Q. Here with Mao after the first found of The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican. 3-under 67. Just talk about your day today.
MAO SAIGO: (Through translation.) I felt really comfortable over the ball with irons so I had many opportunities for birdie putt. Yeah, so my irons are pretty sharp today.
Q. Talk about the back nine. Four birdies, one bogey, and only missed one green and one fairway. What was going right on that back nine?
MAO SAIGO: (Through translation.) Not different to the front nine. Try keeping my momentum going and focus on my routine and trying to make birdie opportunities more.
Q. We've talked to a few other players, but the greens are pretty fast out here. Have you felt the same way?
MAO SAIGO: (Through translation.) Actually compared to last year I feel a little bit slower and softer, so kind of a little bit easier.
But with this wind definitely does make it difficult.
Q. This has been such a banner year for Japanese players on Tour, including you. What factors may have contributed to some of the wins by Japanese players this year?
MAO SAIGO: (Through translation.) Many of them are actually pretty experienced player on Japanese Tour, so they have experience with wins and opportunity to come over here and try their skill here.
You know, one of them wins then other one feels like, okay, we can do it. So that's kind of like teamwork -- not teamwork, but like, let's go, we can do it.
Q. I guess what you're saying is it's encouragement to see somebody else do it because you've beaten that person at some point in your career too, right?
MAO SAIGO: (Through translation.) I don't think many of us really thinking about let's go Japanese, but like seeing Japanese win the tournament definitely makes us more encouragement.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports