WOMEN'S AMATEUR ASIA-PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP

March 10, 2023

Nada Mir

Quick Quotes

Q. Maybe not the result you wanted in the end, but are you still happy with how it went?

NADA MIR: Yes, I believe coming here and participating allowed me to look at my game in a different way than I usually would. This course was challenging. It's hilly, it's long, and the greens are just extremely challenging.

The courses that I'm used to cannot compare. It allows me to look at my game from a different perspective, allows me to understand what other weaknesses I have, and the weaknesses I do have are my approach shots, which I'll be working on.

Q. What are those weaknesses you're going to keep working on?

NADA MIR: From what I've experienced on this course in the last two days, between 100 and 130 yards, is not where I want my game to be. Though it's not bad; I'm happy with it. But to be able to perform in championships like these, it needs to improve. Inshallah, next year when I'm participating again and representing Qatar, it'll be better.

Q. Are you learned anything from the girls you've been playing with?

NADA MIR: Oh, 100 percent. I was playing with Tyanna. She's 14, from Guam. Amazing girl. Her mental game is absolutely off the charts, and Vanessa, too, from Lebanon. They did not give up. Yes, I don't give up, either, but they're on a different level. They're like, keep going at it again and again and again. It's really a miracle. I really liked that about them. Hopefully, I can get on that same level.

Q. Were there any holes that stood out for you the last two days that you were particularly proud of that went really well?

NADA MIR: Yeah, so I think it's hole No. 11. I think it's the longest par-5.

You have to be very tactical about it because I could pull out a driver and go and hopefully maybe reach the green in two, but I am putting myself in a very risky position, so it forced me to play more tactically, and I like being forced to play more tactically instead of just pulling out a driver and hitting it down the fairway. It's not going to work out.

So I like courses with holes that give you a challenge and force you to adjust your game to the course, and it's not a piece of cake here. You have to actually go out and try.

Q. What was your approach for that hole then? What did you do?

NADA MIR: I submitted to the hole. I'm like, I'll take out my 8-iron, lay up, go for my second shot, go on the third shot on the green, submission. Honestly, if you fight the course, especially this course, it will punish you. I've learned that.

Q. Any holes that you found particularly difficult that you weren't taking on?

NADA MIR: Hole No. 9. I feel like I let my ego play. You could easily cross the water with a driver, but it forces you to lay up. If you lay up too short, the approach shot into the hole is like 200 yards. That's not an approach shot you want because it's protected on the right with water and protected on the left with bunkers. It was a very difficult hole for me I think both two days, and that's where I lost most of my strokes too. Hopefully, I'll be back with a vengeance.

Q. What are your goals for the future now?

NADA MIR: There's a GCC championship or a Pan-Arab championship -- Pan-Arab I've already won once, so I'll be defending my title there. The GCC, I still need to win and bring that medal home. Obviously, come back stronger for this championship as well next year. Those are the goals.

Q. Has your experience this week motivated you to work harder and --

NADA MIR: Oh, 100 percent. 200 percent. No, like it has humbled me, and I'm glad because you can't improve if you're always playing well. You need to play badly. You need to be set across challenges to know what your weaknesses are. If you're always excelling, you're in the wrong room. I'm glad I had the opportunity to come here, had the opportunity to represent my country and had the opportunity to learn more about myself and my game.