BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 26, 2022

Matilda Castren

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Matilda Castren who just finished her second match of the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards. Came away all square, but let's talk about the beginning of the match. You were down by two at one point and then you really fought your way back up. Tell me a little bit about the mentality and how you reached that end result.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, it was a great match. I think we both played great. I had kind of a slow start. I didn't really make any birdies; Allisen made a couple.

Yeah, really in the middle I made a few putts and managed to gain some momentum there, and the last I would say four or five holes was really just a grind.

We tied a couple holes with birdies, and, yeah, it was just a really tight match all the way to the end. Yeah, she really kept me on my toes. I'm not going to lie, that 18th hole really stings still.

But, yeah, overall, great match and we both played great.

Q. Yeah, Allisen was just in here. She said she was really impressed with you the entire match, especially with your chipping she said was a great aspect of your game. Do you feel like you were doing that well today?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, it was a lot better today than yesterday. I been practicing these chip shots quite a bit here. You can get some tricky lies off the greens. The greens are so slopey, so you really have to take a moment and see where you're landing the ball and kind of read the green on the chips, too.

I made one chip and couple others were really close, so that helped. Yeah, I'm happy about that.

Q. I know you're not so happy about the end result, but do you find matches like these, really highly competitive ones, are fun at all?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah. I mean, I think it would be a lot more fun walking off the 10th or 11th green. I was nervous in the end and putting myself under pressure, and that's kind of what you play for, those kind of moments. They teach you a lot.

Just kind of how you handle those situations tells a lot about your game and where it's at. So I haven't actually felt that in a long time really. I mean, I haven't been in contention in a long time, so those kind of nerves have been kind of absent for quite a while.

So it was nice to play with a little pressure and just really trying to make up and downs and make pars and birdies. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun. It was a tight match.

Q. Right. Well, it's not over yet. You're only down by half a point, which in match play is meaningless, and you've got another day. What's the game plan? How will you regroup after this?

MATILDA CASTREN: I'm just going to go out there and play my own game. That's all I can do. I can't control what the other player does, so I'm just going to try to hit some fairways, hit some greens, make some putts, and just try to win the match.

Q. You have to be happy with your game today, right? You did play really well.

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah. I made a couple mistakes in the end which kind of doesn't feel that great, but 17 I made a great up and down from the bunker. That could have easily been a lost point for Allisen.

Then I birdied 18, so I'm really happy about those last couple holes.

I really, really fought hard, and, I mean, there was a part of me that thought I had it on the 18th green after I hit my shot so close and Allisen was off the green.

But, yeah, I mean, that's just match play right there. You never know what's going to happen and you can never count the other person out.

So, yeah.

Q. Good playing today.

MATILDA CASTREN: Thank you.

Q. I know it wasn't the way you really saw that ending, but let's not forget what just happened last fall. I mean, we know you as the person that clinched Solheim for Europe. You've got a lot of positives from match play. Was there anything going through your head hitting your approach into 18 that you were like, Okay, here is another big moment; let me make the most of it?

MATILDA CASTREN: Yeah, I really wanted to hit it close and not have to worry about the putt, so my caddie gave me a great number. He told me to hit a little right off the pin and use that backstop. It came back beautifully. I mean, I don't think I could have hit that shot better, so I'm really happy about that.

Yeah, just I think it still gives me great momentum going into tomorrow even though it wasn't the result that I was looking for.

Q. And are there -- coming into this week were you kind of thinking about last fall? I mean, I know we don't play a lot of match play on the LPGA Tour, so that was probably the last time you played match play. Anything going through your mind from Solheim that you were going, I'm going to take that and that and that into this week?

MATILDA CASTREN: I mean, I was thinking about it, but to be honest, it's been quite a while since last, when was it, September.

So I know my game has changed a lot and there is certain strengths and weaknesses that are different now.

So I love to play match play. I mean, I had a good showing at Solheim, so I knew -- and I know I can play under pressure and make those putts when needed.

So, yeah, I kind of like remember the good moments, but still, it's a new week and a different course. It's not a team game this time, so it's a lot different than Solheim.

But just trying to think of those good moments and try to gain some confidence from those.

Q. Heading into tomorrow, obviously you're, like Emily said, only down half a point. How do you come out tomorrow? Aggressively, or do you stick to the game plan that you've come up with throughout the week?

MATILDA CASTREN: I mean, I think I've gone out ready to go every day. I'm trying to win every hole that I'm playing. I'm going to try to do the same tomorrow.

Like I said, all I can control is my own game and my own routine and my own thoughts, so I'm just going to play my own game and see what happens.

I mean, I know it's going to be a tight match again. All players in my group are very strong and have been playing very well this year, so I expected some tight matches and I've got that so far.

I don't expect anything to change tomorrow.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...