HONDA LPGA THAILAND

May 5, 2021

Amy Yang

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, everyone, thank you for joining the virtual interview room here at Honda LPGA Thailand.

I am pleased to be joined by Amy Yang, defending champion from 2019. Does it feel like a lifetime ago?

AMY YANG: It actually feels quite a while ago, but I'm so happy to be back and excited to play this week.

Q. I was going to say, how much do you remember from your time in 2019 and the way you were able to win on the final day here?

AMY YANG: Yeah, I mean, not just 2019. I had many, many good memories here, so excited to be back.

Q. What stands out to YOU the most about your three wins here in Thailand?

AMY YANG: Oh, the most?

Q. Yes.

AMY YANG: Just -- I mean, like last final round it just gets you like nervous and also excited, and just looking forward to it again.

Q. I know in 2019 specifically, so the last time you were here, you were able to fire off a final round 64 to be able to grab this championship for the third time. Do you remember what was running through your mind on that final day?

AMY YANG: You know, it's quite a while ago, but all I do is just be patient out there and do like best I can and just be -- like enjoying out there, yeah.

Q. How much do you enjoy yourself here at Siam Country Club?

AMY YANG: I love to come to Thailand and play this event. This is one of my favorite. I like the golf course, the area, love the fans here. It's no fans this year, but it's great to be back.

Q. How do you think you changed as a player from your three wins here since the last time we've been here? Your first win you had was here in Thailand and the last win you had was here in Thailand. I meant your first win on tour.

AMY YANG: Oh, yeah. How I --

Q. How do you think you've changed as a player?

AMY YANG: You know, a lot. Every year I learn a lot of things and I'm still trying to improve myself and still working hard going forward.

Q. What does it mean to you to be a three-time champion of this event?

AMY YANG: A lot. You know, a lot. I just love this event and I enjoy it every year. Just love to have Honda LPGA in Thailand.

Q. I know this year we have the COVID-19 restrictions, but what is one of your favorite things about returning to Thailand each year?

AMY YANG: Just able to play this golf course and this event with the world class players, I think, yeah.

Q. Why do you think this course brings out the best of your game?

AMY YANG: You know, I don't know. It just suits my eye. You know, I don't really know. I just enjoy all the time.

Q. How have you been preparing for this tournament? I feel like in the last couple tournaments you been progressing better and better and better.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. Do you feel the same way?

AMY YANG: Yes, I am. You know, actually this is my fourth week on the road and I was a little worried about like getting -- I mean, not getting -- about my energy level because this is my fourth week, but my game have been improving each week and I am still feeling about my game, so I'm excited to play.

Q. To me it really started with the hole-in-one you had at LOTTE Championship.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. Things kind of got started for you. How much do you think about the last couple tournaments preparing you for this one?

AMY YANG: You know, it's definitely like been working like hard on my like long game, short game, and my mental game, and it's progressing.

So looking forward to it, yeah.

Q. As someone who has won this tournament three times, what kind of player does it take to the get to the top the leaderboard on Sunday here?

AMY YANG: Be strong, be patient, yeah, and I would say just focus on your game.

Q. Uh-huh.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. Why be patient? Why patience on this golf course?

AMY YANG: A lot of things. Golf, it's four days of golf, it's a lot of golf. You're competing against so many good players from around the world and the weather as well, so got to be like tough mentally.

Q. I was going to say, we got a little bit of these conditions last week in Singapore.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. How much do you think that helps getting used to the Singapore weather and conditions here in Thailand?

AMY YANG: Yeah, like for me traveling from L.A. to Singapore was a big change. I have to get used to it a little bit, but it's hard to get used to this weather always. You know, I'm just excited to be back and really looking forward to next four rounds.

Q. What do you think of the course right now, the conditions? I know you played in the Pro-Am and got some practice in as well.

AMY YANG: Yeah, in good shape. It's in very good shape. Playing a little soft, but, I mean, it's in great shape, yeah.

Q. We also have predicted weather like rain, potentially thunderstorms, which could cause, like in 2019, the lightning strikes where there are delays and where everyone leaves the golf course, and you have to be mentally on top of your game. How important is that when you kind of know that possibly delays might be coming this week?

AMY YANG: It's very, very important to be like mentally prepared, and also to rest well end of the day, prepare for next days' game.

Q. I think drinking water as well.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. Have you been able to get your sticky rice?

AMY YANG: Oh, yeah, I had like three times already. It's so good.

Q. Where do you get it from?

AMY YANG: I got it from hotel and they have some in players' dining.

Q. Got it. And you talked about how the atmosphere of the tournament has really helped you over the years. What's been the biggest difference you noticed without fans there, and how do you think it might affect you over the week?

AMY YANG: You know, I actually told my caddie today it feels weird without many spectators, but we can focus on my golf game right, now so I'll just...

Q. Is it weird. Every time you've won here there has been the massive crowds. To think you could be walking up 18 on the final day and there is none, how weird is that?

AMY YANG: It is a big difference. It is a big difference. But hopefully next year, yeah, there is more...

Q. How much do you miss having fans out here?

AMY YANG: Oh, a lot. It feels totally different. Feels like -- I feel like I'm back here but without fans feels a little bit off.

Q. With your previous victories here, are there any keys to your game what this course suits your game so well?

AMY YANG: I would say my long game have been like really like working really past -- when I had victories and that really helped because the greens are so small here, fairways are tight.

I think I gave myself a lot of good chances, and at the same time putting was working well. I think that helped a lot of the.

Q. I know that's something you said you wanted to improve on this week is your putting. What do you do to improve it when you're on the road? Is it continuous experience on the golf course or is it more working on the putting green?

AMY YANG: More on the course. I would like -- like once I get to the course I would work on my putting speed and then more putting on the course, getting used to how it feels like.

Q. Yeah. You're the only one at this tournament to be able to win it three times. How much would it mean to you to be able to walk away with a fourth victory?

AMY YANG: I mean, I been very fortunate to like win three times here. I would love to win another one, but I'll just focus on right now. I just need to -- I just -- I'm just going to focus what I need to do next four days.

That will be it, yeah.