HSBC Women’s Champions
Sentosa Golf Club – The Serapong Course
Singapore
Third Round Notes
March 7, 2015
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Inbee Park (-13)
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko (-11)
Rolex Rankings No. 3 Stacy Lewis (-11)
Rolex Rankings No. 13 Anna Nordqvist (-9)
Rolex Rankings No. 15 Azahara Munoz (-9)
Rolex Rankings No. 5 Suzann Pettersen (-9)
Tomorrow’s final grouping features World No. 1, 2 and 3 going head-to-head-to head in the final round of the HSBC Women’s Champions. No. 2 Inbee Park carded another bogey-free round today and has a two stroke lead over No. 1 Lydia Ko (-11) and No. 3 Stacy Lewis (-11). It’s the matchup that everyone wants to see.
“It will be great fun,” Lewis said about the matchup. “It’s great for the fans and for our tour. This leaderboard all week has been unbelievable.”
Neither Park or Lewis has a chance to take back the No. 1 ranking from 17-year old Ko, but it’s something that Park has on her radar for the near future.
“I want it, I just know I want it, but I’m just not going to push myself too hard to get something,” Park said. “I mean, it’s something that if you push for, it’s just hard to get. Just a couple of wins and playing great golf, and it’s going to come, so I’m just going to not rush anything and just play good golf.”
Ko is looking for her third consecutive win in as many weeks after winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open two weeks ago and then her national championship, the Women’s New Zealand Open this past week.
“Yeah, that would be I guess a dream three weeks, but I’m just going to try my best,” Ko said of what it would mean to win three consecutive tournaments played. “The girls are playing good golf and it’s a tough course. Just one shot can cost you a couple.”
Park is looking for the 13th LPGA victory of her career while Ko is looking for her seventh and second LPGA win this season and Lewis is looking for her 12th career victory.
The final group tees off at 9:45am in Singapore and is a must-see TV event for golf fans.
LOOK-A-LIKES ON THE COURSE
Anna Nordqvist and Danielle Kang looked awfully similar today on the course. The plan to dress alike was hatched when they both attended a Taylor-Made Adidas outing on Monday of this week. They decided that if they were paired together, they would dress in the same outfit and they had the chance in the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions today.
“I had a feeling we might get paired when I saw the scoreboard yesterday,” Nordqvist explained. “And so I told her, you get the turquoise outfit, and she said, yeah, I do, and then I didn’t hear back from her. I said, whatever, I’ll put it on. This morning, sure enough, she had it on.”
Nordqvist fired a 68 today and will tee on Sunday just four strokes behind leader Inbee Park. She won’t be paired again with her twin, Danielle Kang, but she will be in the hunt for her fifth career win on the LPGA Tour.
THIS WEEK
The LPGA Tour is in Singapore this week for the HSBC Women’s Champions, highlighted by a field that includes 19 out of the top-20 in the Rolex Rankings. At last year’s HSBC Women’s Champions, Paula Creamer sank what may have been the putt of her career to clinch her 10th career LPGA victory. Creamer drained a 75-foot eagle putt on the second sudden-death playoff hole to defeat Spain’s Azahara Munoz. “The putt heard round the world” was one of the most exciting finishes in golf last year and we will certainly see the finish on highlight reels for years to come.
Defending champion Paula Creamer is T50 at +3 for the tournament.
WHO HAS WON the HSBC Women’s Champions (*Won in a playoff)
Player Year
Paula Creamer 2014*
Stacy Lewis 2013
Angela Stanford 2012*
Karrie Webb 2011
Ai Miyazato 2010
Jiyai Shin 2009
Lorena Ochoa 2008
BACK IN THE HUNT
Last year, Azahara Munoz was left standing on 18 green watching Paula Creamer celebrate an inprobable putt to win the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions. She finished runner up last year but she has found herself in a very similar position to last year. Munoz is three strokes off the lead heading into the final round, same as in 2014.
She has the opportunity to sneak up on the final group this time. “To be honest I wish I was leading by seven,” Munoz joked after her round.
But still she likes her chances tomorrow given the position she put herself in.
“The closer you are to the lead, the better,” Munoz said. “I’m playing really well. I’m right there, four back, and still 18 holes on this golf course, anything can happen.”
ROLEX PROJECTIONS
Lydia Ko will remain the No. 1 player in the world regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s final round at the HSBC Women’s Champions.
HSBC Women’s Champions Airtimes
Golf Channel will broadcast all the action and all times listed are U.S. EST. Golf Channel will also stream LIVE coverage of Rounds 2, 3, and the Final Round on the Golf LIVE Extra app/golfchannel.com from 11pm-3am ET Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening. Follow the action live @HSBCWomenschampions - a daily special two hour program streaming live at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens/tournament-info/live/
Sunday 3/8
5:00AM – 7:30AM ET
Final Round (tape delay)
Tuesday 3/10
11:00AM – 1:00PM ET
Final Round (re-air)
*Re-air times are subject to change.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0 - Number of bogeys for Inbee Park over her last three rounds
3 - If Lydia Ko wins the HSBC Women’s Champions, she would have won three consecutive tournaments
7 - Number of different winners at the HSBC Women’s Champions
8 - This is the eighth edition of the HSBC Women’s Champions, which began in 2008
10 -Number of professional wins for Lydia Ko
18- There are 18 players from South Korea in the field this week
26- Number of putts for Stacy Lewis in the third round today
33- Number of official events in 2015, up from 23 in 2011
62 million (USD)- The total purse money in 2015, up from $41.4M in 2011
69.75 - Lydia Ko’s scoring average this year, which leads the Tour
410- Number of live televised hours in 2015, the most in LPGA history
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The final group on a Sunday is where you want to be. Doesn’t matter who is in the group. This is the position I want to be in tomorrow.”- Stacy Lewis on if she preferred to be playing with the other two, or to be separated
INBEE PARK
Q. Inbee, you just keep playing great. You've been so consistent, it's amazing.
INBEE PARK: I played another solid day today. I played really good out there. I gave myself a lot of opportunities, and I didn't make all of them, but I was able to handle myself out there being patient out there and no bogeys out there is a really great result.
Yeah, I hit a lot of shots really close and probably could have made a couple two, three more. But still have tomorrow, and yeah, hopefully my putter works tomorrow.
Q. Taking last Sunday into account, this is your fourth round without a bogey on the card. So you must be really thrilled how well you're keeping it together.
INBEE PARK: Yeah, I think it's because I play aggressively. I'm not afraid of bogeys. I can make bogeys out there but I've just got to make more birdies. I mean, same thing tomorrow, I'm not going to think about no bogeys and how many holes. I'm just going to play same as what I did for the last three holes, and I'm not afraid of defeat. So just go out there and play tomorrow.
Q. We are all a bit excited, not sure if you're aware but tomorrow we have No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 in the world playing together. That is going to be some day.
INBEE PARK: I think it's going to be a really fun day tomorrow. It's a great leaderboard and everybody, all the fans are looking forward to seeing our play tomorrow, and having a two-shot lead over No. 1 and No. 3 is a great result.
Hopefully I can keep my lead till the end, and, yeah, just keep playing great.
Q. How much do you want that No. 1 Rolex Ranking back?
INBEE PARK: It's just, you know, I want it, I just know I want it, but I'm just not going to push myself too hard to get something. I mean, it's not something -- it's something that if you push for, it's just hard to get. Just a couple of wins and playing great golf, and it's going to come, so I'm just going to not rush anything and just play good golf.
LYDIA KO
Q. We thought you were tired when you got here after a couple big weeks, but you certainly bounded back with a great round today.
LYDIA KO: Started off well with a 4-under the first day and yesterday was kind of a crazy day and today I hung on and made a couple good birdies along the way.
Q. Those birdies really came around the turn, as well, when they sort of needed to kick start to get you going.
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I was playing good the first couple holes, but then I left a couple out there with those birdie opportunities on 7, and yeah, I had a really good chance on 10, just tried to give myself many opportunities.
Q. Playing conditions were a little better today. The breeze was up and it wasn't quite as hot which would have made it more comfortable, as well.
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I think the temperature was much better, but with the breeze being up, it's obviously a little tougher to go for some of the pins.
Q. Do you think the position you're in, you're only one behind at this point in time, hopefully make it three in a row?
LYDIA KO: Yeah, that would be I guess a dream three weeks, but I'm just going to try my best. The girls are playing good golf and it's a tough course. Just one shot can cost you a couple.
Q. Do you just feel -- when we watched you play, you just looked so calm and in control all the time. Are there ever any nerves because you never look like it?
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I'm definitely nervous. I think most nervous on the first tee and especially coming up on 18.
STACY LEWIS
Q. Six birdies today, you must be really happy.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, pretty pleased. The middle of the round, couldn't quite get anything going, so I was just happy with the way I stayed patient. Made a nice putt on 15 and then made a couple good ones coming in.
Q. Now we now you're always in the mix and you're such a strong player but tomorrow, we have an awful lot to be excited about. The world No. 1, 2 and 3 look like they will be going out together. That should be fun.
STACY LEWIS: It will. It will be great fun. It's great for the fans and for our tour. This leaderboard all week has been unbelievable. Just a ton of really good players up in the mix, and you know, this golf course, we have got to be careful about what's going on ahead of us, because it's easy to post a number and kind of sit back and see what happens.
Q. Conditions not too bad today, a little bit of breeze around, a lot of cloud cover, so it was actually pretty comfortable out there?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, it was. Golf course didn't play any easier. This golf course is tough. There's a lot of tough hole locations, especially coming in. So hopefully we have some good weather again tomorrow and see some good golf like we did today.
Q. This is a really tough golf course with the greens, they are massive, but you putted your socks off today, didn't you.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, you've got to on this golf course but they are rolling so pure that you can make some bombs. That's the fun part of this golf course is that if you get some putts started on line, they will just go in.
For us, it's great to play. We don't get greens like this every week on Tour and we love coming here.
Q. Would you prefer to be playing with the other two, or would you prefer to be separated?
STACY LEWIS: The final group on a Sunday is where you want to be, so no matter -- doesn't matter who is in the group. This is the position I want to be in tomorrow.
ANNA NORDQVIST
Q. You have to be pretty pleased after that round today, don't you?
ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, it was solid. I hit a lot of greens. Had a lot of good putts that didn't go in, so it was just a matter of staying patient. Hit a great shot out of the bunker on 15 to about I think nine feet and made that one for birdie and then birdied 16.
So those felt nice. But I had some good putts there that didn't go in. So pretty happy with my finish there. But it's been solid. Last week was solid and this week's been pretty solid, so I file like I'm playing pretty good golf. Just a matter of staying patient.
Q. Last year you had a hot start, and like you said you're playing well; is this something you think is going to continue on?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I hope so. Last week, I felt like I hit it as goods I've done that long time. On Sunday I couldn't make any putts, so I left Thailand disappointed.
Just feel like I'm giving myself some good opportunities out there. The greens are firm. It's been a little bit of wind today, so it's hard to really get close to some of the pins. But it's the same for everyone and I think that makes it more challenging and you've got to hit good shots to make birdies.
Q. Right now you're sitting three strokes off the lead, your approach heading into tomorrow, do you even know yet?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I really have nothing to lose. Just try to putt a good round out there today and give myself a chance tomorrow. That's all I can do. You know, there's a lot of good players up there and it seems like everyone is playing pretty solid, so it's going to require a good one tomorrow.
Q. Last question regarding your twin today, Danielle Kang. Did you guys plan this or was it a surprise on the first tee?
ANNA NORDQVIST: We had this outing with TaylorMade-Adidas on Monday, and I was freaking out if we were wearing the same thing, and we weren't. And then we said -- we were joking and said, hey, if we get paired this week, we should totally do it.
I had a feeling we might get paired when I saw the scoreboard yesterday. And so I told her, you get the turquoise outfit, and she said, yeah, I do, and then I didn't hear back from her.
I said, whatever, I'll put it on. This morning, sure enough, she had it. Yeah, it was planned, but it's all about having fun and Adidas is such a great sponsor and we love the clothes and wear the same golf bags, too, so couldn't be more twins.
SUZANN PETTERSEN
Q. Great round, you started off with a bogey on the second and then you got it really going?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, there are a lot of birdies out there, if you hit a good tee shot, you will leave yourself a lot of good looks. The greens are so pure. So if you get it going, you can really -- I feel like you can really go low here.
Jet to putt one round together where you feel like everything clicks, but it's getting there slowly but surely.
Q. Do you feel you're reading the greens really well and it's all coming together or you've been hitting it great almost all week?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's all getting better day-by-day and really just trying to be patient. Just go out there tomorrow and enjoy.
Q. And for tomorrow, what do you think, you're obviously going to have to shoot a low score with Inbee on 12?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, would you have to. You're playing against the best person in the world and you have to anticipate them to go out and shoot a low number as well.
Q. What sort of score do you think is out there at the moment?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I think you can probably shoot 7- , 8-under if you get the par 5s going.
Q. And the wind to you hasn't been a factor?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's been the same every day. It switches about now. So people who is an hour ahead of me probably had downwind on 18 and people now have into the wind. So it's pretty consistent. It's been consistent for three days.
AZAHARA MUNOZ
Q. Great start today, talk me through a bit how it went you slowed.
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I still played pretty good. The putts weren't dropping. I still hit pretty good putts, especially 17 and 18, I wanted to make one birdie and one just went over the edge. I'm playing really well, and it's just hard sometimes to get the right yardages. If you start having just like half-shots into the greens, it's really hard to control the spin.
But overall, I felt really good out there, and I didn't make as many putts as the last couple days, but hopefully I'll go now to fit a few putts and we'll figure it out.
Q. And the wind didn't affect you yesterday?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: It was windy but it didn't really affect me; I cannot blame that. I cannot give an excuse for that.
Q. Where did you lie last year?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I was in the last group going into the final round, maybe a couple back, something like that, three back.
Q. Do you quite like the thought of going into the final round tomorrow not actually in the final group and then you can just sneak up?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: To be honest I wish I was leading by seven.
Q. Well, if you can't lead by seven --
AZAHARA MUNOZ: The closer you are to the lead, the better. I'm playing really well. I'm right there, four back, and still 18 holes on this golf course, anything can happen.
Q. And you know this golf course really well.
AZAHARA MUNOZ: Yeah, I real will I like it. It sets up well for me so hopefully I drop a few tomorrow and hopefully I get it going from the beginning.
SO YEON RYU
SO YEON RYU: The putting was not enough good compared to long game, so I missed quite a lot of eight feet, ten feet putts, disappointing part. But we still have one more round, so we'll see.
Q. Conditions seemed a bit more bearable today and cooler?
SO YEON RYU: Yeah, today was a bit cooler. At the same time, the breeze was a bit strong. The thing; breeze is not really coming from one side. The breeze keeps coming around so it's very hard judging where it comes from and how strong it is, so that was the hard part today. But still, my long game was really great, so I'm really happy.
Q. You did very well today and you're a few shots back going into the final round. Do you still feel like you're in contention?
SO YEON RYU: Well, so far, I'm four back from the leader. Golf, anything can happen, so I want to keep it focused tomorrow. So you know, I think four shots is not really like big, big.
I'm going to practice putting a bit more and bring my A Game tomorrow.
Sentosa Golf Club – The Serapong Course
Singapore
Third Round Notes
March 7, 2015
Rolex Rankings No. 2 Inbee Park (-13)
Rolex Rankings No. 1 Lydia Ko (-11)
Rolex Rankings No. 3 Stacy Lewis (-11)
Rolex Rankings No. 13 Anna Nordqvist (-9)
Rolex Rankings No. 15 Azahara Munoz (-9)
Rolex Rankings No. 5 Suzann Pettersen (-9)
Tomorrow’s final grouping features World No. 1, 2 and 3 going head-to-head-to head in the final round of the HSBC Women’s Champions. No. 2 Inbee Park carded another bogey-free round today and has a two stroke lead over No. 1 Lydia Ko (-11) and No. 3 Stacy Lewis (-11). It’s the matchup that everyone wants to see.
“It will be great fun,” Lewis said about the matchup. “It’s great for the fans and for our tour. This leaderboard all week has been unbelievable.”
Neither Park or Lewis has a chance to take back the No. 1 ranking from 17-year old Ko, but it’s something that Park has on her radar for the near future.
“I want it, I just know I want it, but I’m just not going to push myself too hard to get something,” Park said. “I mean, it’s something that if you push for, it’s just hard to get. Just a couple of wins and playing great golf, and it’s going to come, so I’m just going to not rush anything and just play good golf.”
Ko is looking for her third consecutive win in as many weeks after winning the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open two weeks ago and then her national championship, the Women’s New Zealand Open this past week.
“Yeah, that would be I guess a dream three weeks, but I’m just going to try my best,” Ko said of what it would mean to win three consecutive tournaments played. “The girls are playing good golf and it’s a tough course. Just one shot can cost you a couple.”
Park is looking for the 13th LPGA victory of her career while Ko is looking for her seventh and second LPGA win this season and Lewis is looking for her 12th career victory.
The final group tees off at 9:45am in Singapore and is a must-see TV event for golf fans.
Leaderboard | |||||
Player | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | To Par |
Inbee Park | 66 | 69 | 68 | -13 | |
Lydia Ko | 68 | 70 | 67 | -11 | |
Stacy Lewis | 69 | 69 | 67 | -11 | |
Anna Nordqvist | 69 | 70 | 68 | -9 | |
Azahara Munoz | 70 | 67 | 70 | -9 | |
Suzann Pettersen | 71 | 68 | 68 | -9 |
LOOK-A-LIKES ON THE COURSE
Anna Nordqvist and Danielle Kang looked awfully similar today on the course. The plan to dress alike was hatched when they both attended a Taylor-Made Adidas outing on Monday of this week. They decided that if they were paired together, they would dress in the same outfit and they had the chance in the third round of the HSBC Women’s Champions today.
“I had a feeling we might get paired when I saw the scoreboard yesterday,” Nordqvist explained. “And so I told her, you get the turquoise outfit, and she said, yeah, I do, and then I didn’t hear back from her. I said, whatever, I’ll put it on. This morning, sure enough, she had it on.”
Nordqvist fired a 68 today and will tee on Sunday just four strokes behind leader Inbee Park. She won’t be paired again with her twin, Danielle Kang, but she will be in the hunt for her fifth career win on the LPGA Tour.
THIS WEEK
The LPGA Tour is in Singapore this week for the HSBC Women’s Champions, highlighted by a field that includes 19 out of the top-20 in the Rolex Rankings. At last year’s HSBC Women’s Champions, Paula Creamer sank what may have been the putt of her career to clinch her 10th career LPGA victory. Creamer drained a 75-foot eagle putt on the second sudden-death playoff hole to defeat Spain’s Azahara Munoz. “The putt heard round the world” was one of the most exciting finishes in golf last year and we will certainly see the finish on highlight reels for years to come.
Defending champion Paula Creamer is T50 at +3 for the tournament.
WHO HAS WON the HSBC Women’s Champions (*Won in a playoff)
Player Year
Paula Creamer 2014*
Stacy Lewis 2013
Angela Stanford 2012*
Karrie Webb 2011
Ai Miyazato 2010
Jiyai Shin 2009
Lorena Ochoa 2008
BACK IN THE HUNT
Last year, Azahara Munoz was left standing on 18 green watching Paula Creamer celebrate an inprobable putt to win the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions. She finished runner up last year but she has found herself in a very similar position to last year. Munoz is three strokes off the lead heading into the final round, same as in 2014.
She has the opportunity to sneak up on the final group this time. “To be honest I wish I was leading by seven,” Munoz joked after her round.
But still she likes her chances tomorrow given the position she put herself in.
“The closer you are to the lead, the better,” Munoz said. “I’m playing really well. I’m right there, four back, and still 18 holes on this golf course, anything can happen.”
ROLEX PROJECTIONS
Lydia Ko will remain the No. 1 player in the world regardless of the outcome of tomorrow’s final round at the HSBC Women’s Champions.
HSBC Women’s Champions Airtimes
Golf Channel will broadcast all the action and all times listed are U.S. EST. Golf Channel will also stream LIVE coverage of Rounds 2, 3, and the Final Round on the Golf LIVE Extra app/golfchannel.com from 11pm-3am ET Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening. Follow the action live @HSBCWomenschampions - a daily special two hour program streaming live at https://www.hsbcgolf.com/womens/tournament-info/live/
Sunday 3/8
5:00AM – 7:30AM ET
Final Round (tape delay)
Tuesday 3/10
11:00AM – 1:00PM ET
Final Round (re-air)
*Re-air times are subject to change.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
0 - Number of bogeys for Inbee Park over her last three rounds
3 - If Lydia Ko wins the HSBC Women’s Champions, she would have won three consecutive tournaments
7 - Number of different winners at the HSBC Women’s Champions
8 - This is the eighth edition of the HSBC Women’s Champions, which began in 2008
10 -Number of professional wins for Lydia Ko
18- There are 18 players from South Korea in the field this week
26- Number of putts for Stacy Lewis in the third round today
33- Number of official events in 2015, up from 23 in 2011
62 million (USD)- The total purse money in 2015, up from $41.4M in 2011
69.75 - Lydia Ko’s scoring average this year, which leads the Tour
410- Number of live televised hours in 2015, the most in LPGA history
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“The final group on a Sunday is where you want to be. Doesn’t matter who is in the group. This is the position I want to be in tomorrow.”- Stacy Lewis on if she preferred to be playing with the other two, or to be separated
INBEE PARK
Q. Inbee, you just keep playing great. You've been so consistent, it's amazing.
INBEE PARK: I played another solid day today. I played really good out there. I gave myself a lot of opportunities, and I didn't make all of them, but I was able to handle myself out there being patient out there and no bogeys out there is a really great result.
Yeah, I hit a lot of shots really close and probably could have made a couple two, three more. But still have tomorrow, and yeah, hopefully my putter works tomorrow.
Q. Taking last Sunday into account, this is your fourth round without a bogey on the card. So you must be really thrilled how well you're keeping it together.
INBEE PARK: Yeah, I think it's because I play aggressively. I'm not afraid of bogeys. I can make bogeys out there but I've just got to make more birdies. I mean, same thing tomorrow, I'm not going to think about no bogeys and how many holes. I'm just going to play same as what I did for the last three holes, and I'm not afraid of defeat. So just go out there and play tomorrow.
Q. We are all a bit excited, not sure if you're aware but tomorrow we have No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 in the world playing together. That is going to be some day.
INBEE PARK: I think it's going to be a really fun day tomorrow. It's a great leaderboard and everybody, all the fans are looking forward to seeing our play tomorrow, and having a two-shot lead over No. 1 and No. 3 is a great result.
Hopefully I can keep my lead till the end, and, yeah, just keep playing great.
Q. How much do you want that No. 1 Rolex Ranking back?
INBEE PARK: It's just, you know, I want it, I just know I want it, but I'm just not going to push myself too hard to get something. I mean, it's not something -- it's something that if you push for, it's just hard to get. Just a couple of wins and playing great golf, and it's going to come, so I'm just going to not rush anything and just play good golf.
LYDIA KO
Q. We thought you were tired when you got here after a couple big weeks, but you certainly bounded back with a great round today.
LYDIA KO: Started off well with a 4-under the first day and yesterday was kind of a crazy day and today I hung on and made a couple good birdies along the way.
Q. Those birdies really came around the turn, as well, when they sort of needed to kick start to get you going.
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I was playing good the first couple holes, but then I left a couple out there with those birdie opportunities on 7, and yeah, I had a really good chance on 10, just tried to give myself many opportunities.
Q. Playing conditions were a little better today. The breeze was up and it wasn't quite as hot which would have made it more comfortable, as well.
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I think the temperature was much better, but with the breeze being up, it's obviously a little tougher to go for some of the pins.
Q. Do you think the position you're in, you're only one behind at this point in time, hopefully make it three in a row?
LYDIA KO: Yeah, that would be I guess a dream three weeks, but I'm just going to try my best. The girls are playing good golf and it's a tough course. Just one shot can cost you a couple.
Q. Do you just feel -- when we watched you play, you just looked so calm and in control all the time. Are there ever any nerves because you never look like it?
LYDIA KO: Yeah, I'm definitely nervous. I think most nervous on the first tee and especially coming up on 18.
STACY LEWIS
Q. Six birdies today, you must be really happy.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, pretty pleased. The middle of the round, couldn't quite get anything going, so I was just happy with the way I stayed patient. Made a nice putt on 15 and then made a couple good ones coming in.
Q. Now we now you're always in the mix and you're such a strong player but tomorrow, we have an awful lot to be excited about. The world No. 1, 2 and 3 look like they will be going out together. That should be fun.
STACY LEWIS: It will. It will be great fun. It's great for the fans and for our tour. This leaderboard all week has been unbelievable. Just a ton of really good players up in the mix, and you know, this golf course, we have got to be careful about what's going on ahead of us, because it's easy to post a number and kind of sit back and see what happens.
Q. Conditions not too bad today, a little bit of breeze around, a lot of cloud cover, so it was actually pretty comfortable out there?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, it was. Golf course didn't play any easier. This golf course is tough. There's a lot of tough hole locations, especially coming in. So hopefully we have some good weather again tomorrow and see some good golf like we did today.
Q. This is a really tough golf course with the greens, they are massive, but you putted your socks off today, didn't you.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, you've got to on this golf course but they are rolling so pure that you can make some bombs. That's the fun part of this golf course is that if you get some putts started on line, they will just go in.
For us, it's great to play. We don't get greens like this every week on Tour and we love coming here.
Q. Would you prefer to be playing with the other two, or would you prefer to be separated?
STACY LEWIS: The final group on a Sunday is where you want to be, so no matter -- doesn't matter who is in the group. This is the position I want to be in tomorrow.
ANNA NORDQVIST
Q. You have to be pretty pleased after that round today, don't you?
ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, it was solid. I hit a lot of greens. Had a lot of good putts that didn't go in, so it was just a matter of staying patient. Hit a great shot out of the bunker on 15 to about I think nine feet and made that one for birdie and then birdied 16.
So those felt nice. But I had some good putts there that didn't go in. So pretty happy with my finish there. But it's been solid. Last week was solid and this week's been pretty solid, so I file like I'm playing pretty good golf. Just a matter of staying patient.
Q. Last year you had a hot start, and like you said you're playing well; is this something you think is going to continue on?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I hope so. Last week, I felt like I hit it as goods I've done that long time. On Sunday I couldn't make any putts, so I left Thailand disappointed.
Just feel like I'm giving myself some good opportunities out there. The greens are firm. It's been a little bit of wind today, so it's hard to really get close to some of the pins. But it's the same for everyone and I think that makes it more challenging and you've got to hit good shots to make birdies.
Q. Right now you're sitting three strokes off the lead, your approach heading into tomorrow, do you even know yet?
ANNA NORDQVIST: I really have nothing to lose. Just try to putt a good round out there today and give myself a chance tomorrow. That's all I can do. You know, there's a lot of good players up there and it seems like everyone is playing pretty solid, so it's going to require a good one tomorrow.
Q. Last question regarding your twin today, Danielle Kang. Did you guys plan this or was it a surprise on the first tee?
ANNA NORDQVIST: We had this outing with TaylorMade-Adidas on Monday, and I was freaking out if we were wearing the same thing, and we weren't. And then we said -- we were joking and said, hey, if we get paired this week, we should totally do it.
I had a feeling we might get paired when I saw the scoreboard yesterday. And so I told her, you get the turquoise outfit, and she said, yeah, I do, and then I didn't hear back from her.
I said, whatever, I'll put it on. This morning, sure enough, she had it. Yeah, it was planned, but it's all about having fun and Adidas is such a great sponsor and we love the clothes and wear the same golf bags, too, so couldn't be more twins.
SUZANN PETTERSEN
Q. Great round, you started off with a bogey on the second and then you got it really going?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, there are a lot of birdies out there, if you hit a good tee shot, you will leave yourself a lot of good looks. The greens are so pure. So if you get it going, you can really -- I feel like you can really go low here.
Jet to putt one round together where you feel like everything clicks, but it's getting there slowly but surely.
Q. Do you feel you're reading the greens really well and it's all coming together or you've been hitting it great almost all week?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's all getting better day-by-day and really just trying to be patient. Just go out there tomorrow and enjoy.
Q. And for tomorrow, what do you think, you're obviously going to have to shoot a low score with Inbee on 12?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, would you have to. You're playing against the best person in the world and you have to anticipate them to go out and shoot a low number as well.
Q. What sort of score do you think is out there at the moment?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I think you can probably shoot 7- , 8-under if you get the par 5s going.
Q. And the wind to you hasn't been a factor?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's been the same every day. It switches about now. So people who is an hour ahead of me probably had downwind on 18 and people now have into the wind. So it's pretty consistent. It's been consistent for three days.
AZAHARA MUNOZ
Q. Great start today, talk me through a bit how it went you slowed.
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I still played pretty good. The putts weren't dropping. I still hit pretty good putts, especially 17 and 18, I wanted to make one birdie and one just went over the edge. I'm playing really well, and it's just hard sometimes to get the right yardages. If you start having just like half-shots into the greens, it's really hard to control the spin.
But overall, I felt really good out there, and I didn't make as many putts as the last couple days, but hopefully I'll go now to fit a few putts and we'll figure it out.
Q. And the wind didn't affect you yesterday?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: It was windy but it didn't really affect me; I cannot blame that. I cannot give an excuse for that.
Q. Where did you lie last year?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: I was in the last group going into the final round, maybe a couple back, something like that, three back.
Q. Do you quite like the thought of going into the final round tomorrow not actually in the final group and then you can just sneak up?
AZAHARA MUNOZ: To be honest I wish I was leading by seven.
Q. Well, if you can't lead by seven --
AZAHARA MUNOZ: The closer you are to the lead, the better. I'm playing really well. I'm right there, four back, and still 18 holes on this golf course, anything can happen.
Q. And you know this golf course really well.
AZAHARA MUNOZ: Yeah, I real will I like it. It sets up well for me so hopefully I drop a few tomorrow and hopefully I get it going from the beginning.
SO YEON RYU
SO YEON RYU: The putting was not enough good compared to long game, so I missed quite a lot of eight feet, ten feet putts, disappointing part. But we still have one more round, so we'll see.
Q. Conditions seemed a bit more bearable today and cooler?
SO YEON RYU: Yeah, today was a bit cooler. At the same time, the breeze was a bit strong. The thing; breeze is not really coming from one side. The breeze keeps coming around so it's very hard judging where it comes from and how strong it is, so that was the hard part today. But still, my long game was really great, so I'm really happy.
Q. You did very well today and you're a few shots back going into the final round. Do you still feel like you're in contention?
SO YEON RYU: Well, so far, I'm four back from the leader. Golf, anything can happen, so I want to keep it focused tomorrow. So you know, I think four shots is not really like big, big.
I'm going to practice putting a bit more and bring my A Game tomorrow.