Inverness Club -Team Europe
Q. Do you know what the difference was that enabled you guys to pull it out today?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I thought the Americans were going to come out strong after the morning they had, so we knew it was going to be loud out there because with 3-1 in the morning it was tough for us, so I think I’m quite happy.
We are happy to get at least two points on the board, hopefully two and a half. I mean, it’s tough playing here, lots of fans. Due to COVID not many European fans. But I think we all fight hard, we try our best, we play with passion, and hopefully it’s going to be enough for tomorrow.
Q. Inverness itself, the course doesn’t make it very easy. How crucial were the birdies you made at 12 and 13 and then your birdies at 15 and 16?
NANNA KOERSTZ-MADSEN: Well, they were like turnaround points. That birdie on 12 kind of got us a little bit of momentum. Carlota hit a great shot into 13. That just started the whole thing, and then we made a couple good putts in the end.
So that was — but it is a tough course. You can see there’s mistakes out there.
Q. I saw the emotion as you came off that green. What did that mean to you?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I think it’s really important to get that point. I think at some point Team USA was playing really good, so I think going into tomorrow, winning these two days, I think it’s key.
I had a great time today with Nanna. I think we both played great. When one was (indiscernible) one was in place. I’m very happy to win a point for Europe, yeah.
Q. Were you aware of the importance of that particular match and where it ranked going into tomorrow?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: Yeah, I tried not to look too much to the scoreboard, I think. You just want to focus on your match and try to get that point. I gave my 200 percent as I always do playing for Europe, and I think it was a very tight match.
I think we played some great golf. Jess and Megan, they played some really great golf, and at the end a couple putts dropped in for us and we got the win, so very, very happy.
Q. If Ian Poulter is Mr. Ryder Cup, Carlota Ciganda is Mrs. Solheim Cup. How was it playing alongside her with all her passion?
NANNA KOERSTZ-MADSEN: It was so much fun. Carlota has so much passion, and she’s like, vamos, let’s go. It was really cool. We really match each other really good out there. If someone made a mistake then the other one kind of took over. It was a lot of fun.
Madsen and Ciganda walk us through the day
Q. Take us through the day, both of you, from your vantage points, back and forth between the entire match. No one ever got more than 1-up and you guys came out the victor. What was it like from your perspective?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I mean, it was a really tight match, obviously. The Americans, they were happy they had a great morning, so we knew it was going to be a tough afternoon, very loud.
We tried our best, and we are really happy with the scores this afternoon, especially getting the half point in the last match. I think we played great. We were in places most of the time, if I was off, she was in a great place, if she was off, I was on the green, as well. I think we played a really good four-ball. Yes, they played great, but one has to win, and at the end we made a few more putts, and Europe won.
Q. Nanna, from your perspective?
NANNA KOERSTZ-MADSEN: Well, there’s not much different from my perspective. As Carlota said, if I was in trouble, Carlota played great, and the other way, if she was in trouble, I did some good stuff.
Yeah, the other girls played really good, too, so it was really a fun match going back and forth. The crowd was crazy.
Q. Carlota, whenever you face a putt where you have to make to maybe halve the hole or something, what’s going through your mind?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I think when you play Solheim Cup you just try to make every putt, and that’s what I’m trying to do this week. I think my brain is more focused. I know what I want to do all the time. I think that’s why I played pretty good.
These greens are not easy. I think once the ball gets to the hole, there was some kind of break, so I think it’s not as easy to make putts, but it’s the same for everyone. I think we played solid, and we are ready for tomorrow.
Q. Carlota, you’ve played in a lot of these. Can you remember a Solheim Cup where so many matches went to 18?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I don’t think so. I think I was talking to a few of the girls yesterday how good the golf is yesterday, seven matches went to 18, I don’t know how many today but a few, as well.
I think we all play — European team all play in the States against all the players, so I think we have one of the best teams that we’ve had in the last few years, and we don’t have any fear to play against them. We are happy to be here, and we are ready to fight.
How will it look heading into the next round?
Q. Nanna, how confident do you feel heading into singles play tomorrow and how confident are you with your team where you’re at heading into Monday?
NANNA KOERSTZ-MADSEN: I’m really glad for the win today. Yesterday was a tough day, but we still played great yesterday, so I’m confident that I can go out tomorrow and bring a point to the European team.
Q. What was the difference there on that closing stretch?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I think we stayed patient. We knew it was going to be a tough match, especially with the Americans having a great morning. We knew it was going to be loud. I think we played great, played some great golf.
The last few holes I think we birdied the 13th, 15th, 16, and were 4- or 5-under on the back nine, so just great golf.
Q. You played in that match yesterday with Madelene Sagstrom. How was the team able to put that behind you and play so well today?
NANNA KOERSTZ-MADSEN: Well, there was nothing to do about the thing yesterday, so as Catriona was saying, just put it behind you. Whatever happens happens, and now we’ve just got to focus on today and try and win as many points as we can.
Q. You’re a veteran in these matches; you said earlier this week this is the strongest team you’ve been a part of. What will the team need to do to get the win here on Monday?
CARLOTA CIGANDA: I think we have to come here tomorrow. The Americans are playing singles matches very good, and it’s still very tight. I know we still have the lead, but winning on U.S. soil is not easy to do, and we’ll have to bring the attitude that we just want to win every match. Don’t look at the scoreboard, just everyone go get their point, and hopefully that’s enough.
Interview from Asap Sports