FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, March 31st, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: ANA INSPIRATION (LPGA’S FIRST MAJOR OF 2017), FRIDAY’S 2ND ROUND ON GOLF CHANNEL

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
ANA Inspiration
Friday, March 31, 2017 (2nd round: 7-9 p.m. ET)
Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.

**Golf Channel will expand live coverage on Saturday to show the conclusion of the 2nd round. Michelle Wie (currently at 5-under par) and 14-year old Lucy Li (currently at 1-under par) are paired together will be concluding their second rounds in Saturday’s early telecast window.

ANA Inspiration Saturday Golf Channel Programming Schedule
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET       ANA Inspiration – 2nd Round (live)
5-9 p.m. ET                             ANA Inspiration – 3rd Round (live)

On Suzann Pettersen, leader at 7-under par after her second round
Tom Abbott – “A super couple of days for Suzann Pettersen.”

On Cristie Kerr, T2 at 6-under par after her second round
Karen Stupples – “She has been fighting her way around the golf course this afternoon.”
Stupples – “Cristie Kerr’s bunker play has really improved this year. Stats are much better. It is these little things that players do in the offseason that helps to improve their scoring average.”
Stupples – “She is very confident, and what a way to finish in front of these fantastic fans here today.”

Cristie Kerr speaking to Golf Channel’s Lisa Cornwell after her second round
Cristie Kerr – “I have played here for many, many years. I read the greens the best when I go with my gut. That was my game plan coming in to this week.”
Kerr – “I enjoy the challenge and the need to have that pinpoint focus. I think that is why I excel at these kinds of golf courses.”
Kerr – “Definitely going to get some rest. I feel like I was swinging at it a little tired coming in. But this is great. I was in this position last week at Kia. So I just need to take it day by day and try to get a groove with my golf swing by the weekend.”

On Nelly Korda, T2 at 6-under par after her second round
Kay Cockerill – “Hitting her irons beautifully today. She has done everything well so far this week.”
Cockerill – “On this long, grueling day for these players, it is not surprising that this 18-year old is getting better and better as the day goes on”
Judy Rankin – “You don’t think Nelly’s parents are having any fun this week do you? All three of their children are excelling in the Desert this week.”

On Inbee Park, T2 at 6-under par after her second round
Jerry Foltz – “She doesn’t look like she ever really grinds on the golf course.”

On Lydia Ko, T11 at 4-under par after her second round
Abbott – “She is slowly going about her business, putting herself in contention.”

On Caroline Masson, struggling to a 4-over 76 after being T1 after Round 1 (T36 at 1-under par after 2 rounds)
Jerry Foltz – “She was completely was a different player for a 4 or 5 hole stretch today.”

On Michelle Wie, currently at 5-under par (started her second round at 8:30 pm ET)
Rankin – “There is no doubt that she is performing well. I can’t explain every move she is making in her long game because it looks a little different to me…she is creating tons of speed and she is doing something that she has confidence in. She is putting better than we’ve seen her in a long time, and we are getting a great charge out of watching her play with Lucy Li.”

On 14-year old Lucy Li, currently at 1-under par (started her second round at 8:30 pm ET)
Rankin – “Pretty amazing young talent. Even at 14 years old, you can see it in the way she practices and the way she plays, she already is the master of her own ship.”
Rankin – “She seems to play without nerves.”
Cockerill – “She seems very focused in general and able to block out any distractions and just play the shot at hand.”
Rankin – “I have a new thought about girls learning to play golf. It was not what I was taught and not what a lot of people were taught. When you take a young girl out and teach her to play golf and when she is working on good mechanics, I think the end of every lesson should be to take 25 balls and hit your driver as hard as you can. We need speed in women’s golf. I wish I had done it. Somebody like Lucy, she goes after it.”
Abbott – “She has incredible composure for a 14-year old playing on this stage in front of this many people.”

On Friday’s long day of finishing the first round and playing the second round at Mission Hills Country Club
Rankin – “Considering how ferocious the weather was yesterday, this has turned out as well as it could for everyone.”
Rankin – “You have to be pretty patient in this long day. Remember too, it is the second round. It is not Sunday morning. Just go out there and play golf and get that 36-hole score in.”
Rankin – “It is not that grueling of a day, but when you are putting everything you have in to every shot, it becomes a physical struggle.”

-NBC Sports Group-