots below the hole and, yeah, it was nice to see a few go in.
Q. We are getting towards the end of the season. At this point what are you focused on as you finish out the 2025 season?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Just trying to finish as strong as possible, try and get myself into this week and to have a go at next week as well.
Yeah, just trying to put some solid rounds together. Did some good work with my coach last week. He came over from Ireland. We were in Orlando last week so did some good work there. He hasn't seen me play in a while so he got to see me play today which was quite nice. So, yeah.
Q. Were there any certain tips that he gave you that came together today?
LEONA MAGUIRE: We really worked hard on my approach play. It hadn't been good enough in Asia. Not giving myself enough chances. So it was nice to sort of see that come together a bit more today.
Would've nice to hole a few more putts, but keep giving myself chances.
Q. You've obviously played here several times before. What's the key to this golf course for you? I know everybody talks about the greens out here.
LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, I mean, I think this is the course I've played the most on Tour. I've played it every year. You just have to hit good golf shots.
I think the way some of these greens are you can't really bail out. Even 18 you just have to stand up and hit a really good golf shot. It's quite generous off the tee, but you really have to pick your spots into the greens and try and stay below the hole if at all possible.
The greens aren't quite as grainy as they have been in past year just because they're so slick, but it's a good golf course. I feel like it always brings out the best in everybody at this point in the season.
Q. When the greens are that fast, how critical is getting the ball started online for you? And were you seeing the lines out there pretty well today?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, it's massive. For some of them that are above the hole, that's literally all you're trying to do, is get it rolling and on a good line. They roll really nice.
It was nice to be out early this morning. There was no sort of spikes or anything on them or anything, so we had the best of the greens this morning.
They've done a really good job. I think these are probably some of the best greens we've played on all year, if not the best. It's nice to be finishing off the year in a lace like this.
Q. Obviously a lot it is on your own merit, but two-time ANNIKA Award winner and obviously she's meant a lot to your career as you come out and turned professional. Can you speak to that and what it means to have won that award twice during your collegiate career and now be playing in the tournament, like you said, probably the tournament you've played in the most?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah, Annika has a huge legacy in golf and probably one of the best to ever play the game. She's done just as much off the course as on it seems like since she retired. Her events were always fun to play in college and obviously to win her award, and then she practices at Lake Nona so I see her out there a bit. I saw her out there getting ready for the pro-am and stuff.
So it's nice to sometimes see her and pick her brain a little bit. Yeah, I mean, she's just an impressive lady.
Q. You may have just hinted at this, but you're not the first to say that greens are really fast. Are they faster perhaps this year than in previous years?
LEONA MAGUIRE: It seems like it. It seems like it. Maybe in Asia the greens weren't fast at all so it's a bit more on an adjustment, but they're definitely slick, yeah.
Q. Also, talking about Annika, when did you -- did you have a chance to see her actually play or were you too young for that?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Never got to actually play with her in a tournament.
Q. Even see her on TV or anything?
LEONA MAGUIRE: Yeah. I remember the first time I met her was at Evian a long time ago. Played the junior event at Evian and she was there. Then early '21 she played a few rounds with me at Nona when she was getting ready for the Gainbridge event and all that. I got to play with her a few times out there, so that was definitely quite a learning experience.
Was a little intimidated the first couple times. Yeah, I mean, she's still -- even now still very impressive the way she plays.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports