BLACK DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP

May 4, 2025

Haeran Ryu

Black Desert Resort

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Very pleased to joined by the winner the first-ever Black Desert Championship presented by Greater Zion, Haeran Ryu. Haeran, this is your third career victory; second inaugural tournament victory. How does it feel sitting up there with a brand new trophy next to you?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, really excited now. Yeah, I mean, just amazing week for me this week, so just I felt, yeah, just felt so exciting now.

Q. What was maybe the mindset heading into today knowing you're playing with such a great group of Esther and Ronni?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, the Henseleit play well on the front nine and the Ronni started birdie at the back nine, so I just want to keep playing my golf and then I just keep focusing for my swing and my putting and just did.

That's it; that was my goal.

Q. You switched putters last week. How much do you attribute your great playing this week to that as well?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, I think I'm little crazy because I switch the putter on the major week, but my felt was so good at there. I can just more trust for my putt and I change my putter. That's good.

Q. I know the finish last week was disappointing. Eagle on the last is always good. For to you bounce back in this way, what does that mean to you have been able to recover from last week and win this week?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, last week on final round my shot is so bad there, so I just call my Korean coach every day. I ask him, what's the problem? What's it mean? What's the problem for me? He said, no problem, Haeran. Just keep focus and keep calm and more trust your golf.

Yeah, that's good for me. And then more consistence my shot and came back to win here.

Q. When you look at all three of your victories, obviously one as a rookie, one in a playoff last year, and then to win here in dominant fashion, where does this win rank in terms of your three victories so far in your career?

HAERAN RYU: It's a hard. So this is the best one, because my score is pretty good this week. This is the best one I think.

Q. At what point in the back nine did you feel like you really took control and you knew you were going to win?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, many people think that 13 hole, par-5, but I think before the par-5 is hole 12 that I make some little hard -- make some par there.

So, yeah, that's good key to turn to the good patient for my golf and go win.

Q. Did the change in the weather impact the way you played and the way your group played and the way the course played down the stretch?

HAERAN RYU: No. I just stay, because yesterday was almost same weather as today, so I just thinking on the front nine it's a little bit cold and little chilly and little rain.

And then I wear the black shirt and more warm for me, and then back nine is little sunny and a little bit more warmer than front nine, so I just change my shirts and more cooler. That's good key for today.

Q. Are there any holes on this course where the lava is really intimidating and comes into play, or are the pros accurate enough that it really provides a pretty backdrop and doesn't come into play as you're thinking your way around the course?

HAERAN RYU: Every holes. Every holes I always just pray for God, please go straight and no rock. Please keep in fairway.

Q. Remind me, please, last week you led after 54 holes at The Chevron; tied for the lead. You were in the lead, tied last week; in the lead today. Adjusted start time too. Starting early, too. Were you nervous at all?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, normally, yeah, always awkward on the final round, but today it's little rainy and cold and I just thanking for the cold is not to play well or how can I swing. And then that's good for the refresh for me, and then but today is really good for me that.

Q. You and your playing partners, one bogey among you the entire round. Did the fact that everybody was playing on that level help with how you were handling everything over the final holes?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, yeah, for sure, because today everybody make some pretty good play on the my group, so I want to make some more birdie because they make some birdie, and then we play all together pretty well. I hope so that, yeah, it's pretty good.

Q. Can you describe the shot into 13, what was the club and yardage and did you know you might be able to use the slope behind the hole?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, yesterday I use the tee shot for the driver so my ball is go into right rough, so that's not good there. I have just want keep fairway on hole 13, so I use a hybrid today. It's little short, but on the second shot the distance is 237 meters and little hurting breeze.

And yeah, normally I used hybrid again there, but I try to (indiscernible) shot because this week my 3-wood is not good, but I want to try that at that hole, hole 13.

So I use 3-wood, control shot there. I don't think for the upslope behind the pin, but my ball is going little up and little down. It's hilly there. So it was so amazing, yeah.

Q. On the 54-hole lead, did you have a different mindset or game plan going into today, different from the other four tournaments in which you had the 54-hole lead?

HAERAN RYU: No, because this week my score was really good on the first and second and third round, so I just want to keep similar and my mind is always same at this week.

Q. And what does this tell you? First time you're winning a tournament after you led after the three rounds. What does this tell you about yourself and how much confidence does this give you?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, this year starts I think it's not good, because I got no pneumonia last winter so my body feels not good on the start of the season.

But these days really good and my muscle is back and I can make some a lot of good shot and I can more trust for my golf.

Yeah, this is good for me.

Q. I know your mom was here to see you. Have you ever won in front of your mom, and what does it mean to have her support here at the Black Desert Resort?

HAERAN RYU: Yeah, she -- I think FM Championship she staying me together, so I think this is second one.

And, yeah, always she care for my food, because my mom want to eat food for Korean so she always make some Korean food in the hotel. Yeah, it's really good for me.

Q. And then just last one: How much has this week kind of been in terms of the experience, the views, the accommodations, all of it? How would you summarize your week in that aspect?

HAERAN RYU: It's really good. I think it's perfect because the golf course, view is so beautiful and the grass condition is really good and weather is pretty good now.

The hotel I think here is brand new so everything is so clear and so fresh, that's so perfect.

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations again, and thank you for your time.

HAERAN RYU: Thank you.