Golf Channel Notable Quotes

Golf Channel Notable Quotes

ANA Inspiration

Final Round, Sunday, April 3, 2016

Mission Hills Country Club

Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Lydia Ko, 2016 ANA Inspiration champion, speaking with Golf Channel’s Karen Stupples following her victory

Lydia Ko – “This has been a long week. I am proud that I was able to make those clutch putts, especially on the back nine. It’s a pretty amazing feeling and to be able to jump in Poppie’s Pond is pretty surreal.”

Ko – It has always been my dream to play on the LPGA Tour. For these amazing things to be happening it is unbelievable, but it also motivates me to work harder and try to put myself in good position and contention whenever I can.”

Ko, speaking with Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz before jumping into Poppie’s Pond

Ko – “This is an unbelievable moment. I’ve always walked out on the bridge and have seen Poppie’s Pond and said, ‘Wow that is super clear and how amazing would it be to just jump in there.’ Earlier this week, Abby [Wambach] jumped in there after Danielle [Kang] chipped in for eagle. I thought, ‘Hey, how do you beat that kind of jump?’ It is an amazing moment. Being here with the team makes it even more special.”

On Lydia Ko, 2016 ANA Inspiration champion at 12-under par (3-under 69 on Sunday)

Judy Rankin – “She wasn’t looking like someone who was knocking the flagstick down and making birdies, but what she did was she saved herself several times at such important times. She locked it up with that little wedge at 18.”

Terry Gannon – “Precision to the end. That is Ko, number one in the world.”

Rankin – “She is one of the most amazing players I’ve ever seen, and I’ve only been seeing her since she was 15, so I’ve had a short history. She is really beautiful to watch and she has the kind of swing, the kind of stroke, that I think people can imagine when they swing the club how they would like it to be.”

Rankin – “This young player was made for what she’s doing. She has the most ideal temperament I have ever seen.”

Karen Stupples – “She is a bit of a magician and visualizes better than anybody out here.”

Rankin – “People talk about what you learn by losing. You learn an awful lot winning. Lydia Ko has learned a lot of that, how to make that happen and how to handle it.”

Gannon – “She was relentless today. Would not go away.”

Rankin – “She carries this number one title really, really well. She is an ambassador for golf wherever she goes.”

On Charley Hull, T2 at 11-under par (3-under 69 on Sunday)

Tom Abbott – “Charley Hull tried to make this interesting in the last stages.”

Rankin – “She doesn’t have any fear in her game. She lets it rip regardless.”

On In Gee Chun, T2 at 11-under par (2-under par 70 on Sunday)

Abbott – “She has been very focused today and has been really solid with the putter.”

Rankin – “She is a young woman who is mentally strong. We have seen that all day today and all week for that matter.”

On Ariya Jutanugarn, 4^th place at 10-under par (1-under par 71 on Sunday, which included three straight bogeys on 16, 17 and 18)

Gannon – “What must it be like and feel like, to have two hands reaching out and be within inches of that trophy, to see it all fall away.”

Rankin – “You are trying to put on the face you know you have to put on, but your stomach has fallen out. It is so hard and such a deflated feeling.”

Rankin – “Heartbreaking finish for somebody who played so consistent. She was just so stable and so unemotional all day.”

Rankin – “The pressure. You want it too badly and your body will just not cooperate.”

On Lexi Thompson, 5^th place at 9-under par (1-over par 73 on Sunday)

Rankin – “I think when you get off poorly like she did with the tee shot on the first hole, unless you recover quickly from that, you kind of worry about driving the ball all day. It is really hard when you are under the pressure of the final round in a big championship to always be fighting your way back.”

-NBC Sports Group-

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