U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

May 30, 2025

Jing Yan

Erin Hills GC

Flash Interview

THE MODERATOR: We're here with Jing Yan after a 4-under par 69. Talk us through your round.

JING YAN: A little slower start than I would have liked. Struggled a little bit on the range this morning and just trying to find something out there and ended up just trusting it and had a good back nine.

Q. Five birdies in six holes. What did you find on that back nine?

JING YAN: Just tried to let loose and not try to overcorrect or go into panic mode. The putter was working well yesterday and today so relied on that a little bit, and once I hit it closer to the hole, I could make a couple birdies.

Q. What have you learned about the course after two rounds of competitive play?

JING YAN: It's definitely tough. There are holes, it doesn't play like you think it would. There are holes where it feels like it's more gettable, but at the same time, if you make a mistake, you could really be in trouble.

Like you really won't know what you get until you have a specific lie and a shot into the hole. So it's very fun that way.

Q. You qualified out of The Meadows at Mystic Lake, Minnesota. What was that experience like, and walk us through, was there ever any doubt you wouldn't be able to get through?

JING YAN: Yeah, I love Minnesota. I think I qualified there once before. The course was playing really nice there. My caddie and I just tried to have a good strategy like going into any other round.

Started off pretty well and just also struggled a little bit on the second 18, but just tried to enjoy the course and made a couple birdies coming in, as well.

Yeah, as long as you try to get under par and not make too many mistakes, I feel like that's what a U.S. Open qualifier requires.

Q. After you made the bogey on 7, the par-5, what is the self-talk like walking to the next tee?

JING YAN: I just had two three-putts, so it was not very nice in my head. But I just tried to tell myself to stay calm. But I know you can't make too many mistakes out there, so I'm just trying to take it one shot at a time and not do anything too crazy. I wasn't really trying to go make a bunch of birdies out there, just trying to give myself opportunities, and they ended up dropping.

Q. You won some big titles in your amateur career. Looking back, what do you think was the toughest transition going from Washington to professional golf?

JING YAN: I would say getting used to play every single week. I think as an amateur you have a lot more time to prepare going into a tournament, and it kind of teaches you to really understand your game a little bit better because you might be tired going into it, might not be playing well, but you just have to find a way to score. So I would say that would be the biggest adjustment.

Q. In that run of birdies on the back nine, was there one that got you going?

JING YAN: I think the first one. I might have hit a drive that was -- or second shot that was not that great. Maybe 14. I hit a great second shot, I think. It gave me a little bit of confidence. Then I felt like I was rolling it pretty well with some of the par saves on the beginning of the back nine, so that helped me out a little bit.

Q. This is your seventh U.S. Women's Open. What have the first six been like for you, and why is this one different with you near the top of the leaderboard?

JING YAN: Oh, it's always a dream. It's just a great tournament to ply and play a such a big stage. All the courses are extremely challenging, things that you don't get to play in every day. It's very special whenever you get to play in one.

It's not that different this year. I really like the look of the course. Just trying to treat it like any other tournament.