LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

April 16, 2021

Lydia Ko

Kapolei Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You made 7-under look easy today. How did it feel?

LYDIA KO: You know, I obviously didn't go like (indiscernible) to the two days today. But I stayed patient. I felt like I had few good looks for birdies that just didn't drop.

When it's that kind of day, you just have to be committed and just do a good job with the next one and not get too carried away about what else is happening.

So, yeah, nice to finish up with a high birdieing the last two holes. Last three days it's been so much fun. I'm hoping to have this kind of mindset tomorrow and see where it finishes me at the end of the day.

Q. (Regarding David and strategy.)

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I said to David as we were walking down 18, We're like a contract show of relationship. We know when we are going to end.

But it's been fun, and obviously coming into this week it was kind of a last-minute I had to look for someone, and with Dave being somebody that had worked together before, I was already pretty comfortable.

Just been trying to keep it simple, and I think that's the great thing between Sean and my relationship, just trying to not over complicate it. I know when I start overthinking I just get in the way of myself, so just trying to let it be.

You know, hopefully make some good decisions down the way.

Q. Not too long ago you were a young teenager. Today you played with a rising star. (Regarding Yuka Saso.)

LYDIA KO: Yeah, we were just saying on 17 that I remember playing with her for the first time in the U.S. Women's Open practice round a couple years ago, and she was like, Oh, my God, you remember? And I was like, Of course.

I know she's known for a swing very similar to Rory McIlroy, but she has a beautiful (indiscernible - wind).

At the same time, I know the start wasn't good, but she managed to shoot under par today and she's been super impressive to watch. I think she has some aspects in her game that I don't have. I think it doesn't matter like what rank or (indiscernible - wind), so I really enjoyed playing.

Q. All right, third round leader, Lydia Ko. How are you feeling as you just got off the course here at Kapolei Golf Club?

LYDIA KO: You know, my front nine I didn't get off to a fast compared to my other -- well, the first two rounds, but I tried to stay patient and give myself good looks for birdies.

I had a stretch in the middle of the front nine where I had really long putts for birdies. So just trying to not make stupid mistakes and kind of keep it in control.

Nice to finish up the round with two birdies on the last two holes. This is a golf course where even though it's windy it seems like everybody is playing so well, so you're just trying to make your share of birdies.

I've just been having a lot of fun out here, and that's kind of the mindset for tomorrow as well.

Q. What's it been like getting used to Kapolei Golf Club over the past few days? Like you said, this has been a gettable golf course, especially today.

LYDIA KO: Yeah, every time I look at the leaderboard I'm like, Oh, my God. Somebody shot 8-under, 6-under, or more. So when you see so many birdies, obviously it kind of gives you the confidence that, Hey, the birdies are out there.

At the same time, I think you just can't push it trying to force stuff in. You have to play to your game. Especially when scores can be that low, I think you have to just -- I have to stick to my strategy and my game plan and see where it goes.

Final day could be -- I'm not really sure what the wind is going to be like, but there is that little bit of added pressure. I'm just going to enjoy it and have fun out there and see how I finish at the end of the day.

Q. What was it like playing next to Yuka Saso? Yuka game in her yesterday when we said that potentially you two would be playing together, and she said, Oh, my gosh, I remember when I she won the U.S. Am at such a young age. What was it like playing up against her?

LYDIA KO: Yuka was super impressive. I know probably today wasn't the exact day she had envisioned, but still considering all that, she finished under par for the day.

She's been super impressive just to play alongside. I remember playing with her for the first time a couple years ago during a practice round and thought, Wow, this girl is so impressive and she has things that I don't have in my game.

So it was really cool to at times feel like I was on the sidelines watching. Yeah, she's been playing amazing over in Japan, and I'm sure she's doing her country so proud. Hopefully it's something that we'll see more often on tour, and I'm 100% sure her name is going to pop up on many leaderboards.

Q. And as you are doing so well over the last couple of rounds here at Kapolei, you've got Dave on the bag. We were just talking, the last time he was on the bag with you was back in Scotland when you also were playing at a great point. How much of a familiar sense is there between you two when you guys are able to work together?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, you know, this was like a last-minute thing that I had to arrange, and luckily Sung Young wasn't playing this week and she was kind enough to let me borrow Dave just for this week.

And Dave being somebody that I had worked with prior to this week, it makes it a little bit easier and a bit more comfortable. We're not starting things from scratch.

I feel like he knows my numbers pretty well and he kind of knows how I am around the golf course. He gives me water bottles at the time that I need. He's always a fun person to be around, so I've enjoyed it, and we're going to continue having fun tomorrow.

Q. You mentioned saying something about numbers going up throughout the day. How much were you keeping an eye on what Nelly was doing, especially on the back nine?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I -- because of the scores it doesn't show exactly what that person is shooting for the day, I didn't really know like how many under par players were shooting.

But the leaderboards aren't like super frequent out there and I'm not really a leaderboard watcher anyway, but every time I did see her, see the leaderboard, she had made another birdie or another couple birdies coming in.

She's been playing amazing. She won at Lake Nona like couple months ago already, so she's playing with great form, and I know we're both going to have a great time tomorrow. Hopefully we both will play some good golf.

This is a golf course that players from behind can also really get into it, so you just never know what's going to happen. I am going to stick to my game and enjoy being out there with Nelly, Jason, and Dave tomorrow.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

LYDIA KO: You know, I've been hitting the ball pretty solid, so giving myself good looks for birdies, and I think just in general, when I wasn't super close to the hole with my birdie putts, you know. I think I made birdie on 11 and it was my first birdie outside of a par-5 today.

So that kind of felt like -- that made me feel like I could actually make a birdie on something outside of a par-5 and that was good momentum. That two-putt on 12 was probably the shot of the day almost even though that was a par. You kind of play with what you're given. I think sometimes when there is lots of birdies there is pressure that you feel like you need to keep making it as well.

But there is 18 holes left and lots of golf left, so I just have to play the most confident and best golf I can. Sometimes putts are going to drop; sometimes not. So just don't add extra pressure to myself.

Q. (Regarding the putt on 18. )

LYDIA KO: Yeah, with the wind being a little bit into that definitely made it a little less fast. Nice to finish off with a birdie on my 18th hole, any day, any event.

I thought it was going in and a broke a little bit more and ended up creeping in. So no pictures on scorecards they say, but I'm glad it did drop on the last.

Q. (Regarding experience playing in final groups.)

LYDIA KO: You know, I think there is always that little added thought that, Hey, you're in the final group. Like I think more so when the scoring has been fairly low around this golf course, you can't really take anyone out of it.

So I think just, you know, don't think a big deal of it. Obviously I was in the final group today, and just have fun, and I think fun and patience is going to be a big key.

Just make sure that I'm hitting every shot with conviction and just enjoy it.