AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

July 31, 2025

Gabriela Ruffels

Quick Quotes

Q. Impressive back nine after a probably tough front nine.

GABRIELA RUFFELS: I think I played super solid on the front nine as well. Started to get it together on the back nine and make a few more putts. I think I was 3-under op the back nine. Really happy with that.

Q. It feels very grinding for everybody out there. It's windy. It's raining occasionally. It's not quick. Is it frustrated not to make a bogey and know there's more holes?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Sure, it's a British Open, just like a U.S. Open. It's a tough test of golf. You're aware of that when you get onto the 1st tee. Some breaks are going to go your way, some are not. It's staying patient throughout 18 holes, and that's the tournament.

Q. Is it nice having Zara out there, and you can switch off and talk about anything but golf?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: It's really fun. She's one of my really good friends. It just feels like fun out there. It feels like a round with your friends. I love that feeling. She's been great. Even when I have a tough hole, we're definitely not talking about golf. It's been easy to kind of switch off.

Q. I watched her out there for a little while. She was really reading shots and things like that. Is that just her habit of being a golfer, and you can turn away if you need it?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: I played a lot of golf with her and we played a lot of golf together and we know each other's games pretty well. She's a good putter. When the putts weren't dropping on the front, I kind of got her refocused on the back and it worked out well.

Q. The being 1-under after round 1 is a pretty good spot. What are your expectations coming in? Is that kind of where you wanted to be, your perfect spot?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: I looked at the leaderboard through 10 holes and 4-under was leading, 3-under was second. I'm not sure that's true. I was kind of surprised at that a little bit. I know the conditions got a bit tougher. I don't think it's going to be super easy out here. 1-under, I'm definitely in it. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. How do you switch off now for 24 hours before you got to go again?

GABRIELA RUFFELS: Yeah, I mean, I kind of had the same tee time at Evian and the Scottish last week, too. We're all staying in a house together. My parents, Zara, and her mom. We've been family friends. I've known them since I was young. We kind of talk about whatever. Not talk about golf and just kind of have fun.