AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

March 31, 2026

Maria Jose Marin

Quick Quotes

Q. Maria, this is your fourth time here. Would you say there's any kind of weight on your shoulders for the amount of accolades you've seemed to rack up here in the last few years?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: Well, this being my fourth time, of course it adds up a little pressure to deliver a good result. But it also gives me a little bit more experience and a little bit more insight into the course of what is expected and how it is expected to play. So I think I'm going to use that to my advantage and just enjoy the week. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that we get here, so yeah, just take all of that and count it as an advantage.

Q. Having to play two different courses, now this will be your fourth time so you've got a little bit more experience, but having to play two different courses in one tournament, that's kind of a recipe unlike any other tournament you hear about in golf. What is that like, and what kind of experience do you think carrying into year four will that help you into Saturday?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: So getting to play the two courses, they're two way different courses. Champions demands a lot of strategy, demands good tee shots, good second shots, and thinking what are you going to do in your putt. I think putting is the key here.

I think it would be the same at Augusta National. Of course you have to play really good here to get to advance to Augusta. But I do think the same of that course. They're both great.

Q. I read in the media guide that hole 16 has played the hardest hole out here over the last six years. What would you say is the difficulty about that hole and why yourself or any other golfer may have touch trouble with it?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: Hole 16, I think it really requires a good tee shot. You have to shape the ball a little left to right into the tee, and then you have to be really strategic about your second shot. That green, I think it's one of the most complicated greens out here because it doesn't have a flat spot. So you've just got to hit it middle of the green, depending where the pin is, and get a good shot for birdie, and if you don't make a birdie, just walk off with a par and be happy.

Q. Obviously a lot of people in your corner, but maybe not everyone from Colombia can come this year. Who are some people that were really instrumental in your golfing career at an early age that maybe they're not able to be here this week but would love to see you on this stage?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: I would think the first person would be my first swing coach. Unfortunately, he couldn't make it here. But I know he's going to be stuck to the screen watching me play. I'm really grateful for him because he's the one that gave me the foundations of my swing.

Of course my dad. Of course he's always been in my process and he has the fortune to be here, and I'm really grateful that he's here with me and that he's always been part of my process.

Then yeah, just all of the support from friends and family that they would die to be here, but they're going to be watching.

Q. I see you a lot with Farah O'Keefe and a lot of other top players in the collegiate game. Are there any rivalries in women's collegiate golf right now that would help move the narrative along where when people tune in to watch the Augusta National Women's Amateur like oh, these two have separated themselves because rivalries draw more attention? Does that exist in college golf?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: I do not think rivalries exist in college golf. I think we all play the same tournaments and we all get along pretty well. I just think it's a really individual game and you're just too concentrated on what you're doing that I don't think there's anyplace for rivalries, just enjoying the game and enjoying good golf.

Q. Overall how do you feel like you've grown from the first time until now?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: Well, the first time that I was here, I was 15. I mean, of course I'm still a kid, but back then I was extremely nervous. I didn't know what to expect from the week. I just knew it was going to be great.

Now that this is going to be my fourth year, I know what to expect. I know what the course is going to look like. I know the whole experience. I'm just try to enjoy it as the first time, kind of have the same nerves on the first tee. Of course I'm going to have them.

But yeah, just kind of -- I think I've grown a lot as a person and as a golfer. College has helped me a lot to grow as a golfer, and just the experience from all of the courses that I've gotten to play just transferring to here.

Q. Obviously being from Colombia, it's a very well-represented field in terms of the amount of countries that are being represented, the diversity in this field. How special is it to be out here with that?

MARIA JOSÉ MARIN: So getting to represent Colombia, it's going to be always one of my greatest prides. I've been representing my country since I'm 12 years old in international events. So yeah, just putting the Colombian flag out there and getting to represent it, it makes me happy.