PALOS VERDES CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA

April 28, 2022

Jin Young Ko

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Jin Young Ko after a really solid 7-under 64 out here at a pretty chilly Palos Verdes Golf Club. Had six birdies on the front nine, or I guess your back nine. What was going through your head making the six birdies in a row?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, my putting was really well today. The front nine was my back -- front nine is the back nine.

Q. Yeah.

JIN YOUNG KO: And the front nine I need to more -- I needed to more like make putt, but it doesn't work.

But back nine putting really well, so I play really well today.

And I checked the weather today. It's going to be warm but rain in the morning and chilly, so I took outerwear outfit, so pretty well.

Q. So like you said, you kind of had a slow start. Couple birdies on the back nine which is your front nine. What changed on your back nine to let you make those six birdies in a row?

JIN YOUNG KO: I don't know. I just -- before starting today round I just remind just golf is golf. Don't think about last week. Starting again, new routine. Get the routine like step by step and don't think about future.

I'm just trying to think right now and hit this ball, and then after shot, don't think about scores. Just feel my body and feel my mind and just enjoy.

Q. You are arguably one of the more mentally tough players out here.

JIN YOUNG KO: Uh-huh.

Q. Really strong when it comes to your mental game. You tend to what we would call drop the hammer a little bit, when you make a birdie you make another birdie, another birdie. What goes through your head in those moments?

JIN YOUNG KO: I'm trying to just keep going, keep going birdie, birdie, birdie. Then I wanted to get until like last hole, but it didn't work.

But pretty well.

Q. Conditions out here, like you said, a little bit chilly today. You brought your outerwear with you.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. How do you adapt to the different style of play this week?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, this week is so much different as last week. This week is more shorter than last week. Greens are really, really small this one, and we have to focus. Middle of the green is just like maximum 20 feet for putt.

So, yeah, it's kind of fun this course, so I'm enjoying.

Q. A little bit shorter course than what we're used to seeing out here. You're quite the wedge player. Is it fun to have shorter irons into the greens?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, but depends on the windy. Because I play yesterday in the morning and then we had down breeze. I got just 50 meters to the pin. Today I got 130 meters into the breeze. So it depends on the windy.

And if playing in the afternoon of course windy, so I think I might be hit more irons than wedges for tomorrow.

Q. Heading into the rest of the week, off to such a solid start, how much confidence does that give you heading into the next three days?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I'm playing this week and I will rest for next week, so I will do all my best on the course. Just I want to just enjoying, don't think about win or whatever, something. I want to just play real golf.