FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 29, 2026

Hyo Joo Kim

Whirlwind Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, we are pleased to be joined by the 2026 Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass winner, Hyo Joo Kim.

First things first, just how are you feeling after this win?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) Feeling great. No words to express how I am feeling right now.

Q. You defended your title from last year and now have won back to back events. Can you try to put into words just how special these past two weeks have been?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) It's super hard as a player to become a defending champion. But I took the great energy from last week and the course and all of that into this place here and I want to carry that on to next week.

Q. Two wins two starts at Whirlwind Golf Club. What is it about this golf course that suits your game so much?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) Not sure exactly why I do so well in this golf course, but it was just the putting. My putting was on and particularly the long putts were just going in.

Q. You set your 72-hole scoring record this week. Can you just explain how good your game feels and maybe some stuff you've been working on?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) Something different I feel like I'm doing is with my play, playing aggressively. I'm attacking each play aggressively.

Q. And then two wins in your first four starts. Did you ever imagine your season starting like this?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) So I set a goal for myself to win two tournaments this season, and now that I succeeded that goal I'm going to have to create some new goals.

Q. Congratulations. Welcome back. Can you just talk a little bit about your ability to stay focused after the double bogey on 8 and just your ability to keep going, pedal to the floor?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) I have never imagined or thought that I would have a double bogey in this play. When it happened, I needed to just regroup and concentrate and that it's just a thought. It's very difficult to win.

I knew there are no mistakes allowed going forward.

Q. You mentioned you're going to have to set new goals. Does anything come to mind off the top of your head?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) No thoughts at all. I'm just playing. Tomorrow I will try to set new goals, so...

Q. You are just the fourth player since 2020 to win in back to back weeks. Can you talk about what to maybe takes mentally to sustain that kind of success?

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) Mentally there isn't anything that I prepare. I love this game of golf and so I go out there and I have fun. I feel like that's just how I play I my game.

There is no mental preparedness that I do for this game.

Q. Can you just talk about the last couple of rounds, even into last week getting to play with Nelly. You said she's your favorite player. What was it like going back and forth knowing she's been World No. 1, with all the wins she's gotten. Talk about the back and forth you've had over the last couple rounds.

HYO JOO KIM: (Through translation.) Just loved and felt great playing with Nelly. She has such a beautiful swing and this whole time it was just wire to wire, just so tight. Just watching her getting that eagle and finishing, the birdie at the end, I think she is just a fantastic player.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much. Congratulations again.

HYO JOO KIM: Thank you.