AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 4, 2025

Jasmine Koo

Quick Quotes

Q. What was it like out there on the course today playing Augusta National?

JASMINE KOO: Second time out there, still as impressed as ever. I think, with the Azaleas being in full bloom and everything, it was a really beautiful sight to see.

Q. You got some experience last year on the pretty big stages, played in Chevron, I believe. I remember that amazing shot you banked off the platform. When you look back at that experience, how much does that prepare you for a moment like this and a moment here at Augusta?

JASMINE KOO: Last year I think what I wasn't prepared for was the amount of people and the pressure that can come from that. I think playing on a major stage and playing on a stage like Curtis Cup and building those experiences, I'm more prepared for what's to come tomorrow on the next tee shot.

Q. Do you have a friend or a local caddie on the bag?

JASMINE KOO: The local caddie, the one I used last year. Colby Albert is his name.

Q. Was he here the past two rounds?

JASMINE KOO: Past two rounds, yes, he was.

Q. What's the calculation*in taking a local caddie versus maybe a friend or coach or something like that?

JASMINE KOO: I think taking a local caddie out here at Augusta is very important. I think out at Champions Retreat it doesn't really matter too much. We were pretty equivalent in reading the greens out at Champions Retreat.

But out here, with what I know from last year, he's very good. Even with the winds that are swirling, he's like, yeah, I've been out here for 20-plus years, like I know what I'm doing.

Q. What are some things that he taught you today specifically?

JASMINE KOO: Kind of where the wind directions were. Also, the slopes can be pretty deceiving. I forgot what hole it was, but there was one hole -- I think hole 4 -- he was like, this is only playing one down flat. I was like really it looks like four or five down. He was like, no trust me on this. So things like that.

Q. Do you feel like being five shots back is too far?

JASMINE KOO: I think I'm not too far back to get the trophy because honestly like it might be a 1 out of 100 chance to go out there and shoot like 62 tomorrow, but there is still that 1 percent chance. I think it just makes it so much harder that there's so many girls at 9, 8, 7-under, but there's still that chance.

Q. What would it mean to win this event?

JASMINE KOO: It would mean everything. Get to play in all the majors. That's huge getting that recognition. Also, just being the sixth winner of the Augusta National Women's Amateur means a lot.

Q. When you look at the amount of kids we had at Champions Retreat and the amount that come out and watch here, to inspire the next generation of girls, what does that mean to do something like that playing on a stage like this at someplace like Augusta?

JASMINE KOO: Yeah, it's really unreal because, when I look back when this event first started, I remember me and my coach were like, one day I'm going to get on that stage. I looked up to those girls, Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi when they won, and now I'm standing on this stage, and it's just unreal to be like, hey, there are girls in the shoes that I once was in.

Just like it feels pretty unreal to be inspiring somebody.

Q. Did your practice round today feel more relaxing or more like homework?

JASMINE KOO: A bit of both, but I think more relaxing because I was able to play with my teammates. My Coach James Oh came out today, and we were working on a lot of just off the green chips. I think that's really important. The greens are a lot firmer than they were last year, so a lot of missed greens will happen compared to last year.

A lot of homework with that, kind of how much my golf ball is bouncing. Besides that, it was super casual playing with Cathy and Bailey.

Q. Is this course different from the courses you compete on the rest of the year?

JASMINE KOO: Yeah, the past two tournaments I played on were Bermuda, and Champions Retreat is also Bermuda. Here it's like the tight -- what is it, rye?

Q. Bentgrass.

JASMINE KOO: Bentgrass, yeah. So it's definitely different. A chunk goes a long ways here for sure.

Yeah, it's different. Also the firm greens, like I said, they release a lot more.