JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP MEDIA CONFERENCE

April 29, 2023

Xiyu Lin

Quick Quotes

Q. That was a solid round out there today. What did you find today that maybe was different from at least yesterday?

XIYU LIN: I think yesterday was just a tough day because I played really well first round, and then yesterday I think the pin was really hard. The wind was swirling like a lot, and obviously later in the afternoon the greens got really bumpy.

I mean, I had two doubles yesterday. It's not like I had a terrible round, just a couple mistakes, and then I kind of checked on the scorecard, I kind of know like the scores is really tight.

I mean, even though it was a disappointing round, I was still putting myself kind of middle of the pack, so I kind of know if I really do well, I still have a chance. That's all I think of today.

I still make another double today, but I think overall I did really well.

Q. You made four birdies on the front, made that double, but also made three coming in on some not so easy holes of golf there. What was the mindset shift before the double and after the double? How were you able to bounce back?

XIYU LIN: That double was definitely frustrating. Just like it wasn't a good drive, but I could easily get away with a bogey, but then I was just being way too aggressive on the third shot, got into a bunker again, almost got myself an impossible shot.

Then I left it in the bunker again, so then it was actually a good recovery shot. It could be a triple.

But I just told myself, it already happened twice yesterday, so I'm like, you'd better do better than yesterday and not have another double. I just kind of kept myself calm somehow.

I feel like we have a little bit of an advantage out there when the greens are still pretty smooth and the wind was a little bit more predictable today. I see a lot of chances out there.

Q. Had a couple birdies back-to-back a couple different times today, but after that double you made three in a stretch of four holes. What was happening during those holes where you made all those birdies?

XIYU LIN: I just know the par-5s here is very good chances. After that double, like the next par-3 was kind of hard, so I was just like trying to just make par, trying to be a little safer, and then I did. I barely missed the birdie putt. That gave me confidence.

Then I know the next stretch would be pretty good and have some chances, so I just keep telling myself to be aggressive.

Yeah, and then it worked out pretty well.

Q. Obviously this is, like you mentioned, kind of a tight golf course. Tomorrow in terms of chasing down the leaders, is it a course you can be aggressive, or do you have to kind of just take what it gives you and then hope that you can make some putts here and there?

XIYU LIN: I definitely think you need to be aggressive on the greens when you're putting because that's something I learned yesterday after I see a couple bumps, and it tends to slow down the speed. Then the putts would never go in, like when you're hoping it would somehow jump in the hole, it just would not.

I think today one good thing I did, I kept it really aggressive. Like there were a couple putts I literally hit into the hole. That's very unusual for me on this poa annua greens.

Then I think these fairways are tricky. The bunkers are definitely very tricky.

I feel like, yeah, there's a couple tough holes, and then if you don't manage to hit a good drive, you really need to quickly change your attitude into like a little safer play. Sometimes bogey is a good score - well, I will know that better.

So I think that's all.

Q. Obviously got some more golf to play tomorrow, but next week's International Crown, playing for Team China. How excited are you to get started next week in that team competition?

XIYU LIN: It's very exciting because last International Crown it was three different teammates, so this year we will have a younger pack. I think they all are in good shape. Like Ruoning played really well, Yu Liu played really well recently, and Ruixin, she always did pretty good in the Dow tournament, so I think that's a good record.

Then I think I'm in pretty good shape, and I mean, at the end of the day we got in the tournament as the eighth seed, so we really have nothing to lose. Other people might get a little nervous when they lose to us, but we really have nothing to lose.

It's a unique tournament, and so I'm very excited to see how we handle this because we never really have like the same kind of tournament ever.