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LPGA professional Gaby Lopez speaks to the media following her victory at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, coming on the 7th playoff hole during a Monday finish. Lopez bested Nasa Hataoka and Inbee Park in the playoff with a final score of -13 under par.

LPGA Tour: Gaby Lopez speaks with media following the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

Q. What makes this win so special today?
GABY LOPEZ: Today I was thinking thinking of my first win, and I dedicated my first win to my granddad that passed away a month before my first win. Yesterday I called my dad that I wanted to have my grandmom with him and my family this morning so she could see me dedicate this win to her.

Q. Was she watching TV?
GABY LOPEZ: She was watching the TV. I just FaceTimed them, and she was there, and I was like, my first win was for my granddad, and this one goes for you.

Q. What’s her name?
GABY LOPEZ: Vania.

Q. And what’s your granddad’s name?
GABY LOPEZ: Jose.

Q. What did you hit here?
GABY LOPEZ: I hit a 3 hybrid.

Q. Was that what you were hitting yesterday, or did you have to change?
GABY LOPEZ: Yesterday was really funny. The last round, when I first made birdie, it was into the wind, so I had a perfect 3 hybrid. In the playoffs, it was coming downwind, so I had to switch to my 4 hybrid. I wasn’t very sure if I needed a 3 hybrid or a 4 hybrid. I was switching all the time on those six holes that we were playing.

This morning, my coach, my caddie, and I were on the TrackMan, and we were looking at numbers because it’s freezing right now. So we just took the number, and we knew it was downwind, but it was a perfect 3 hybrid.

Q. Saluting the grounds crew, is that something you got from Lorena? She used to do that all the time.
GABY LOPEZ: Yes, Lorena started this tradition, and I think that was the most important thing from her. She was No. 1 on the golf course, but she was so humble, and she was being able to take the time to sit down with all the gardeners, the Mexican gardeners that we don’t get to see, and they’re here since 4:00 in the morning, and they leave at 9:00 p.m.

I think they need more recognition than we actually give them.

Q. And wearing Mexico’s colors on Sunday, winning in them today, just tell us about that.
GABY LOPEZ: Yes, since I’m a little kid, I got in love — in golf, I got in love with representing Mexico outside of Mexico in the U.S. It was always team events, and we were always wearing red, white, and green. I don’t know, it was something that comes with me since I’m a little kid. I’m extremely proud to represent Mexico, especially because we have now two Mexicans on the Tour. For a long time, it was Lorena only, and then it was Violeta Retamoza, and now it was only me. This year Maria came with me on Tour.

So I’m just hoping that it’s not only us two. I’m really hoping that a good ten Mexican girls can jump in the LPGA, and we can all travel together and achieve our dreams together.

Q. You’ve played this hole seven times now, eight if we count the regulation. Are you glad that you’re not seeing this hole anymore, or because you have half the birdies on this hole, it’s not so bad?
GABY LOPEZ: No, I really like it. I have lots of respect for this golf course. It plays extremely difficult when it’s windy and especially when it’s cold. I don’t know, I just feel like being able to feel comfortable here since last year. Last year I was playing great until the last nine holes. I came in fifth, and I ended up top ten, and it was my first top ten of the year. Those memories were positive to me.

To me this year, I’ve changed a lot of things on my swing. I’ve changed a lot of things on my stroke. I’ve changed a lot of things. To be honest, coming into this week, I had no idea if I was going to play well. I wasn’t hitting the ball great in Mexico. It was funky. It was all over the place. I had discussions with my coach if I really needed a change on my swing, but I did because I went to the hospital to get a neck thing.

So, yeah, being able to kind of trust the process and trust in him and being able to believe in myself and in my team, my caddie, I mean, it just takes a team effort. My family in Mexico, they’re a huge part of my team.

Q. To get up this early and the weather changing so drastically, how tough was it to get here and get on the range?
GABY LOPEZ: It was tough to sleep. I mean, yesterday it was calm. It was easy for me to play the six holes in the playoff, or five, but this — I mean, last night was hard. I could not sleep. I was meditating. I was listening to music. I was trying to stay calm.

So as soon as the alarm hit the clock, I’m like, okay, let’s go. Let’s roll. I got here at 6:00 a.m., and I started my warmup like it was a normal day. I needed to get in the routine that I was going to play 18 holes. That was my mindset. I don’t know how many it’s going to take us to make a birdie here. I just asked Dan, I mean, are we going to move from the hole? It’s hard to make birdie here. He said, no, we’re sticking here. So I’m like okay.

So my goal was to hit the green every time I teed up. And I knew — I knew one was going to drop because I’ve been hitting that putt every single time. I guess the seventh time’s the charm.

Q. How did that compare to the putt you had on the last hole in regulation?
GABY LOPEZ: To the last putt?

Q. Yeah, you had the birdie on your final hole to get into the playoff. How were they compared?
Q. Different spots on the green, right?
GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, different spots. I was above the hole on that one. That was actually — when I had that putt, I used to talk with my coach in Arkansas that, if you ever have a putt you want to make, you want it to be downhill because you just need to hit the right line. I mean, you just hit it, and the slope is going to take all the work. So, yeah, as soon as I had the putt, I remember Shauna telling me, hey, we want this, we want this, embrace it.

I’m just happy to be able to pull off the shots under pressure that I needed to.

Q. How long was that putt in regulation? In the final hole, your final 72 holes.
GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, that was 17 feet, downhill.

January 20, 2020

Lake Bueno Vista, Florida

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

PGA Tour Professional Zach Johnson speaks to the media following round one of the Sony Open in Hawaii about his presidents cup experience and memories with the late Pete Dye

PGA Tour: Zach Johnson following Sony Open in Hawaii Round one

Q. Zach, nice playing out there in really tough conditions. Remember anything like that?
ZACH JOHNSON: Not here. I mean, we’ve all probably experienced wind like this at some point, but it’s rare. I’ve not experienced it here. I mean, in Maui that one year, but we didn’t play. It was actually more intense than this.

I think we started the first round on Monday if I’m not mistaken, so obviously it can low on the here in the Pacific.

Q. What was the key to your round out there today?
ZACH JOHNSON: I mean, I got off to a great start. I mean, I hit some shots really close. Missed one — two putts that were close, but I got off to a great start.

I birdied first three out of four holes. I had a really bone head mistake on 15. Made double there. Other than that, it was just really, really solid. I mean, I gave myself opportunities, and when I was in kind of is difficult predicament, whether it was a 2-putt or an up and down, I was managing to make some of these 3- to 6-footers.

Full Leaderboard Sony Open in Hawaii 2020

Q. Obviously the Presidents Cup occupied a lot of your time kind of in the down time.
ZACH JOHNSON: Yeah.

Q. What did you do to prepare to come here? I know you’re a winner here, but why do you keep coming back?
ZACH JOHNSON: Well, the first part of that question, I mean, yeah, I didn’t get a whole lot of practice the first part of December, but that’s okay. I was working. I was wearing another hat, if you will.

But, I mean, at the same time, there was motivation and inspiration involved there watching those guys, especially on the weekend rally the way they did. And even closing out some of those matches on Thursday and Friday was impressive, too. So, yeah, like I said, there was some inspiring golf. And, yeah, I worked after that. I worked pretty hard. I was anxious to get back and start practicing again.

It’s not hard to be here. It’s hard to get here, but not hard to be here. I mean, I love it. This is one-of-a-kind. We get great fan support here. Obviously Sony does a tremendous job. I thoroughly, thoroughly like the golf course. I think it’s a classic. When there is no wind it’s very gettable, but there is never no wind.

If it’s firm and fast with wind, it’s very, very difficult. When it’s blowing 25, 35 with gusts over 40, doesn’t matter what the golf course, it’s just hard.

So it’s one of those cliches, they don’t make them like they used to.

Q. You mentioned the inspiration being there, part of the Presidents Cup team as one of the captain’s assistants. How does that motivate you?
ZACH JOHNSON: Well, it’s one of those things. As a competitor, I mean, if you’re a part of those teams it’s an honor, right? When you’re a part of those teams and not playing, it can’t be anything but.

I mean, some of those are my dearest friends as well. Granted, they’re my peers and we’re trying to beat each other’s brains in week in and week out, but I respect them and certainly admire them.

Again, it’s motivating. Knowing what some of those guys have done and are going to continue to do makes you want to work, makes you want to practice.

And when you’re led by Tiger Woods, who has obviously been my peer forever, I mean, we’re essentially the same age, if you don’t find inspiration and motivation then you’re probably looking through the wrong lens.

Q. Congrats on your part in that whole process.
ZACH JOHNSON: I’m good at making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, that’s about it. (Laughter.) Yeah.

Zach Johnson on the late Pete Dye

Q. I don’t know if that’s it. Kind of an off-the-subject question, but Pete Dye just passed away. Didn’t know if you knew him at all.
ZACH JOHNSON: Yeah, I was fortunate enough to play with him at Hilton Head, one of his gems, in the Pro-Am. It was me and Mr. Dye, Mr. Finchem, and I believe there was another executive of the tour, muckety-muck of some sort. I can’t remember who it was, but it doesn’t really matter.

I believe he shot 78 that day, 79 in the Pro-Am. That was within the last ten years, 12 years for sure. Just hearing the stories, you know, what he did with this hole. I mean, I remember one in particular that stands out, but it was awesome. It was just fantastic to see I guess you would say a golf artist on his canvas he made. Very special.

Condolences to his family obviously. He’s a legend.

Q. His influence, his courses are largely unmistakable, aren’t they?
ZACH JOHNSON: Yeah, there’s fingerprints, and if Pete Dye doesn’t have one of the biggest certainly in the last 50 years, I don’t know who would rival that. He’s not much of a technology guy. I guess he’s pen and paper or whatever. Might be embellishing that a little bit, but he’s kind of an eyeball, pen and paper, move a little bit of land here, push that there, but he uses what’s given to him. I guess you would say he’s a naturalist in that regard, which is pretty special.

Q. So it’s not as if he just simply went out and took a bulldozer…
ZACH JOHNSON: Exactly. Yeah, I’ve two great stories. The superintendent that I grew up who is one of my dearest friends, he left and went from Cedar Rapids back to Des Moines where he came from, and was at Des Moines Golf, so he got to walk around 36 holes of golf with Pete Dye at Des Moines Golf. 36 holes in one day. Flew him in, flew him out, so he could go back home and have dinner with his wife. (Wind interference.)

Another story was 13 at Hilton Head, which is that awesome into the front green with the railroad ties. It’s the only railroad ties in the entire golf course they have not had to touch because she put(indiscernible – wind.) He thought that was crazy and he was looking at the expenditure.

It was the only hole she did because of time constraints. He’s like, Yeah, probably should’ve listened to her from Day One. The only railroad ties that have not been touched according to him.

Q. (Indiscernible.)
ZACH JOHNSON: Correct.

Q. When the pace of play thing comes out next week, players going to feel good about it? Do you feel good about it?
ZACH JOHNSON: I think there is a lot — I don’t want to say unknown — but there is a lot of education needed probably. I mean, I’ve read the e-mails. I love it. We’re proactive. That’s the first thing.

To be perfectly honest with you, the policy that’s in place has not changed and it will not change, but there is kind of like a tangent arm to that that’s going to help facilitate and I think try to make the game a little bit quicker. That’s about all I can give you.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Honolulu, Hawaii

January 9, 2020