HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 22, 2022

Yana Wilson

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. So as for this opportunity, I mean, I know you still have one more day left. Describe it to me. How has it been so far?

YANA WILSON: It's been amazing. I've never played in an event like this. It's just been great. I really enjoyed it here and I want to keep playing these things.

Q. Getting to this point obviously you had to win the Annika tournament, all that stuff.

YANA WILSON: Right.

Q. What was your mindset going into that tournament?

YANA WILSON: I honestly had no expectations because it was like my first tournament in like a month or so.

I had played the Arizona Women's Open beginning of December so I didn't really expect to go super low or anything. My main goal was just to be consistent all the four rounds, which really helped because I shot 4-under each round.

So, yeah, just had no expectations going into that round.

Q. And then obviously you get to come here and play alongside obviously celebrities but also LPGA greats.

YANA WILSON: Yeah.

Q. Have you been star struck at all?

YANA WILSON: I way I look at it is in a few years hopefully I'll be playing with them so I shouldn't be star struck. I should actually start trying to talk to them, be friends with them, because I'm pretty sure I see myself here in a few years.

Q. Confidence. I like that.

YANA WILSON: Yeah.

Q. What's the biggest thing you want to take away from this tournament?

YANA WILSON: How much detail the pros but into every single one of their shots is something I need to learn more myself.

They're crazy dialed in and I love it. I love watching them play like that. I put some detail in, but not as much as they do. I would definitely love to improve on that.

Q. Going back to you wanting to be here hopefully in the next few years, what are you going to do to make sure you can be here not just playing alongside them, but playing against them?

YANA WILSON: I mean, I'm just going to keep that no expectation thing for myself because obviously it's worked.

So no expectations and just keep working hard. I can't really force anything because it's golf. You never know what's going to happen. So just going to keep trying my best and just keep grinding.

Q. On Thursday I asked Annika about you and she had some the great things to say. What does it mean to have somebody like her in your corner going forward?

YANA WILSON: It's really cool. I met her when I was 11. She gave me my invitation to Augusta National for the Drive, Chip and Putt back in 2019. Every since then she's been awesome to me. It's been really cool to know her.

Q. As for the pros out here, any specific one you're hoping to model your game off or that you look after a lot?

YANA WILSON: Yeah, I mean, I kind of mix in between Nelly Korda and Patty Tavatanakit. Patty hits the ball a mile and Nelly is just consistent. I mean, she's dominating everything, so...

Q. Yesterday you had four birdies in a row, I believe.

YANA WILSON: I think it was four birdies in like five holes or something like that.

Q. That's pretty impressive out here. Kind of seems like the nerves just don't matter. You're playing your game out here.

YANA WILSON: Yeah, I mean, I honestly played like I had nothing to lose because, I mean, I really didn't. I was an amateur going into this event, so I just felt like I had nothing to lose, and I just tried to be as smart as possible and play like the pros.

Q. Last question for you: What's your advice to younger girls who hope to one day be where you are right now?

YANA WILSON: Just keep working hard on the right things. Don't just whack balls out there on the range. Just stay positive and keep your head up.

Q. You're 15, right?

YANA WILSON: Yeah.