PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 12, 2022

Maja Stark

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Okay, here with Maja Stark after her second round at the Pelican Women's Championship. Take us through your round today. A lot of birdies on the scorecard. How did you manage those?

MAJA STARK: I think just the putter was a lot better today than it was yesterday. I feel like I played kind of the same, managed to get a couple of really close wedges, and then, yeah, I think that was it. Didn't mess up as much as usual.

Q. Yesterday were you surprised by the green speed and today after all that rain?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, for sure. I mean, I haven't played really a tournament for three weeks. I barely practiced, to be honest, because I was sick and then I was away coaching, and then -- yeah, I was really surprised.

But I think, yeah, the greens are so solid. They're so pure. Yeah, just a pleasure to putt on.

Q. Where do you coach?

MAJA STARK: I was with the Swedish girls' team in Spain.

Q. Love that.

MAJA STARK: Yeah.

Q. Have you played much in Florida, and how much of an adjustment is it to the types of grasses that we have over here?

MAJA STARK: I played quite a lot in Florida. Used to go with college. Played a few amateur events, like the ANNIKA Invitational and stuff like that.

I don't really notice the types of grass. I don't really pay that much attention. I just notice, oh, it's different, and then I just, I don't know, do what I usually do.

So it's not that different. Just the grain on the green, I guess.

Q. Going back to coaching the Swedish National Team, are you viewed by those girls differently now as a winner and being a status that you achieved?

MAJA STARK: Oh, I think they looked up to me too much in the beginning of the week. I told them that my goal for the week was that they wouldn't look up to me anymore because they would get to know me and know how stupid I am, like decision making. I told them I can tell you what not to do, but then like choose your own way, because don't just follow all the things I've done in my career.

Q. What have the last few months been like for you? You get the win in August; get your membership card. What have you learned along the way, and I guess in general what have the last few months been like for you?

MAJA STARK: Very intense. So I knew pretty much knew straightaway I wanted to start playing on the LPGA as soon as I got the card. It's been an adjustment with that, just looking at the schedule, doing everything like that.

And I think I thought that I would've been able to manage more, so I played like five events in a row last time and then I got sick during the last event. After the ISPS I got sick again.

So I always think I can play more than I actually can because I get sick and injured, so I have to stop doing that.

Q. After you were sick and coaching, was that break beneficial and allowed you to recharge? How did you approach that from a golf perspective?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, so the first week was just like I got an inflammation in my shoulder, so I had to take a week off for that. Then the week coaching, I don't know, I've always seen a lot of the Swedes when they have come back and given back. We had Anna Nordqvist at a couple camps, Pernilla Lindberg, Henrik Stenson.

So after seeing them, and then a lot of times they go out and play really well the next time they're out playing after meeting up with the girls team and stuff, so I think it was just good inspiration for me too, to see what they do and get some perspective and just have fun on a golf course and not feel the stress that I feel now.

Q. So you were sick and then you had the shoulder inflammation, or the inflammation was the sickness?

MAJA STARK: No, it was both at the same time. Lovely combo, yeah.

Q. Have you counted up the number of countries you played in this year?

MAJA STARK: No. Probably a lot.

Q. Being such a world player, at least this year, what has it taught you?

MAJA STARK: It's taught me that I can't practice or I can't play tournaments like I thought I could, because in the beginning I did Florida two weeks and then I think two weeks at home, two weeks Thailand, straight to Australia, straight to Spain, home for five days, London, France, Belgium, U.S. Sweden, two weeks off because I got sick.

And then so, yeah, I've just realized how stupid it is to just like keep pushing because the results are just getting worse. Mentally I'm feeling worse and it's just not worth it.

Q. But as a player, to see so many different types of courses, conditions, does it stretch your potential I guess?

MAJA STARK: I don't know. I don't think about it that much. I feel like since I'm so used to playing on different courses from my amateur career, it's kind of everything a little bit of the same.

Q. Natural, yeah?

MAJA STARK: Yeah.

Q. I came in late. Obviously came in, jumped in this tour in the middle, but you've still played in some LPGA events. What's your comfort level just in how everything works out here and feeling like you belong?

MAJA STARK: Yeah, I'm very comfortable. I feel like it's just a matter of getting to know more people. I feel like it's going to be the same as on the LET. I love the LET because I know more people there, but I feel like as soon as I play more tournaments, start hanging out with more people, it's going to be the same thing.

Yeah, I really like playing on the big stage with the big girls.

Q. An easy transition then for you?

MAJA STARK: I think so, yeah.

Q. Speaking on that really fast, since you came in sort of later in the season, officially got your card and now you fought your way up into the CME next week, how excited are you to be playing there for the first time and how are you using this week to prepare?

MAJA STARK: I'm very excited. I haven't even thought of it before. Like I didn't know what the qualifications were, and I think someone just told me, oh, it's top 60. Oh, that's nice.

And, yeah, I don't know. I feel like I just take each tournament like separately and just try to do my best every time. I mean, obviously it's nice to play in Florida two weeks in a row so we get more of a feel for the weather and stuff like that. I've been sweating bullets. It's been so hot today, yeah.

Q. Just curious about your thoughts of a $2 million winner's check next week.

MAJA STARK: That would be nice, obviously. It's nice that we get the sums up like the men have. Yeah, just very nice to see that people care about our golf, that it's actually worth a lot of money, what we're doing.

Q. Any idea what you might do with a check like that?

MAJA STARK: I don't know. My caddie has said he would cry if we win that. (Laughter.)

I don't know. Maybe save it. I don't feel the need for anything right now.

Q. Have you splurged yet this year?

MAJA STARK: Have I splurged? No, not really. I bought Invisalign. That's one thing. That's kind of expensive. (Laughter.)

Nope.

Q. Not the answer I was expecting, but a good one.

MAJA STARK: That's the most expensive thing.

Q. How much are those?

MAJA STARK: Like $5,000.

Q. What?

MAJA STARK: I know.

Q. You can do a lot with two million.

MAJA STARK: Imagine what I could fix.

Q. You're beautiful.