ARAMCO SAUDI LADIES INTERNATIONAL PRESENTED BY PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND

February 16, 2023

Gaby Lopez

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What a round this afternoon, a 66 in this breeze. How did you do that?

GABY LOPEZ: I don't know. A lot of committed shots and a lot of acceptance out there, because it gets tough out there and it also gets tough internally, so being able to remain calm and, yeah, be very committed to the shots.

Q. It's your first time playing in Saudi Arabia. Clearly you're playing well, but I've got to ask you, when you have tee shots like the one on 16, very difficult with a severe cross breeze, how do you hit those knock-down shots?

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, it's probably blowing like 40 kilometers per hour left to right. My caddie is almost telling me to aim to the water and I'm like, whoa, that's a little extreme.

Yeah, I'm trying to just hit like the opposite side and spin of the direction of the wind, so I'm trying to hit the draw into the wind so the ball doesn't get like floaty and doesn't catch the wind and in goes forever.

Sometimes it's good to play with the wind, but when it's super strong and this hard, I think you just got to go a little against it so you can remain the control of the trajectory.

Q. So you stayed committed throughout. Brilliant, a 66. And then you nearly finished with an eagle, because your approach into 18, but you very nearly second shot went in.

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I hit a great 7-iron from 188. I mean, I didn't believe it was actually going to get there. With this kind of wind you just kind of hit and hope and trust, and, yeah, just it was a good opportunity for eagle and just give myself a very good chance.

Q. You're giving yourself a great chance in this event. 6-under today, only two shots off the pace. Dinner is going to be very tasty.

GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, I mean, I think just going to remain calm. Been working with my psychologist about just being -- just kind of preparation and just being very calm before every shot. We'll see what happens.