AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 2, 2026

Maria Jose Marin

Quick Quotes

Q. You birdied all four par-5s today. How crucial was it to do that and particularly to do the one at the last here to get to ten on the back?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think birdieing the par-5s on this course, it's a huge advantage. They're not easy par-5s. They have really complicated and -- yeah, they have really complicated greens. So birdieing all four, it gives me a pretty good feeling also because I've been working on my scoring on the par-5s.

So, yeah, it lifts me really, really happy. This last birdie, I kind of knew that I had to do a birdie in order to be a little closer to the top. So, yeah, it leaves me pretty satisfied.

Q. Do you kind of relish maybe on Saturday being in the second to last group than in the last group, because maybe you can kind of come out of the shadows a little bit, or would you rather be in that final group?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I mean, whatever tee time I am, I am just going to enjoy the course really. I mean, it's a privilege to be either in the last group or close to the last group.

I imagined 1,000 times me playing in the last group, but I never thought it was going to be a reality. So, yeah, just really, really grateful that I'm in a good position for it. Yeah, just going to enjoy the course.

Q. Do you have a point to prove after last year?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think after what happened last year, it's not like prove a point. It's more like going to redeem myself. Last year I feel like I played pretty solid off the tee, off my second shots, but my putter wasn't quite -- it was not working the way I wanted.

This year has been working perfect. It has been my best friend, which I don't say usually. So, yeah, just proving myself that I can do better, that I'm doing better. Yeah, it's going to work out for my future.

Q. What does it mean to you to play the final round at Augusta National Golf Club for a shot to win?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: It means the world to me. Just the fact of playing Augusta National, it's amazing. It's incredible, and it's just an opportunity that we all get thanks to this amazing tournament.

Yeah, just going to enjoy it a lot, enjoy the walk with my family, with my friends, and all of the people that are watching me back in Colombia.

Q. You said the nerves never really go away for you. Do you feel kind of those nerves? What are those emotions going into Saturday?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: It is nerves, but I don't know how to describe that feeling. It's kind of like growing up into your stomach and goes down to your throat. It just, like -- not anxiety. Just happiness. It's just a roller coaster of emotions. Of course, the nerves are going to be there more than ever, but I think I'm not the only one feeling them, so...

Q. How are you able to control your emotions today, because obviously you played extremely well, and like he was saying, birdied all par-5s?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think controlling my emotions today was key. After a great round yesterday, I kind of was expecting to go really, really low today, but -- well, for some reasons, well, I played really, really solid too, but didn't go as low.

Just I try to stay really calm, think twice my shots when I got it out of position, just try to minimize the mistake, and, yeah, just spreading the par-5s, as I said. I've been working on that, so it leaves a pretty good feeling.

Q. How big was it to get a win on Sunday, because you hadn't had one for a while, even though you played awesome? How big was it to get that win and kind of get that monkey off your back?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: It was amazing to get the win finally. Been playing pretty solid since the fall, and I've been close. I've been two shots behind, one shot behind. Just finally getting it done and saying, okay, I made it, gave me a great boost of confidence coming into this tournament.

Q. What do you think was the difference? Why do you think you won that and didn't finish one shot back or two shots back this time?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I think it's the mindset not of an underdog, but like on past occasions I was even tied for the lead or way, way far. This was only a three- or four-shot difference that I had. I was playing really solid. I knew I could do it. Yeah, just played pretty solid the last round. Yeah, just kept doing birdies and kept chasing. I like to chase, so...

Q. So you were three shots back or four shots back going to the final round at Clemson on Sunday?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yes.

Q. What did you shoot in the final round?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I shot 4 under on the last round.

Q. So you can come from behind.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Yes, I do enjoy that a little bit more. I think it kind of releases a little bit of pressure of just, like, I'm not on the lead, I'm the second, so I can be a little aggressive, I can think my shot as well, but I'm chasing.

Q. Have you switched putters recently? You said the putter has been your best friend.

MARIA JOSE MARIN: I changed putters in August last year. I used Odyssey Toulon Las Vegas. Amazing. I loved my putter, but for some reason it didn't work out in the U.S. AM in August, and was, like, yeah, I need something new. Now I have Scotty Cameron Phantom black. I love my putt.

Q. Tourmaline?

MARIA JOSE MARIN: Tourmaline, yes, and it's been working perfect.