FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 25, 2026

Carla Bernat Escuder

Whirlwind Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined by Carla here at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Carla, talk about your excitement getting to tee it up here week.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, I am very excited. I've been playing the last three weeks, and to be honest with you when I knew I was going to play this it was my biggest goal out of this month.

Yeah, it's just really nice.

Q. I was just going to say, very solid finish from you at the Orlando Health Championship; T4 finish. How much confidence are you going to bring into this week?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, I played very well. I was 7-under through 17. I didn't have the best last hole. But, yeah, I got a lot of confidence and got very comfortable with what pro life is the last week, so I'm just looking forward to seeing my game out here with the best.

Q. Keep leading me into my next questions. Very short into your professional career. Just how has it been on the Epson Tour and the few times you got to tee up on the LPGA Tour? How are you learning to be professional?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Well, I think winning ANWA last year and playing the four majors really helped me to be ready for professional life and like get my game on.

I would say Epson Tour is helping me a lot, too, because like pro life is a little different from what we all think it is when you first turn pro.

Yeah, it's helping me honestly grow up and manage my time a little better and be more responsible. I like it, so I'm happy.

Q. Last one before i open it up. What is the key to success out there on this course?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I would say that the course is not as like tiny as it looks from a visual. I think hitting the ball far, it helps quite a lot because you take all the bunkers out of play. Honestly, being exact with yardage is going to be important and controlling the spin of the ball.

Yeah, as always good speed, yeah.

Q. You mentioned ANWA. Wondering what a special win that was for and you what that has done for your career.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, I mean, it's the biggest win of my career until now, you know. As I said, it really helped me to see where my game was at. You win this big amateur event and you think, I got it, I'm there, but then the reality like hits you.

It's like, hey, you got to keep working so, so much because you got so many things to improve. These people here are pretty much perfect, so, yeah.

Q. I think you played ANWA for the first time in 2022. Do you remember your first impressions stepping on that course? Did it meet your expectations? I assume you'd been watching it on TV for a while.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Yeah, definitely. The grass looks like they cut it with scissors. It's perfect, right? I remember I was so, so nervous. I couldn't feel my hands on the first tee. I kept looking to the fairway, I'm like, I can't believe I'm here.

So yeah, it was insane.

Q. Just in your opinion what did you think ANWA has done for not only the growth of Women's Amateur golf but women's golf in general?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, playing ANWA was probably the biggest goal in the year. You want to be, if you're international, top 35 so it pushes you to improve and be consistent. Honestly I think it just helps the game in general. Everyone wants to be better.

Q. You mentioned you've got a taste of professional golf and the life that goes with it. Wondering what about turning pro, being out here, playing at the highest level excites you and you what scares you a little bit, if anything?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: That's a good question. I think -- I mean, excites me to see where my game is at because I do feel that I've improved. Maybe the result hasn't been like showing that because, I mean, when you are in college golf courses are shorter and here it's big golf courses.

And scares me? I don't think anything scares me because it's an invite right now, so like anything I can get from it I'm like, hey, just take it.

Maybe being on the LPGA is hard to keep the card I've heard, so just being able to in the future be consistent and keeping my card for many, many years is what would scare me the most.

Q. That's interesting that you feel like because you're out here on a sponsor invite it's a little more freeing.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Uh-huh.

Q. Interesting to hear. Do you feel like you're on a bit of a free roll this week, hey, whatever happens is just kind of gravy?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I mean, so in Spain we say it open a window for me. Maybe I can sneak in if I have a very good week. I need to be as aggressive as I can because my goal this week has to be winning. Making the cut doesn't make any difference points or status-wise.

So that's what I want, to get the card as soon as possible.

Q. Spain has produced a ton of great players. Who did you grow up watching? Who kind of inspires you? Is there anyone out here that you would love to play a practice round with and learn from?

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Well, I've watched Jon Rahm. He's probably one of my biggest examples I would say. Out here I played with Carlotta last year in couple of the majors. She's awesome.

I'm very, very good friends with Julia Lopez, and Carla Tejedo, she did very well last week. We are from the same hometown, same golf club. We grew up together since we were seven, so it's very nice to see people that you competed with your whole life doing well.

So, yeah.

Q. Just another ANWA question. Have you talked to anybody that's going there this year that's maybe playing for the first time? If you haven't, what would you tell someone how to prepare? I know you can't prepare for everything, but...

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: I think the hardest part about ANWA, it's kind of like the majors, all the things that come with. So if it you just play golf, and like really like this sounds like what everybody says, but enjoy the moment. This year I'm not playing it, right, and I'm going to miss it so much. I wish I could just be there again and play Augusta in a competition again.

So just working your mental. Be strong and be focused on what you're doing every moment, and just, yeah, be yourself.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for your time, Carla, best of luck this week.

CARLA BERNAT ESCUDER: Thank you, guys.