LPGA MEDIHEAL CHAMPIONSHIP

October 6, 2022

Danielle Kang

The Saticoy Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Danielle Kang. Solid start to the week here at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship. How are you feeling coming off day one?

DANIELLE KANG: I played pretty solid today. I made really good putts in the front nine. I kind of stalled a little bit in the back so I was a bit disappointed, but wanted to give myself two really -- actually few good birdie opportunities coming in, and I did well on 7, 8, 9, so I was happy about that.

Q. Taking a look at your first nine holes, four birdies. What was working so well out there for you?

DANIELLE KANG: Probably putting I would say. I gave myself a lot of opportunities all day today, and I could read these greens pretty well. I've been around here. So there is a lot of double breakers, a lot of putts that break more than two, three cups. I was just trying to go with my feel and that's what happened.

Q. I remember you saying yesterday that you have shot anywhere from 85 on this course to going super low. When you think about the round that you had today, just how do you rate and assess what it was like playing before coming to competition?

DANIELLE KANG: So normally it's really firm and the greens are really fast, so that's when this course get sa bit higher and the rough is super thick around.

So that's not the same condition right now. I know that greens are a bit more receptive but the fairways are not running out. Greens are a bit slower, so downhill putts, there aren't a lot of three-putts than I would assume.

So I mean, there was a lot of fans out there today. I know it was an early morning and I'm really annoyed at all they morning tee times, but I'm hoping sooner or later we get afternoon where the people can come out and watch in the Sunday afternoon or Saturday afternoon.

Was really excited to see a lot of people come out and watch. I know half of it's for the Ping Panther, but it was pretty cool though.

Q. I think a lot of it also was for you. I was talking to security who said it was probably one of the biggest crowds of the morning wave. To have your family out there walking alongside, I saw Alex.

DANIELLE KANG: My brother is here.

Q. Your mom. What's that like, to have that hometown support, actually you feel it in competition here this week?

DANIELLE KANG: All my friends aren't out here yet, so I'll let you know when they all come. My brother coming is a big deal for me, because I love it when he watches. He's kind of my big teacher. He always knows how my game works.

Today he's going to tell me what went well and what didn't, and I learn from that. I learned a lot from caddieing for him on Monday. The way guys, the men think in golf is a bit different than the way we think -- or sorry, I think.

So the way he approaches the game was so much more positive in a way that is attainable versus us, we're trying to be a bit more cautious and get through the round.

So today I just knew that I had more birdie opportunities instead of thinking, Hey, let's just hit it on the green and like focus on one shot at a time instead of -- they were kind of like, we don't have to shoot 9-under. We're not making Monday qualifying.

So I kind of liked that attitude.

Q. Your mom said that she wanted to see Ventura County come out and support you and lift you this weekend. If fans come out, especially local fans come out and support you this weekend, do you think that would have a lifting effect? How do you respond to fans coming out and having support like that?

DANIELLE KANG: For me, it's like that everywhere. I love it when people come out and watch. That's why I'm very negative against the 7:30 a.m. tee times, 9:00 a.m. final group. That's not a final group tee time. It's offensive, because I have to say that because, Hey, when you talk about classic golf, right? There is this thing, aura, to an afternoon Sunday round.

I understand TV is TV, but people don't want to get up at 5:00 a.m. and come watch. Neither does anybody want to get up at 5:00 a.m.

So when the fans are out there, we're entertainers at the end of the day. We don't want to play by ourselves, made great up and downs on our own. We want people to be excited and feel like they're part of our game and part of our journey.

So anytime, anywhere people come out, I love it. That's why I love Arkansas. That's why I love playing in Korea. When people say where is your favorite stop, it's where the fans are. I understand we have bunch of fans all around the world that watch on TV, but the venues where the people come out, the communities come together, is my favorite places to be, so...

Q. That was a good Thursday in terms of...

DANIELLE KANG: I mean, we had a big crowd today, so I loved it. I loved playing with Paula again.

Honestly, she's -- she really impressed me today. I understand she shot 2-over and she was like, what in the world, but I was very impressed with her game. I've been a fan of Paula ever since I was a kid. Who wasn't, right?

Seeing her through entire transitions of career and life and seeing her out here after being a mom is -- and the control that she has and that she's outdriving me, damn, I was impressed. (Laughter.)

Q. One more from me. What will you take from a round like this as you head into your afternoon tee time tomorrow?

DANIELLE KANG: I don't know. I know that it's going to be a long week. This is the first day out of four days. I'm excited that it's scorable out there. It seems very familiar than any other golf course for me so it's like Shadow Creek, when I go to Shadow.

So I feel a bit more comfortable. I'm excited to see what I can do in the next three days. Hopefully I make a lot of run for it and make some birdies and get people -- have fun and excited and get loud.