Yani
Tseng, 68-64=132 (-12)
Scorecard:
Hole 1, 389-yard par 4:
birdie pitching wedge to 12 feet
Hole 3, 518-yard par 5: birdie chip to
10 feet
Hole 4, 356-yard par 4: birdie
58-degree wedge to 12 feet
Hole 5, 176-yard par 3: birdie 6-iron
to 20 feet
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie 8-iron
to 18 feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie rescue
to nine feet, two putt
Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie chip
to two feet
Hole 11, 365-yard par 4: birdie 9-iron
to 18 feet
Hole 15, 340-yard par 4: birdie
pitching wedge to 15 feet
Hole 18, 421-yard par 4: bogey two putt from 17 feet
ASHLEY CUSHMAN: Yani, thanks for joining us today. Some
good news for you - your 64 broke the course record that
Cristie Kerr set it in 2006 with a 7-under 65, and you've
got about a three‑stroke lead right now going into the
weekend. Can you talk about how that news feels?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, it was awesome. I
know that. I just tell my coach I break the tournament
record for that. But I still hope I can break my record.
62 is my record. But I still feel very good, and I'm
exciting for tomorrow. Maybe play with Ochoa, so that's my
‑‑ it's kind of like dream I play with No. 1 in the world,
so I'm very exciting for that.
Q. Talk about what it's like
when you get into a rhythm like today when you are on a
string of birdies, and what it felt like for you out there
today.
YANI TSENG: How I feel is very
confident. I fell I have a lot of confidence for my
putting. Every time I when have second shot I always
thinking I want to make birdie, because I think I have a lot
of confidence for that.
So I think this putter is
from Dave Stockton. This is my coach's putter. I feel so
good. I just changed it this week. Maybe change it a
little bit, change some stroke, and, yeah, change your mind.
Q. So you think you will keep using
this putter?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I will keep using. I
don't want to return to him.
Q. You were saying it's such a dream
to play with the world's No. 1 player. Why would that be?
YANI TSENG: Just I start very young,
when I was six years old. I feel at that time after two,
three years I feel I going to be the No. 1 in the world.
I always dream I can play
with the No. 1 in the world and to learn a lot of things
from them. Just feel like if I can keep fighting for that,
that will be very exciting for me. Yeah.
Q. You said you shot a 62 before.
Where was that?
YANI TSENG: Indonesia, junior. It was
just junior. When I was like 15 or 16 years old. Yeah. I
make the eagle also, but I made bogey today.
Q.
What did you learn from the other tours you played to get
here?
YANI TSENG: Yeah. This is the first
level in the world, so I just learn just that ‑‑ I think
just experience for me to keep doing the tournaments and
feel how the pros, how the professional is doing.
Just I learn a lot in LPGA,
but it's not much in like Asian Tour or something.
Here I feel I'm more
pressure and everybody, you don't know who going to win this
tournament. So it's really tough here.
Q. Do you and Teresa Lu live
together?
YANI TSENG: We live like one hours
away. But before we was playing a lot of tournaments in the
junior in Taiwan, somewhere else. So we really good friends
and we hang out together before when we was amateur.
But here in America it's
huge, big, so we just keep doing just say like, Good luck,
everything, to you.
Q.
But you both have the same mentor, Ernie is both of your
host?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, but I didn't live in
Ernie's home. She was living in Ernie's home past two,
three years. But I didn't live here.
Q. You all didn't live together?
YANI TSENG: No.
Q. There seems to be a big influx of
Taiwanese players coming over. Do you remember a player by
the name of by the name of Ai‑Yu Tu?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, she was very famous
in Taiwan.
Q. Would she be the most famous
Taiwanese player?
YANI TSENG: Yeah.
Q. Did she kind of open the gates
for young girls from Taiwan, would you say?
YANI TSENG: Yeah. I just play with her
like this January and she just teach me a lot. So she's
kind of very nice. Yeah, she open the gate for young
people.
Q. Sort of like Se Ri Pak was in
Korea?
YANI TSENG: Yeah.
Q. How long have you been there?
YANI TSENG: I just move there half
year, like six months ago. It's so windy over there.
Q. At what point today did you start
thinking about a 62 or breaking your own record?
YANI TSENG: The back 9.
Q. Just like on 10?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, on 10. But I still
didn't try too hard. But on the last three holes I just
thinking, oh, I want to make more. It's Par 5 on 17, easy
Par 5.
So I don't think ‑‑ I just
think I try too hard and I think I just need to make the
swing and make it good, whatever the ball does.
Q.
You said in Mexico City that last round that you weren't as
patient as you should have been. Do you think you've
learned some patience and that that showed today?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, I think so. I was
very patient today. I think that's the confidence to me.
If I be very confidence I will be very patient. Yeah.
Q. You said you look up to the
No. 1 player, Lorena. You're beating her right now. How
does that feel? Do you like having the lead in a
tournament? Is there any added pressure for you?
YANI TSENG: No, I think it's no
pressure. It's very good to lead in the tournament and play
with Ochoa. I think it's very ‑‑ I don't feel very much
pressure. I just keep doing my job. Yeah.
Suzann Pettersen, 68-66=134 (-10)
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie 9-iron
to 20 feet
Hole 14, 387-yard par 4: bogey drive
in fairway bunker, short of green, missed 20 foot par putt
Hole 15, 340-yard par 4: birdie sand
wedge to tap-in
Hole 16, 194-yard par 3: birdie 5-iron
to 6 feet
Hole 18, 421-yard par 4: birdie 8-iron to 20 feet
Hole 1, 389-yard par 4: birdie 9-iron
to 6 feet
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie 6-iron
to 15 feet
Hole 7,
303-yard par 4: birdie sand wedge to 15 feet
Hole 8,
406-yard par 4: bogey second shot short of green, chip to
20 feet, missed par putt
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie 3-wood
to 25 feet, 2-putt
MIKE
SCANLAN: Suzann, thanks for coming in. Youre 10-under par
for the week so far in second place. Can you just talk a
little bit about your day today?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Today I just tried to
kind of play my own came, stick to the game plan, and try to
be aggressive where you can be aggressive on this golf
course.
I haven't ready looked much
on the leaderboard. Just tried to play my own game. Just
got it going there and just kept it going. It was nice to
finish with a birdie after that bogey on 8.
Q. You talked about how you want
to be aggressive as much as you can on this course. Talk
about how you balance wanting to be aggressive but also
having to play smart on such a challenging course.
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, at the same
time you try to be aggressive you have to be like patiently
aggressive. Because you just want to try to be aggressive,
and you also want to make sure you leave yourself the best
next shot. I mean, whatever outcome it may be.
Like the Par 5s ‑ depending
on the wind ‑‑ but the Par 5s you can be fairly aggressive
on. But at the same time, you got to leave yourself the
best angles to get up and down if you miss the green.
The greens were quite firm
today. I thought they would be a little firmer. But, I
mean, if you hit good putts on a good line here a few putts
will drop. So that's been good this week far so.
Q. When you head into the
weekend in second place, does to give you more leeway to be
for aggressive?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I mean, I'm just
trying to play my game. Greg, my new caddie, he makes me
feel very comfortable. I'm just trying to hit my shots out
there and do my best.
Q. How close you were you to making
eagle there on 9, the final hole?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Of course I tried to
make it, but also just take the easy birdie and get out of
there.
Q. Were you trying to make that
eagle putt or just lag it?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No. Of course I hit
it to make it, but was just too low.
Q. How much did you miss by?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I don't know. Three
inches.
Q. You said you weren't looking at
the leaderboard all day. Does it feel like the pace is
really low scoring?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I remember I looked
at the board I think after I played four or five holes and I
saw 13-under leading. I was like, What course is she
playing? I thought it was good because it made my realize
that there are birdies out there.
I was a little surprised
when I say that number, because I thought maybe eight, nine
would lead after the day. It just shows that it's
possible. If one can do it, everyone else can do it.
Q. Is there a favorite right now do
you think? Do you look at the leaderboard and say maybe
that player is the favorite, maybe you're the favorite?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I'm the favorite
(laughter).
Minea
Blomqvist, 69-66=135 (-9)
Scorecard:
Hole 2, 146-yard par 3: bogey
8-iron to bunker, blast to 30 feet, missed par putt
Hole 3, 518-yard par 5: birdie
pitching wedge to nine feet
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie 6-iron
to 20 feet
Hole 7,
303-yard par 4: birdie sand wedge to 15 feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie hit the
green in two, two putt from 25 feet
Hole 11, 365-yard par 4: birdie 9-iron
to 12 feet
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie 9-iron
to three feet
Hole 13, 408-yard par 4: bogey driver
into woods, punched out, missed 15-foot par putt
Hole 15, 340-yard par 4: birdie gap
wedge to 15 feet
Hole 17, 508-yard par 5: birdie chip
from 60 feet to five feet
MIKE
SCANLAN: Minea, thanks for coming in. Great round out
there today. You're in the hunt for the weekend. You
talked just outside about being able to sleep in now a
little bit tomorrow. How did you play today?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Yeah, I just said ‑‑
about the sleeping in, I was just talking with my caddie in
the morning. And I said I like being like top 30, because
then you get always the tee times like 9:00. So it's pretty
nice.
This week I'm staying home,
five minutes away. My coach and my boyfriend and my parents
are here. I have a great fan club here.
This week I haven't been
hitting that good, like two weeks, and my coach came this
week and he just said to me, Let's try get it better day by
day. So I think that made me very patient out there. I was
just trying and I didn't get mad with any shots. I was like
okay, just try. It will come better. So I think that gave
me great attitude.
MIKE
SCANLAN: You said in Phoenix a couple weeks back that your
game is finally coming around, and you had a top-5 finish
there. Talk about your game this year and how you've been
feeling all year.
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Obviously I started
with my coach one year ago, and I have been focusing more
with my swing. I think my swinging is much better and it's
getting easier. You know, I understand a little bit about
it.
Like a few years ago, I
didn't have a clue what's going on with my swing. I was
just focusing on the mental stuff and trying to stay
positive all the time. But now I feel that I have improved
a lot with my swing and it's easier and it's fun to hit
different shots. I can try to hit some different shots.
So I mean, I just enjoy it
right now a lot. Like I said in Phoenix, I took my old
caddie back who started with me two years ago. We have had
a great time. We both learned a lot during those two years,
because I was being a kid a little bit. I didn't ‑‑ I was a
little bit impatient on the golf course and I was getting
mad and stuff like that.
Andy was maybe ‑‑ he didn't
trust himself that much, so I think we're both very calm on
the golf course right now. We try to make good decision and
clever decisions, and I think we have got so much better.
Q. What is his name?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Andy Techmeier.
Q. What is it you're working on in
your golf swing?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: You know, it's more
like I have got very quick always in my backswing, but it
has been more like ‑‑ ‑ you know, I just straightaway take
in inside and kind of get stuck.
So now we have been trying
to get me playing a little bit and maybe start, you know,
that my club face starts straightaway releasing and that I
don't stay like that. You know, it's small things.
Q. You live close by?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Yeah, Champion's
Gate. Five minutes.
Q. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of playing when you're so close to home?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: I have been actually
living here just like three weeks. But it's fun, because
like I said, I have my family here and my boyfriend,
parents, coach. So it's kind of homey feeling. It's more
fun.
Some weeks get so boring
and, you know, you stay in a hotel. Actually this year I
have had ‑‑ every tournament I've had great time, so it's
kind of fun.
Q. No disadvantages at all?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Of course, you know.
Because you have some homey feeling, you know, just makes it
more fun. I just moved in like January. Like I said, I
have been there three weeks. Every day I have a lot of IKEA
stuff, so every evening I have something to do: Put those
things together.
Q. Because the course is playing
with a lot of low scores out there the first two days, does
that change the strategy going into the weekend? Do you
have to be more aggressive than usual, or do you just try to
stay with the same plan?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: I try to stay with the
same plan. I'm an accuracy player anyway. I like to go for
it. If it's 125 and it's between 8 and 9, I probably take 8
try to work it there, you know?
But I think this golf course
you still have to be smart. The greens are very fast, so
you want to be in the right side. So my caddie tries to
give me, you know, tries to support me with playing smart a
little bit.
Lorena Ochoa, 68-67=135 (-9)
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie 7-wood
to pin high in the rough, chip to 6 feet
Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie 3-wood
into greenside bunker, blast to 1 foot
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie 8-iron
to 12 feet
Hole 13, 408-yard par 4: birdie 4-iron
to 20 feet
Hole 17, 508-yard par 5: birdie 5-wood
to 25 feet, 2-putt
MIKE
SCANLAN: Thanks for joining us. Another good round today,
9-under for the tournament and three back right now. Can
you just talk about how you played today?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes. Hello, everybody.
It was a great day. It was one of those days that it's just
easy. Giving myself a lot of birdie chances and I never
really had to make like a long putt for par or anything.
Especially the back 9. I played really good the back 9, 4
under on the back.
So on the front it was a
little bit slower. I keep missing my birdie putts, but I
thought, Just be patient. We have a great ‑‑ making the
turn on that Par 5, No. 9 and 10 and birdied those two.
From there just got good
momentum and keep it going. I'm happy to be at 9 under and
ready for the weekend.
Q. Just a technical question on
your drive. So many people try to break down why you're
able to get so much power. What do you think the key is to
how you're able to get so much power on your drive?
LORENA OCHOA: It's a combination of
everything: Strong legs, I move my hips really quick, I go
to the gym and lift weights, and I improve my swing. I have
angles at the top of backswing that creates more speed when
I hit. A little bit of everything.
Q. Did you look at the board and see
what Yani was doing? And did that kind of spur you on in
the back 9?
LORENA OCHOA: Yeah, for sure. I saw
here when we were on No. 10. I said, Well, if we want to
win this tournament we better start making some birdies.
And, you know, I was just glad that I made my move on the
back. You know, I really like my position. I'm excited for
tomorrow.
Q. Yani is having a pretty good
rookie year and pretty good tournament. Do you know much
about her game at all?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't know much, but
you're right. I heard that she's a great player, and for
sure she is having a good year, a good start. So I'm
excited. As well as Minea Blomqvist. I like her a lot.
We don't know how it's going
to finish at the end of the day, but if I play with them it
should be a fun day.
Q. You haven't had to come from
behind a lot, certainly not this year. I think you said
yesterday that you're not a great come‑from‑behind player;
is that accurate?
LORENA OCHOA: I usually come from
behind. Like right now I'm behind.
Q. This year.
LORENA OCHOA: Yes. I don't think I
lead a tournament...
MIKE
SCANLAN: You led after the first round of two of your first
wins: HSBC in Singapore and the Corona Championship.
LORENA OCHOA: Either way, I mean, I
like coming from behind. I don't think you have the
pressure to be on the top for four days. I really like
where I am right now. I think three shots from the lead, I
feel comfortable where I am. It's nice to be a few shots
behind.
Q. What is it about being behind
that you enjoy?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, you know, it really
gets ‑‑ you're 100% there and just trying to take advantage
of every opportunity, try to be aggressive and catch up and
make some birdies. So I think that really helps your game,
your goals, to be, you know, 100% there and try to make
every putt.
That's why, I mean, even
when I'm winning I try to think that I'm behind and try to
play my own game and make a lot of birdies. That's the only
way to keep focus and play good.
Q. Are these some of the quicker
greens that you've seen on tour? If so, do you enjoy
putting on fast or slow greens or vice versa?
LORENA OCHOA: For sure this is one of
the quickest greens that we putt, maybe top four or five. I
enjoy it. I think it's a challenge, especially long putts
and especially with the wind.
It's always important to
have good distance control with your putting. That makes
things harder. I think the harder the better.
We have just fun and you
really get mad sometimes and frustrated, but it's help you a
lot to improve your game.
Q. Obviously you're a nice and
easygoing person. When you're playing on the weekend with
somebody who's maybe ahead of you, is there a part of you
that says, I'm going to take her down or take my lead?
LORENA OCHOA: I always want to take
everybody down. I think you can do it with a smile on your
face and be nice and talking to them. You don't have to be
mean or rude.
Teresa Lu, 67-69=136 (-8)
Scorecard:
Hole 1, 389-yard par 4:
birdie pitching wedge from 118 yards to three feet
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie 5-iron
from 163 yards to five feet
Hole 8,
406-yard par 4: birdie 8-iron from 136 yards to five feet
Hole 11, 365-yard par 4: bogey 9-iron
missed right, chip to four feet, two putt
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie 9-iron
from 127 yards to six feet
ASHLEY CUSHMAN: Teresa, thanks for joining us. You've put
together two great rounds out there: 67 and 69. You're in
second place in the clubhouse going into the weekend.
Can you just talk
about how you've been playing and what's going right for you
these past few days?
TERESA LU: I think this tournament I
tried to be really focus on my shot and my routine,
especially my tempo. I tried to shorten down my backswing,
and I have to really focus on my tempo to make a ball go
straight. So that's most different thing.
ASHLEY CUSHMAN: We were talking as we came in, and you and
Yani (Tseng) have the same U.S. host. You're both playing
great golf this week. Have you been learning something new
together in the past few weeks?
TERESA LU: I think I always learn
something with playing with other different people. I feel
like when I go out there and I watch the scoreboard, if
she's making birdie I got to do something. That makes me
keep going. So I think that's really good.
Q. What are you doing to work
your tempo? What kinds of drills? How do you improve your
tempo?
TERESA LU: Yeah, like I will count it
one, two, three, to make it every time repeating.
Q. You do that on the golf course or
just in practice?
TERESA LU: On the golf course.
Q. So that is your only swing
practice then?
TERESA LU: Right. And I will work on
my swing on the driving range.
