AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 1, 2025

Steph Kyriacou

Mixed Zone

Q. Start in the obvious place, tell us about that dunk. You jarred it on 8.

STEPH KYRIACOU: I don't know. I'm not tall enough to see over the wall. Yeah, a pretty good shot. I didn't see it go in, which sucked, but the crowd went nuts, and I heard the flag. Didn't damage the hole, which was surprising, so it was quite clean. But yeah, my first official hole-in-one with no asterisk. Pretty excited.

Q. What was your reaction when you heard the crowd roar? Was your caddie freaking out? Actually, you couldn't see it, but were you excited?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I actually didn't know. I didn't want to celebrate if it didn't go in the hole. I thought maybe it hit the flag and just went somewhere, so the reaction is probably pretty cool for a hole-in-one. I just gave a running high five when we got to the green.

Q. What do the celebrations look like for you later on? Like anything?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I think everyone is going to use it as an excuse to get drunk on my team. I'm happy to do that for them (laughter).

Q. What was the club?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I hit a gappy about 98 metres.

Q. And what's the Asterisk on the ones before?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I had a hole-in-one in a practice round for a prequel. There was witnesses, first ball, but it's not really the real deal, is it? Hopefully this one there's footage.

Q. There is.

STEPH KYRIACOU: There's footage, people, tournament, major -- it counts.

Q. Then the hole-out on 18 as well? You had an albatross a little while back as well. Are you just a hole-out specialist now?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I have a bet with my caddie Wei, which I didn't do last year. It was 10 hole-outs for the year, but I only got up to 6. So I owe him a pair of shoes. This year I'm on 9, and I've got to get to 10. I think that's why I like holing out.

Q. What do you win if you get to 10?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I get shoes back. I don't know if we're going just to call it even.

Q. Got a little bit tough after that. A bit tough on this golf course. You make a little mistake, it gets you.

STEPH KYRIACOU: That stretch at the end is really difficult, especially with how much it's blowing now. It's kind of a bit of a blow. It doesn't feel like I made four bogeys on those holes. Honestly, if you play those four holes at 1-over, you're doing pretty well.

Yeah, I just let a couple things get away, and I really paid the price. I really save all the stress for after the round.

Q. Did you know at 2 you were probably going to be safe by the end of the day? Were you looking at a number?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I had a feeling it was around even or 1-over. I didn't think 2. I was kind of coming down the last thinking I had to make a birdie, but eagle will do. Yeah, I was kind of going for the birdie, thinking it would be at even or 1.

Q. It was a pretty holeable bunker shot, was it? Your dad thought it was going to go in. I thought it was going to go in.

STEPH KYRIACOU: Really?

Q. Yeah, 100 percent from down the front right.

STEPH KYRIACOU: I had a good line in the bunker, which is pretty lucky because you can get actually creamed in these bunkers. I had a good lie into the wind. It was uphill. Pretty easy shot from the bunker for sure.

Q. Going into the weekend trying to take the lead, going to take charge?

STEPH KYRIACOU: Yes, that's the idea. Hopefully more birdies than bogeys.

Q. Obviously a lot of Aussie success in majors this year. How much is that motivating you to make the cut, get into the weekend, and try to make a run for it?

STEPH KYRIACOU: Yes, for sure. It's nice when you go and play well. You always want Aussies to win, but it would be nice if I could get one. If any Aussie won a major this year or this week, I think it would be pretty cool.

Q. What's the evening look like mentally to get yourself ready for the weekend?

STEPH KYRIACOU: I haven't really thought too far ahead. I think it would be more stuff like today. I'm a bit behind the eight ball. I was wanting to make some early birdies when the wind was down this morning. I think it's just kind of having a bit of luck with the elements.

I think having a bit of that and having the foot on the gas this weekend will get me close.