LPGA MEDIHEAL CHAMPIONSHIP

October 9, 2022

Paula Reto

The Saticoy Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Paula Reto coming off her final round here ar the LPGA Championship. Let's talk about the beginning of your round. Got off it a really hot start; 5-under at one point.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. Really just putting some pressure on Jodi.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. How were you managing all that?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, so kind of had a good start, which was nice. Kind of got me some shots caught up with her, but and then somehow when I got to like the back nine, third hole into the back nine, I started slowing down instead of keep on going.

That was kind of my mentality the first nine, just keep going, keep going, keep going. And so kind of slowed down and a couple shots got away from me.

Yeah, so...

Q. It happens though.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. How excited are you just to have another Top 3 finish going into the final half of the season?

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. How much confidence does that give you? How much momentum does that give you?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, a lot of confidence knowing that my game is there and I'm able to compete with the best every week and being able to do it four rounds.

So a lot of confidence. You know, I'm excited because it will help me get to the end of this season and be able to compete at the top.

Q. So you're a first-time winner this year. We have another first-time winner now. How cool is it to see all of these first-time winners this year, and what does that say about the LPGA in general?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, it's just so inspiring. Couple of the girls that won in the beginning of the year inspired me. I said, I can do it. So hopefully this can inspire many of us to do it as well.

It's just nice knowing that you can do it, knowing your game is good enough, you can compete. You just got to stick with it and let it happen.

And Jodi played so well. Just stuck with it, good attitude, and that got her the win this week, which is awesome.

Q. How much do you enjoy playing in the final group in general and putting that pressure on the lead?

PAULA RETO: No, it's so much fun. I enjoy to compete and that's what I want to do. I want to be in the lead group every week. It's fun having the cameras around and having every shot sort of watched and having to perform every shot.

It's fun. Keeps you on your toes.

Q. You tied her after 6 and then 7 you had to wait on the tee. You hit not a great tee shot.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. Seemed like you had to scramble the next couple holes. Were the delays bothering you? Because you had such good momentum when you stepped to that tee.

PAULA RETO: Yeah, I would say a little bit. Like the 9th hole I would say probably more so. We were waiting and then I kind of blocked my shot a little right.

And then here and there. You want to play fast, get going, so having to stop and then start over, so a little bit here and there. But I tried to manage it.

I know I hit a crazy tee shot on 7. Pulled it in the bunker. But I know sort of my misses right. I kind of lean towards maybe drawing it a little bit.

But up and down, had a good up and down there, so that kept my momentum going.

And then birdie on the next hole. I had a plugged lie so it was nice. I got a good drop.

Small things like that kind of kept it going. Then the back nine kind of slowed down.

Q. You made it up and down, like you said, several great up and downs.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. Talk about the one on 15 or 16?

PAULA RETO: Yeah, 16.

Q. Where you weren't able to get up and down out of the bunker.

PAULA RETO: Hit me tee shot out of the bunker on 16. It was such an uphill lie out of the bunker. I caught it fat just a little bit, and with that slope coming straight back down I had like a 35 yard chip. I committed to it; hit it really good.

All the other ones have been checking quite a bit, but that one released to like nine feet. I think I misread that putt just a little bit, and then bogey. Hit a good tee shot and then I'm trying to force it.

So, it's okay. I'm happy. You know, game is heading into the right direction.

Q. No, you were phenomenal. You played beautifully all day. Just those couple shots.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. I guess that's the way it tends to work out sometimes.

PAULA RETO: Yeah, exactly. Thank you.

Q. One question. All the first-time winners -- congratulations.

PAULA RETO: Thank you.

Q. Do you like going into a tournament going like it's anybody's ballgame, or would you prefer to, okay, I know that person or couple people...

PAULA RETO: Yeah, right, exactly, like the top girls. No, you know, I want everybody to do well and I want to see new winners. I think everybody else does, too.

Especially all of our followers. They want to see somebody else maybe from a different country. And especially all the new girls coming in. Eventually the older folks are going to go out. It's just a recycle thing.

So it's good to see new faces win.

Q. International flavor of the LPGA.

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. Golf is an international game. As far as that worldwide appeal...

PAULA RETO: Yeah.

Q. What's that like to be part of that and...

PAULA RETO: Yeah, no, exactly. So many different cultures on tour. We get to meet all sorts of players and what's normal to them what's normal to us and being able to share that is nice.

Not many times you're put in a whole bowl with so many different cultures and get to know that. It's very rare I would say.

Q. So first-time winners are good, but second time winner, that's what you're looking for now, right?

PAULA RETO: That's what I'm looking for. I think I was thinking about it too much today. Paula, you need to get out of your head.