Maria Verchenova

Maria Verchenova

A great round of five-under-par. How does it feel to be leading a tournament for the first time?
I was putting well and I was keeping myself fit through the whole winter and going to the gym and preparing to play so I felt I was going to be pretty close. It’s only the first round so I can’t say too much about it but I hope to keep it going and play well.

What was the key?
The putting was really good. I’ve worked a lot with my coach and he is over here. We’ve worked on my pitching within 100 metres. This golf course is really short but it’s got loads of rough so you’ve got to be pretty straight. This shot, within 100 metres and hole the putt, that’s the main part of the game.

Who is your coach?
Danny Wilde (who also works with Martina Eberl).

How much were you working in the gym?
I was working six days and week and having one day off on Sunday, so doing loads of weights and cardio.

You put on some muscle?
I did eventually, yeah. I got a lot fitter.

Do you think that helped?
I’m hitting it longer and straighter so I supposed it helped.

You had eight birdies today. How close did you hit the ball to the hole?
Some were really close and some were around five or six metres, so I could see how the putt was going in. It was more putting than getting it close to the hole.

Where did you make long putts?
On hole number three I holed an eight metre putt.
When you play well you can’t remember how you played. You make birdies and you make bogeys and it’s one – it goes so quick.

Where have you been practising?
I had an injury and I’ve been injured quite a lot over the winter time. I couldn’t play because my wrist was bad but I was working out and working out and hoping for the best. I went to play in Gary Player’s Pro Am in Abu Dhabi which was good.
I played a bit in Turkey at National Golf Club and the conditions were good so I could practise my pitching and putting.

Tell us about your outfit, because it’s very glamorous.
My clothing line will come out really soon in about two months or so and it’s going to be really young and fashionable and bright colours for really young girls. Hopefully the girls will like it. As always I’m in really bright colours and that’s what I’m looking for. Hopefully the first year I will just wear it and show it and the next year we will try to sell it.

Vikki Laing

What got the momentum going on the front nine today?
I was hitting my driver really well. I had a lot of wedges into greens and hit a lot in close, like inside ten feet. I feel pretty good and comfortable with my putter so if I get it on the fairway I know I’ll have opportunities to make birdie.

What has your preparation been like, heading into the tournament?
I’ve played the last three weeks in Australia and New Zealand but right before I came out to New Zealand I spent a couple of weeks in California, just trying to get ready and warmed up.

Was it quality preparation then?
I think so, better than last year. As long as I’m doing something better I’m pretty happy with it. I’m feeling pretty good about it.

What are your thoughts on the course?
You need to place your drives and hit the fairway because the rough is pretty thick out there. And just get the putter well. If you hit fairways and you’re putting well you’ll score well.

Paula Marti from Spain

Very well played; you both shot 68, four under par today. What pleased you particularly in the way you played today?
Paula Marti: My driver and my putting were great today, especially on these fairways. They are so tight that you have to hit the fairway otherwise the rough is so high that it’s really impossible to get a decent lie. I’ve made a couple of putts and that’s it. That was overall my round. I made two mistakes in a row but I finished with birdie, par, birdie, so that helps the round.

How many fairways did you hit?
10, but out of 18 I only missed four which is not that bad. On the most complicated holes I hit the fairways so I guess that was the key.
Melissa Reid: “I didn’t drive the ball well today but it was quite a weird round. I didn’t put myself in any trouble but I didn’t hit it as well as I wanted to. I hit a couple of wayward long irons which wasn’t good but all in all I didn’t put myself in too much trouble. You’ve always got to be happy shooting in the 60s; I’ve put myself right in the tournament. There is room for improvement but then again I holed a good putt on the last and finished with three birdies in the last four holes, which was really good.

You’ve both had different preparation for this event. Paula, I believe this is your first tournament of 2010.
Paula Marti: Yes, first round.

How have you been preparing?
Paula Marti: This winter has been hard because in Europe the weather has been horrible. Even in Spain we had rain and really bad weather. Last week it was snowing in Barcelona so I had to go and manage to practise in all the courses around Barcelona. I have a lot of help and it’s easy when you have help and bring up a baby. It’s always good to be home with my family, with my son and everything is good. Everybody is happy so that’s the main thing.

How much time do you get to practise?
Paula Marti: I do get to practise. Izan goes to school from 9 to 5 so I get time to practise, yes. I work out a lot in the gym, so I’ve got no injuries this year.

Melissa, you went to Australia. How are you feeling? Any jet-lag at all?
Melissa Reid: I was feeling pretty tired and I’m still waking up at 4 o’clock in the morning but all in all I think Australia was good. It got all the rust out of me. Like Paula said, the preparation hasn’t been ideal this winter. If I knew the weather was going to be like that I would have gone to Australia much, much earlier, but Australia got the rust away from me and I felt that I played better at the Commonwealth last week. Things are good and it’s nice being back on the European Tour again, seeing everyone and being back in your own comfort zone. It’s nice.

What is your understanding of what you need to do to succeed here over the next two days?
Paula Marti: Keep it on the fairways and especially you know, I heard it’s a very windy course but so far the wind’s been behaving the past three days. I guess it’s just the same routine as today. If I keep hitting the ball good and keep making some putts and don’t get myself into trouble, you never know.

England’s Melissa Reid

Melissa Reid: On this course you never know you can have a double bogey in the blink of an eye. I think you’ve just got to stay very, very patient around here. These greens are small and you’ve just got to pick a line and hit it there. You’ve got to commit and trust what you do. Like I said, the greens are small so you’ve got to trust what you do but if the wind picks up it will play a lot tougher because the fairways are so narrow. It’s not like you’re going in with wedge every time; you’re going in with four, five-iron, so the key is just to keep it on the fairway and roll in a few putts.

It’s still very early in the season. What is your focus and are you doing anything differently?
Paula Marti: I am doing the same thing as always. I have been doing this for nine years so I guess I am doing it by heart. Just keep preparing yourself physically and technically and we’ll see. We have a big break now after this tournament. I’m going to play some Banesto tournaments in Spain and keep practising. Hopefully the weather is better in Spain and same routine as always.
Melissa Reid: You’re always trying to improve every year and I’ve been working a lot harder with my coach David at home. I’m in between caddies at the minute. Paul’s working on the men’s tour which is not great and I had Mardi the last three weeks in Australia, which, we got on pretty well towards the end of the week and I’ve got Tom on the bag this week. I’m in between caddies but all in all, you’ve just got to keep working at your weaknesses and making your strong bits your strength.
I’ve put myself right in the tournament. I didn’t hit it great out there today which was a bit disappointing, but hopefully if I get my driver going and get the irons good then it will go well over the next couple of days.