First round interviews from the World Ladies Championship
Sandbelt Trails Course, Mission Hills Haikou, Hainan, China.
Thursday 7th March 2013
Gwladys Nocera (France) 67 (-5)
Gwladys that was a fantastic start to the tournament, five under par at 67 today, with no bogeys. Can you just describe your round for us?
I can say I hit the ball pretty good. I didn’t miss the fairways so obviously that helps in this course. I didn’t miss many greens either. When I had some not so good shots I still wasn’t that far away from the pin. I missed a couple of shots putts on the front nine for birdies but I made some good ones to set some pars and then I finished with a good birdie on 17th and a long putt, like a 15 metre putt on 18th to make it an eagle. Now I am pretty happy with the way I am hitting the ball, so it’s good.
Can you talk more about the eagle? What clubs did you hit?
Driver, 3-wood. I was pin high but on the left side of the flag and I made the putt.
How does it feel when you finish your round on a high like that?
GWLADYS NOCERA: It always feels really good. There are days when I finish with a bad hole the frustration gets to you but of course when you finish like that it is even better.
A good day ahead now? What will you do for the rest of the day?
I’m going to hit a few balls and make sure I fix a thing or two. Maybe go to the gym a little bit and then go for a massage.
Do you enjoy the spa and massage services at the Mission Hills?
I haven’t gone yet this time. I went last year and I really enjoyed it. It is really good, I went to the hotels outside and it was really good. I really like it.
What is your goal that you have set for the tournament this week?
It is difficult to say, but I have started this season pretty well in Australia and I am hitting the ball good and more also patient on the golf course. I am in better shape this year than I was last year and I guess I hope for the best. This is a very strong field and I don’t want to think so much, I just want to play my best and I have hopes to do really good.
Can you tell us about the condition of the golf course? Do you like the golf course?
The golf course is really good and it is in very good condition. I think you have to hit the drive pretty good to start off and there are a lot of bunkers. You need to be on the fairways to start with. The greens are very tricky so sometimes it is better to be far away from the pin but on the right side than be close to the pin but on the wrong side. So you need to work really well with your caddie and work the course and know exactly where to place. So it can be tricky at times.
Sophie Walker (England) 67 (-5)
What was the key?
I had no bogeys today. I hit fairways, greens and holed a few putts.
You didn’t have a three-putt today and that was important.
The greens are very difficult and we don’t normally have greens like this in Europe, so they take a bit of getting used to. They are very undulating so that’s why it’s key not to have a three-putt.
How have you prepared?
I’ve been down in Australia for the Australian summer because the weather was bad in England and it’s finally come together this week. My aim for the season is the same as everybody else: to try and win an event.
What do you think you need to do to win?
I think rounds like today: limit your mistakes and try not to have any three-putts and take your chances. Today’s round was pretty impressive. If I can do that again then I’m sure I’ll be close but I’ll take every round as it comes and try and eliminate the mistakes.
Does this golf course remind you of any others?
I can’t say it does, really. This place is quite magical and I’ve never been anywhere like it so no and that’s a good thing, because it’s a very good golf course. It’s not like anything I’ve ever played before but I’d love to play it every day.
Laura Davies had an eagle this morning. Is this a course that suits her?
This course really suits her because its wet and she can hit it far and she has great imagination around the greens, which you need on this golf course.
What are the strengths of your game?
I normally drive the ball quite nicely off the tee and my irons are pretty solid. This week if my irons keep going well and I give myself some birdie chances then I should be alright.
Is this one of the strongest fields that you play in?
Yes, it is a strong field especially with Suzann here. She doesn’t play in too many events and when she does it’s great that she’s here. I played in this event last year and it’s already grown from last year. I just think it can keep growing and growing and hopefully it will be the strongest field that we play in all year.
What do you think about Haikou in China?
We all love coming to Mission Hills. It’s probably the best hotel we stay in all year, the golf course is excellent. This is my ninth week away from home so I am ready to go home but the ninth week, it’s pretty good staying at Mission Hills. When we come to China we are looked after very, very well so we all enjoy coming.
This is your second consecutive year to participant in this World Ladies Championship, what do you think about the changes to the golf course and facilities in this year?
We are on the different golf course this year. Personally I like this course more, maybe because I played well. So I would say the tournament is growing and getting better every single year.
Do you bring your own caddie or you have a local caddie?
I have a local caddie called Emma, she is a student here in Haikou, speaks very good English and she’s very, very nice, so she helped a lot today. (Do the right thing at the right time?) Exactly. She just carried my bag and was very, very sweet.
Valentine Derrey (France) 68 (-4)
Talk about your round today.
I played pretty solid. I hit every green until six, didn’t make one putt and then started making putts. I just played pretty good, made some putts and shot four under. Three birdies in a row on seven, eight, nine.
What do you think of the course?
Really nice, really good condition and really good shape. I like it here.
What are the challenges?
Maybe the greens. They are tricky to read and putt, but it’s a nice course; I like it.
Talk more about the greens.
They are really hilly so you have to be on the right side of the green to have a decent putt to make it.
The three birdies in a row created momentum, but what happened on the back nine?
Number 10, 11, 12 are hard holes because they are into the wind. I hit drive and 5-iron on 10 and 11 and then on 12 the third shot I had 8-iron, so I’m not having wedges in, so it’s harder and the pin position, on 10 and 11 are on the back left and right side of the green. Middle of the green is a good shot there.
Laura Davies made an eagle on hole three.
She hits it far. I hit it far but not as far as her so I don’t think I can make an eagle there.
Do you think driving distance is an advantage?
It helps, to make birdie, for sure.
How did you prepare for this tournament?
I stayed one more week in Australia after the three LET events to get to play a little bit more because the winter in France wasn’t good. I played well and finished top 10 in the ALPG event. I went home for three days and then came here. I just wanted to play more since we had a really awful winter.
This is your third year. Any changes?
No. I have a new physical coach but that’s it.
READ MORE AND FOLLOW PROGRESS
Ladies European Tour (LET) - Nocera and Walker take early lead at Mission Hills World Ladies Championship
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