Q. This has been a great Open for you. Can you kind of talk about what this means
for your career? Kind of a big
breakthrough this week.
NICOLE CASTRALE: I don't know if I would say it's a
breakthrough. I've won and I've been on
two Solheim Cups, so I don't know. It's
a good week. I had a few ‑‑ in 2010
I had shoulder certainly. In 2011 I had
a baby. So I didn't play full seasons.
This year I've been pretty
consistent all year and I've always liked U.S. Opens. It's a good week. Trying to stay patient out there.
Q.
You had a good seat today for 9‑iron on 2. Did that fire you up?
NICOLE CASTRALE: It's hard to keep up. The few birdies I matched, I couldn't get the
tee from her. She played great. That was definitely one of the best rounds
I've ever seen. So it was neat to see.
Q.
Being a mom on tour, can you talk about playing? I understand your daughter travels with you
guys.
NICOLE CASTRALE: She does.
I'm fortunate that my mom wants to travel with us and take care of
her. It's been great. It's definitely one of the best things that's
ever happened to us. It's fun. It's nice to be able to go home to her and know
she's giggling and she's always happy.
So it's great. It's a lot of fun.
Q.
I hear some moms on tour talk about it changes your perspective. There are other things now that are more
important than golf. Do you notice it
makes you calmer on the course?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I would say so. I've never been a really emotional player out
there. It's fun. We look at what time it is. And try to figure out what Aleni is doing at
that given time. So it's kind of fun.
Q.
Can you talk about kind of how the course played today? It was a little more difficult. The pins seemed to be in more difficult
places.
NICOLE CASTRALE: Yeah, they were. But I think the wind played a large part of
it. It was pretty much the complete
opposite as it has been. So the golf
course was just playing different.
So it wasn't what we were used
to. Some tight pins. Greens that are getting quicker. So it was definitely a good test of golf
today.
Q.
As far as looking at the leaderboard, there's a lot of good competition
close to the top. What are your thoughts
heading into tomorrow? What do you think
can play out? What do you think it's
going to take?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I have no idea. It's the U.S. Open. I don't think you really know how the USGA is
going to set it up either. Pars are
still good. When you can take a birdie
here and there, just real good setup.
Good test of golf this week.
Q.
Can you talk about that course difficulty and do you see a 65 out there
at all?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I saw it today. (Laughter).
No, I mean she putted great. I think she had 11 putts in the first nine
holes. So obviously you have to putt
good out here with the greens being like that.
I didn't think it was out there, but I was proven wrong. It was clearly there. But she played pretty much perfect all day.
Q.
You talked about it being a little bit tough because you were never able
to get the tee. Talk about how it
affects your game, or do you kind of block it out and say it's a good round?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Oh, absolutely. Hats off to her. That was, like I said, one of the best rounds
I've ever seen. I've seen some good ones
out here. No, it was more kind of
funny. I made back‑to‑back birdies on 11
to 12, I still didn't have the tee. It
is what it is. I think I finally got the
tee on 16. At least I got it once.
Q.
We appreciate it. Good luck
tomorrow.
NICOLE CASTRALE: Thank you.