KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 23, 2023

Jin Young Ko

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Jin Young Ko, a Friday 69 for you. What were some of the differences between your first round and today?

JIN YOUNG KO: I felt the same. Nothing different as yesterday. Just I got more birdies today and just four bogeys. But it was okay because a major. I just focused one shot at a time on the course.

But this golf course is not easy. We needed extra focus on the course.

Q. Definitely weather was a factor today; how much did that factor into your game plan?

JIN YOUNG KO: It's really hard to keep my grips wet and gloves wet. I prepared three gloves before the round, but every glove is like waterproof glove.

I have two more days to go, so I will focus more than the first couple days.

Q. Did you feel you played your way into this tournament today?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, honestly, yes. But some holes were really tricky from the tee shot to angle, so I needed more like conversation with Dave. If we having great conversation, I think it will pay off. Yeah, I will get more conversation with Dave tomorrow.

Q. With the six birdies today, which was really nice, was it more your ball-striking or did you make some putts?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think both. Sometimes I felt shot wasn't comfortable, but putting was really comfortable. It makes me birdies more.

If miss the green or fairway, we have to try to get just par, not a birdie.

My putter was hot today, the first two days. My putter saved my life.

Q. What did you have for your second shot at 18, because that ball looked like it just buried in the rough.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I had a 52-degree wedge, and I just wanted to lay it up and then just go for the third shot.

Q. You've had a phenomenal past couple years. You're No. 1 in the world for a reason. But it's been a couple years since you have won a major. How much pressure do you put on yourself to get over the hump in these major championships?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I have a little pressure, but more than -- I have pressure more than major. I mean, I just want to get better and better, and I want to get better than the first major of Chevron, I think it's T7 or 9, so I want to get better than 7.

Honestly, I checked all the research before starting this event, and best finish was top 11 for the KPMG. I just wanted to finish top 10. It's going to be good for me.

Q. How much stake do you put into winning a major? Like I said, you have had a lot of success, but would you possibly maybe even trade some of that success if you were to have a couple majors under your belt the past couple years?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I think so, if my shot is getting better and putter is still like the first couple days, yeah, I think I can chance to get win this week.

Q. You talked a little bit about talking with Dave a little bit more. What were some of those tricky angles you talked over with Dave?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I mean, this week is not an LPGA event, so I couldn't think how pin position was there. Like No. 8, the pin was like I think two meters right edge, and if little bit of like right of the flag, goes like 20 meters go down. So how PGA of America, they put the flag over there?

But if pin is there, I'm going to talking with Dave, okay, this is what's going to be more safely, so keep left like this.

But we don't have much time to conversation today because rainy, and it was cold. I just wanted to keep my warm, like body energy and warm.

Q. You told Amy, obviously you've been here for a little bit preparing for this major. How much do you think that's helping over the last two days?

JIN YOUNG KO: Do you want to hear same?

Q. Sure.

JIN YOUNG KO: I got here last Saturday, but I think -- yeah, I think it doesn't help me a lot because the weather has changed so fast and the course changed so quick.

Q. There's only a few players, you're one of a few players that's under par here. When you look at this test, can you remember a tougher test in your time on the LPGA?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, this golf course is really tough, and the weather is tough, too, so it makes it to be more longer than the last couple days. Yeah, it's hard to hit under par, especially today.