THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 23, 2025

Carla Bernat Escuder

The Club at Carlton Woods

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, here with Carla Bernat Escuder, playing at The Chevron Championship this week. You were just the Augusta National Women's Amateur champion. How has this time been like since you won at Augusta?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, it's been great. I'm just so happy to be here.

Q. What have you experienced so far at The Chevron Championship that you enjoyed the most? First LPGA Tour start. What have the emotions been like?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: It's giving perspective of what the professional players do and how they prepare for tournaments. I've learned that there is already things that I can do better to be a better player in the future.

Yeah, playing with Nelly and Lexi yesterday was pretty cool to learn, too.

Q. And I saw you played with Carlota too I believe. Is there any nuggets or things that they told you along the way to give you advice to get to the next level?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: They told me to keep working. Keep believing. Keep dreaming. With Carlota was a lot about just playing. We were playing a match. Kind of.

Yeah, they all told me enjoy the moment, soak it in. I'm trying to learn as much as I can. That's what this week is about.

Q. I'm sure it's been a whirlwind. Found out you're going to regionals in Kentucky you said. What's it like to be here and also have homework, be doing other stuff with school and also staying in the moment to play great golf here?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, I mean, my professors, I need to say sorry to them. I completely forgot the classes tat I'm doing. I think this is the third week in a row without going to class. I went last Friday and I was like, I don't know what you're talking about.

Yeah, it's been a little stressful I need to say, but it's good stress if that makes sense. It's everything positive.

Q. How has your life changed in the three weeks since you won at Augusta?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, there are a couple things that really surprised me. Like in the airport people recognize me and they were like, is this you, and they show me a picture with the trophy. I'm like, yeah, yeah, that's me.

Yeah, it's been cool. My classmates, they also like told me congrats and it's pretty cool to feel this.

Q. For you, is there anybody that has reached out that you were like really surprised by? I know Jose Maria was there to watch you win. Anyone you've heard from in Spanish sports you've really been shocked by?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I think I said it. Rafa Nadal. He's the symbol of competition and that motivation that every athlete in Spain has. When I saw that, I was just like, whoa, yeah.

Q. Obviously played the golf course already. What are your thoughts about just the club at Carlton Woods and how are you preparing to tackle it this week?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I really liked it. I enjoyed it. I played last week here in Houston, Houston Oaks. It's a little bit similar, but at the same time it's super different.

It's just another golf course. It's kind of long for me because college tournaments are definitely a little shorter than these. So probably driving the ball is going to be important and of course long irons for me.

If I can get the speed right, going to be a good week.

Q. Not going to pretend like these greens are similar is it Augusta, but going from undulation to really some undulation here that you don't really see visually, does it give you confidence with how you putted at Augusta as you look at the greens here?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: They're really different as you said. I think here the grain plays a little bit. But, yeah, I think I'm definitely a little more confident thinking about that week than any other, yeah.

Q. Has there been anything that surprised you so far this week?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, I think the ball striking of the pros is just different. I think the preparation and how focused they are, it's something that has really shocked me. Like when they're on the golf course, this is not amateur golf. They are focused on what they want to do, what they want to get done.

Everything else is a second look, let's say.

Q. What about the ball striking surprised you?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, it's really solid. Like they don't really miss many shots. I think even missing their distance is pretty good. They're always pin high. It's cool to see. It's good to know what I need to improve.

Q. You obviously have the exemptions into is the majors. What do you hope to get out of this summer competing in the majors?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, I just want to learn. These four majors are a really big present that I kind of gave myself with many other works. Yeah, I think just learning and getting ready for what is coming. I am turning pro soon, so getting ready is the most important thing.

Q. And then do you get any nerves out of the way, if you will, with playing alongside the No. 1 golfer in the world? Was there any nervous moments I guess?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, No. 1, I couldn't tell you how she hit the ball because I was so nervous I couldn't even see it. But, yeah, I was telling my caddie yesterday, I don't think I'm going to be more nervous on Thursday No. 1 because playing with her, it's like -- I mean, she's always been my idol, so playing with her is like a dream come true.

Q. What is it about Nelly that you have admired?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I really like how consistent she is and how she works. I mean, seeing her team years ago on the golf course and how focused they are, they don't really let anything get in their way.

Yeah, I like the hard work, too, and you can see it with her, so...

Q. We saw you in Texas back in November of 2024 at the Spirit International. Since then, two wins, Mountainview Collegiate and the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Did you find anything that week at Whispering Pines where you felt like your game really improved, or what's really been clicking for you over the last six months as far as your game?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: That tournament was really special for me because I played with one of my best friends there and she was maybe not hitting the ball really well so she was making pars for me.

I was trying to make all the birdies. I've always believed I was more a par player. That week I kind of showed myself that I can make as many birdies as Spain needed.

Yeah, that week was really special. I think when you work it doesn't show in the moment. It kind of takes a little bit. I don't know, it might be showing right now or it showed last week at least.

Q. And who is caddieing for you this week?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Alberto Ballester. He caddied for Jose Luis Ballester in the U.S. Am. He was my original coach. We've known each other since I'm eight. He's like a big brother for me. He knows me really well too as my last caddie, so, yeah. Hopefully going to be a fun week with him.

Q. I was hoping you could tell me what your earliest memories are of watching an LPGA major, whether it was this one or another one.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I couldn't tell you the first memory, if I'm honest. I'm pretty sure it's one of the Solheim Cups where Europe won. I'm pretty sure Suzann was making a putt to win and everyone kind of jumped on the green.

I couldn't tell you which year is that but definitely a Solheim Cup I think.

Q. 2019. Did you ever watch anyone jumping in the pond at Mission Hills for this event?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Kind of, yeah. I watched too many jumps. That was my favorite part of this tournament definitely.

Q. I'm curious if you think the nerves tomorrow will be greater or lesser than the final round of the ANWA.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: It's such a different environment. ANWA was an amateur tournament. I mean, it's the biggest amateur tournament I think, but this is completely different. Playing with players that work for this and that's all they do, it's just different.

I just think I'm going to try to take it as a fun day, a fun week, and try to do my best. But, yeah, it's hard to compare, if that makes since.

Q. When did you play with Carlota?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Monday. We played nine holes the front nine. It was really fun because we also dressed up the same colors and it looked like we did on purpose but I promise we didn't.

Yeah, she is really nice. She's always there for whatever we need. She makes Spanish young players become better just because she's a approachable and so kind that, I don't know, it makes it normal all she has done. I don't know, it's cool.

Q. Did you reach out to Carlota or did she reach out to you?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Actually I was not planning on playing. I was just going to practice because my caddie wasn't there so I was carrying my huge bag and I was like oh, my God I look kind of funny right now.

So I went to the range and she was hitting balls with Jorge Parada, one of her swing coach, and she was like, do you want to play? I was like, I don't have my caddie. I don't have anyone to carry my bag. I don't think I can deal with this huge bag on my own.

She was like oh, my husband can take it, James. I think he used to caddie for Linn Grant, yeah.