JTBC CLASSIC PRESENTED BY BARBASOL

March 22, 2022

Inbee Park

Aviara Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome into the media center here the JTBC Classic Presented by Barbasol. We're here with defending champion, Inbee Park. A year ago we were here and it was a five-shot win. You finished 14-under and it was quite a commanding performance.

What are the vibes being back this week?

INBEE PARK: You know, I love this area. Obviously with the good memories of last year I'm really happy to be here. I played nine holes yesterday, and really reminded me of last year and how I played and how tough the greens were.

So, yeah, really happy to be back here. The weather is great and the golf course is in great form. Yeah, glad to be here.

THE MODERATOR: How well does the golf course set up for your game?

INBEE PARK: I think this golf course really suits me well. It's just the greens that gets a lot of people this week, and that's what I'm trying to minimize my mistakes on the greens.

Greens are very tough and they're poana, so they're not consistent. You have to watch your speed really well this week and don't get to frustrated even if you miss shorter putts this week.

Think we'll see a lot of that this week.

THE MODERATOR: Last time we saw you was on the Asian swing. Back in the States. What's your last few weeks been like getting back over here?

INBEE PARK: Still a little bit struggling with the jet lag. I came over to this the States last Thursday, so I had about three days in Vegas, home, and drove over here.

So still adjusting a little bit, but feel good. Like I said, really love this area. The weather is great. Yeah, I think I'm going to enjoy this week.

THE MODERATOR: As far as your game goes, what have you been working on? I think last time you played it was a T17 finish. Pretty solid. What have you been working on to get ready for this week?

INBEE PARK: You know, I'm really trying to improve my game on the greens this year in general. I feel like I been striking the ball pretty consistently. Just the range putts inside like six feet, that's where I am kind of trying to get a little better on, just the shorter putts.

I think I need to make more of them to score well. So, yeah, that's about it.

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to be back here defending a title?

INBEE PARK: Yeah, I feel good. Like I said, just got to watch out how you putt on these greens. That's about what it really takes on this golf course, minimize the three-putts, the short putt misses this week.

That will be the key.

Q. What have been the drills you worked on in your short game coming into this week?

INBEE PARK: You know, I'm not really a player who like demonstrates a lot of drills or anything like that. I really rely on my feel a lot.

I just try to spend a lot of time on the greens and just try to get my confidence up by seeing and making a lot of short putts on the putting green, trying to have the consist stroke, rhythm when I practice.

Q. Have you made any changes to your bag coming into this week?

INBEE PARK: No. Same thing. I changed ine of the hybrid to a newer model. That's about it.

Q. Was what the newer model?

INBEE PARK: The XXIO Hybrid. I used the older one, but I changed to the newer model this year.

Q. And you joined Instagram recently with Inbeelievable.

INBEE PARK: I did.

Q. What led you to join, and how did you come up with the username?

INBEE PARK: You know, I think one of my fans nicknamed me Inbeelievable, so I thought that was pretty good nickname. I really liked it.

And this year a lot of my friends were are just asking me, Why are you not on the Instagram? I mean, whole 16 years on tour I was never on Instagram.

I had Instagram for like a year or so long time ago, but my account got hacked, and after that I decided Okay, I just won't do it.

This year, I don't know why after 16 years, I decided to just have some fun.

Q. What's been your favorite part of it?

INBEE PARK: Just seeing a lot of people and being able to talk to a lot of the old friends that I really never got in touch with, and seeing a lot of people, what they do in their everyday life.

I think there is lot of information that I really didn't know about.

So, yeah, it's a cool, I guess.

Q. It's been nice to see you up there, too.

INBEE PARK: Thank you.

Q. I just followed you on Instagram, so...

INBEE PARK: Okay.

Q. Looking ahead a little bit, what are your emotions like and how are you mentally preparing for next week?

INBEE PARK: Obviously next week we'll be playing in to the Chevron Championship for the last year in Mission Hills, so a little bit sad and happy at the same time.

Excited to be playing next week. Obviously we're going to see a little bit of a different green next week than this week, but I think just about getting ready -- the first major of the year is a just really exciting thing, and I started the season much earlier than the usual so I don't feel like I'm so rusty or -- I feel like I'm warmed up now.

So I think I'm ready to play.

Q. Was that done on purpose with next week in mind, starting earlier?

INBEE PARK: No. I mean, I wouldn't say it was the next week in mind, but wanted to go back to see Rio one more time, so to do that I think I had to play the three weeks first and take some time off after that. So Rio was in my mind, to be honest.

Q. I love it. And just one more about putting. Obviously last year you had a great time on these greens. How do you mentally -- if you get frustrated this week at some point -- not let that spill into next week where it's very different?

INBEE PARK: Yeah, I mean, this week you can't really take it personally on the greens. (Laughter.) I don't think.

I remember couple years when I four-putted on these greens and as hard as it is, I just got to keep saying that it wasn't you who four-putted. I think it was the greens.

It is hard to go like that, but that's what I try. I try to be patient, just think if something is not going well, it's not you putting on these greens.

So, yeah I'm not -- I'm just trying to have the right speed, so no matter what distances you were putting from, I try to tap-in.

What I concentrated on is just getting the speed right so the next putt is not a problem. So that strategy worked well last year, so I think I'm going to stick with that strategy.

Q. So as Beth Ann mentioned, going to be playing a lot of California golf. Coming from the Asian swing to here, I know you were home in Vegas for a couple days, how different and how challenging is it to adjust to this style of golf?

INBEE PARK: One of the reason I started the season earlier was that I love the golf courses that we play earlier in the year than the later in the year.

So I thought that the earlier in the season fits me a lot more. Obviously we're going to play some poana greens, and going to be a little bit patient.

But the overall weather is a little bit drier than what we play in the summertime, so the course is playing a little bit shorter than in the middle of the year swing.

So I think that's really what's going to be fitting me better than later in the year.

Yeah, I think I have been -- I have played well in the west coast golf courses, so I think that's why I scheduled this way.

THE MODERATOR: I'm sure it will be an Inbeelievable week for you. Thanks for joining us. Good luck this week.

INBEE PARK: Thank you.