KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2023

Grace Kim

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Grace Kim, 1-under finish overall. How are you feeling after three days here at Baltusrol?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, stoked. The course is immaculate considering the weather. Obviously there's technology under the greens, which always helps. But considering the weather we were supposed to get, and yeah, what we were expecting, it's been great so far, so really looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. I know as a Karrie Webb scholarship and participant, this championship must mean a lot to you. What's it like to have the roles reversed as you're here as a professional and a member of the LPGA Tour?

GRACE KIM: It's kind of unbelievable to see how long ago that was already. Obviously COVID happened and time just all of a sudden just disappeared. It's been four years already or five years now that -- is it four or five that Hannah won? It's crazy to see that myself and people like Steph Kyriacou who were always in the mix for those events to get into the Karrie Webb scholarship to have these experiences are now playing the weekend of a KPMG event. It's kind of insane to believe that we've come so far.

But it's also really nice to see the other girls coming up, as well. Also seeing them and Karrie outside watching us, yeah, it's just really nice to have that love and support.

Q. Have they interacted with you this week?

GRACE KIM: We had an Aussie dinner at the start of the week, which is really nice. Just classic Aussies, keep talking and got banter between us, which is nice. It's just being able to spend that time is always quality. Yeah, really enjoying it this week.

Q. Despite I know 18 maybe not going the way you wanted, the rest of the round you really kept yourself in there. What was the key and what was the mindset heading into today?

GRACE KIM: Well, I knew that the roughs were going to be penalizing, so I think that kind of showed on 18. You kind of lose a shot when you go in the rough, so I made sure I kept it on the fairways and the greens, took the chances when I could with the putter, and did well until then. It's fine. Another day tomorrow.

Q. What is the mindset for you going into tomorrow knowing you've been able to keep yourself in it to come out with another strong finish? It must be satisfying.

GRACE KIM: It is really nice to see, but I think, again, tomorrow is just mainly keeping it in play, making sure I hit the fairways and the greens to be able to two-putt, maybe one-putt. Just giving myself good chances at going low tomorrow, which would be nice.

Q. Did Karrie give you any advice going into this week at the dinner?

GRACE KIM: You know, she's always just like, enjoy yourself. It's not as stressful as it seems. I think the last thing you can do is put a lot of stress on yourself. Just trying to enjoy it.

Q. Grace, what do you think of a par-5, par-5 finish to a round, and what kind of opportunity do you think that opens up for players on Sunday at a major?

GRACE KIM: I think it's great. Honestly, yeah, it's a par-5, par-5 finish, which means you've really got to be on your toes at all times. Anyone can have eagle-eagle finish, whatever. It really turns the leaderboard around, which is great. It's exciting. I like it. Trying to take the most out of it, I guess.