THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 13, 2025

Grace Kim

Evian Resort Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay, hello everyone and welcome to the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship. We are joined by 2025 winner Grace Kim. Grace, first of all, congratulations on your first major championship victory.

GRACE KIM: Thank you.

Q. I think we should said start off talking about the playoff. Talk us through your emotions, first hole hitting that approach shot into the water and then chipping in and then playing through the second hole if you could.

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I mean, obviously I was pretty bummed to find out that my ball was in the middle of the water. But, again, it's not quite finished until the very end.

Yeah, I wasn't worried. Dropped the ball and it kind of ended up in a pretty decent lie and just wanted to make sure I got it there. Yeah, just happened to have chipped it in. I don't know if I can do it again. That was great.

But, yeah, all three times I played that 18th hole today I hit the same club, which was a 4-hybrid. That will be staying in the bag.

Q. Can you talk through making that final putt and realizing you're a major champion and what that means to you?

GRACE KIM: I thought about it before I made the putt. Probably, yeah, probably shouldn't have, but that's okay. Got me more nervous. I remember Ayaka putting in a similar line.

Yeah, I think I've had a lot of double breakers this week and that was one of them for sure. Yeah, just looked straight at the hole. That's what my caddie told me to do and I did it.

Yeah, I don't know what happened. Like I don't know how I'm in here already since then. Yeah, just all happened quickly, but I'm glad I'm sitting here for sure.

Q. Last question from me: When you look at this week asa whole, the entire experience you've had and as well the golf, how would you summarize it?

GRACE KIM: Just a massive tick. Obviously it's a huge achievement for me. I've had a lot of doubts early this year. I was kind of losing motivation. I kind of had to get some hard conversations done with the team. Yeah, kind of had to wake up a little bit.

So to be sitting here next to this trophy is definitely surreal. Obviously caught a bit of a cold early this week as well, so I was kind of knowing that I wasn't 100%. But, again, even if I'm 80% I'll give my 100% of that 80.

Yeah, there was no stopping me this week.

Q. Obviously a lot of emotion in those final three holes. Had to pull a lot out of yourself. Walk us through what was going through your head when you knew you needed to make that chip shot?

GRACE KIM: I had a feeling that it was going to be a good chip shot. I'll definitely take the result.

But, yeah, just knowing that Jeeno was going to make a good -- like just expect the good. She's a good player. To make birdie from there as well.

I knew I had to give it my all. I lost a shot in the water. Just used that 58 and chipped it on and released and went in the hole. I don't know how it happened really, yeah. (Smiling.)

Q. Looking at obviously some of the list of Aussies that you join in terms of a major championship winner, it's a stout one, and now you and Minjee have the last two majors. What does that mean to you to be a major champion as an Aussie?

GRACE KIM: Again, this is unbelievable. Didn't really know I was going to be sitting here this soon. I saw there is a picture of Karrie as you walk into the locker room, walking down 18 as well, so seeing that each day is motivating.

Obviously Minjee's first major was this one and this is now mine as well. Oh, that's definitely different. I'll get used to it. (Smiling.)

Yeah, I'm not sure when it'll sink in for sure, but, yeah, this is incredible.

Q. You alluded to some of the struggles. To overcome the doubt to be in this moment, put that into words.

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I definitely struggled I think after my win in Hawai'i. You know, I won very early and that was a great result. I was very grateful for that.

But I feel like I haven't quite crossed the line of kind of getting it done. I've been in contention a few times now and just being able to get it done wasn't quite there.

I think I've come to learn that it's not quite my game technically. It's more on course just the skills that I have to learn through experience being on the Tour week in, week out.

Obviously now it's a huge topic with the mental aspect of the game. So much doubt has gone through my mind and it kind of snowballed very quickly. I guess it was a bit of a burnout at the start of this year.

But, yeah, just overcoming that wouldn't have been possible without my team. I know a lot of the girls know the importance of having a good team around you. Yeah, it's definitely crucial to have the people to back you and even in times where you don't believe in yourself to have those people know that you are capable and they're here for that ride.

So, very grateful for them. Yeah, I honestly wouldn't have done it without them.

Q. So chip in and eagle back to back. How often does that happen to you? It was fantastic.

GRACE KIM: Yeah, thank you. The timing, yes, was fantastic. On 12 I made a double, and I guess you do need a bit of luck. I guess soon as I chipped that in, that's all I thought about. That 12th hole put me in a good position back. I told myself I'm not out of it yet and I've got nothing else to lose.

I told my caddie that as well. He was able to rev me up a little bit and get aggressive. The shots were better and, yeah, better hit I guess because obviously I started pretty rocky.

So, yeah, just, again, gave it my all.

Q. When you visualize in the past winning a major, did to look like this?

GRACE KIM: No. (Smiling.)

I mean, I think I won a lot more events in my mind than in real life, but I think you need that visualization and that imagery in your mind to back yourself, and, yeah, get this far.

Yeah, this is right here. (Smiling.)

Q. We saw you very close from Jeeno; you beat her. She was in position of leader from all day. What does it feel to beat her in the end?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, she's obviously a great player. She's played so well this year. I don't think she's finished outside top 10 even this year, this season.

So, yeah, obviously we're very close mates. She's younger than me and been out here longer than I have. I look up to her positivity. She has a great smile.

I made par on like 2 and she's like, smile, you made par. It's fine. So she keeps me grounded, so really nice friend to have around and I think great player to have on the Tour.

Q. Grace, you've seen the shower of Aussie with champagne so often after wins. What was it like to be on the other end?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I thought to myself -- I think the last time obviously was Minjee I showered. I still can't quite get it right, but the two girls, Minjee and Greeny who've stepped up just then to spray me, yeah, I've got a lot of learning to do from them.

Yeah, it definitely feels nice. I thought eventually surely I will be in the position where Minjee was a couple weeks ago to be sprayed. So, yeah, definitely feels nice.

To have those friends and mates very happy for you is also something else as well.

Q. Grace, how much has your game changed compared to when you first got on the LPGA?

GRACE KIM: I think technically it hasn't changed too much. I definitely sharpened up a few things, gained some distance over the years, but overall we've come to realize it's, again, more based on the skills on the golf course. You're never going to have the flat and perfect lies on the range and certain wind directions and all that.

I said this week that I'm getting more comfortable with Evian. Obviously I had a bit of a cry the first year. Yeah, you can't wing it the first year for sure.

Being able to have that experience, even though it's just two years, yeah, it's definitely a big learning curve.

Q. What do you do in the heat of battle to overcome self-doubt?

GRACE KIM: I think your caddie is on your bag for a reason. I do trust my caddie a lot. And I wasn't that nervous again in the playoff. It was similar situation when I won in Hawai'i. Like I was barely nervous.

But this time bigger deal. It's a major, so a little bit more nervous. Just to have that caddie that you've built that relationship and that trust with really settled my mind. I knew he knew my game as best as I did.

Yeah, just have a good caddie.

Q. And who brought you the kangaroo?

GRACE KIM: Oh, it was one of the caddie's mates that brought the kangaroo. Yeah, Skippy.

Q. And you'll retell this story, eagle, birdie, eagle finish. How do you describe that?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I don't know. Like obviously I hit a great shot in. My caddie made a bit of an inappropriate comment I won't say, but it was ballsy, basically, along those lines.

Yeah, did that and put it in the water. It's never done until the end. Chipped it in and, yeah, made a crazy eagle.

Q. What are your favorites memories of your road trip with Karrie when you won the scholarship for the fourth time?

GRACE KIM: I think she took me on a trip by myself. I was fortunate enough to go just on a trip because I had been to the KPMG event three other time; obviously Greeny's win being in there.

Yeah, we played -- I don't know golf courses very well, but we played Pine Needles -- sorry, Pine Valley, and I didn't quite know the big deal about it.

So played Pine Valley. Played Winged Foot. Yeah, it was just an incredible week with her. It was a whole week. We shared a hotel room, so, yeah, memory that money can't buy.

Q. Can you speak to the illness you're battling and what was it like playing through the cough?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I coughed a fair bit yesterday. I was fine the first two days. I felt really bad that I kept coughing over the other players' putts. I was kind of struggling. It's the tickle in your throat that kills you. Yeah, I had that all of the last three days. Probably worst yesterday. Yeah, pushed through the pain I guess.

Q. Grace, huge congratulations from everyone in Australia. Tell us about wearing the duck pin and what it means to you.

GRACE KIM: I actually didn't wear it. I forgot to wear it the first three days and just remembered to put it on before I tee'd off today, and I'm glad I did.

Yeah, obviously didn't get a chance to meet Jarrod Lyle. I was a little bit later. But, yeah, just to be representing Australia as well as the council of his foundation, yeah, just shows the camaraderie of all Aussies.

And what he's done and the inspiration he's left behind is, yeah, I guess everyone else's inspiration to leave behind as well.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Grace. Congratulations.

GRACE KIM: Thank you.