LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

April 12, 2021

Sei Young Kim

Kapolei Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right everyone, welcome inside the virtual media center here at the LOTTE Championship. I'm pleased to be joined by 2015 champion, Sei Young Kim.

Sei Young, aloha and welcome to Hawaii.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, I'm very happy to be back here. It's my favorite place. And, yeah, it's long travel but, yeah, I'm always happy to on the way to get here.

Q. I was going to say, you just said it's your favorite place. Is that because of your memorable win in 2015?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, definitely. 2015, yeah, I won the second -- second win the tournament, so, yeah, that's a very special for me.

I was going to playoff with Inbee Park, so, yeah, it's very memorable and special win.

Q. Six years ago you made that incredible eagle. Do you ever think back on that play?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Sorry, say again.

Q. Six years ago you made that incredible eagle to win.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

Q. Do you ever reflect on those memories?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah. When I see the at the moment on the TV, on the TV or the screen I feel like, yeah, still feel like goose bump. Yeah.

Q. I was going to say, does it give you chills?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, I'll still can't believe it, yeah.

Q. What do you like most about returning to Hawaii?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I mean, Hawaii is -- I like the golf course because when you're walking the course you can see the beautiful view like mountain.

So, yeah, I love it here.

Q. You love it here?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

Q. You've have a pretty impressive 2021 so far. How comfortable are you feeling in your game as we begin this week?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I finish tournament last tournament pretty solid, so, yeah, I got pretty good confidence from there. So I'm so exciting to play this week, and then, yeah, so looking forward this week.

Q. You had a little bit of off time before LOTTE. Did do anything in your off week to prepare for this week?

SEI YOUNG KIM: After the ANA I back to the Dallas and I had chill and having -- had time with my family and then my friend.

And, yeah, I expected Hawaii definitely a lot of win so, yeah, I practice for the low trajectory shot. Yeah.

Q. With this tournament you have so many great memories. We weren't able to be here last year in 2020. What does it mean to still have LOTTE still have this tournament and return to your favorite place on tour?

SEI YOUNG KIM: It's means a lot because LOTTE is my country company, so I'm very -- yeah, very -- yeah, especially second win the tournament from the here.

So I'm very glad to the come back play this tournament. So, yeah, it's going to be fun, yeah.

Q. Of course Hawaii in nonCOVID a lot of people would be taking advantage. What is one the most exciting thing you love about returning to Hawaii?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Hawaii courses are really -- this year they change golf course, so I'm really exciting. And then course are very challenging. If you miss the short green it's come back onto like 30 yards, so it's not easy.

Yeah, I'm very -- yeah, it's going to be fun.

Q. I was going to say, we are at Kapolei this year. Before this week had you ever played Kapolei before?

SEI YOUNG KIM: No, this is the first time I play here. So, yeah, today I played the back nine. It was the first time play the back nine.

Yeah, I just check up the course and the greens are a little bit smaller than the other course, so this course really need right direction. Yeah.

Q. I was going to say, what are some of the challenges that Kapolei, or differences between Kapolei and Ko Olina?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Feel like very similar, I mean, grasses, but when I go to hole 18 it's very similar, left side hazard.

So, yeah, it's kind of similar but the greens are a little different. Yeah, I think that's biggest part different the golf course.

Q. So you've had quite a stretch of impressive play leading up to 2021. Dating back to 2019 at the VOA Classic you had 16 straight top 25 finishes, including those three wins. For you, what did you learn most about your game kind of dating back to 2019 and even to 2021?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I think I know how to play consistently because I still try to keep the how to play the consistently. That's my focus on it.

So and then, yeah, every year beginning year I setting my goal very higher than last year. I think that goals very help for the my result.

Yeah, I think.

Q. I know your usual goal is to win three times a year.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

Q. Is that correct? Is that still a goal for 2021?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, I wish.

Q. So this is also a question: What do you think is the key to your consistency?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Well, I think keep pushing myself even I play well. I don't stay at what I play. I keep pushing myself and keep trying to make the birdie every hole. Yeah.

Q. That's the key?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

Q. Then we have another one. How does adjusting to a new course change your preparation or routine heading into a tournament?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Not really. It's same as 2020. Yeah, because I had a good feeling last year, so I want to the same feeling, but I try to make my mental stronger than last year. Yeah.

Q. I feel like we changed courses a little bit throughout all of 2020. If you think back, what do you think will be the key to playing well here at Ko Olina this year compared to -- I'm sorry -- Kapolei this year as opposed to Ko Olina?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I think par-5 is big different, because Ko Olina golf course, even if you miss the wrong side you have -- you got the easy chip.

But Kapolei, it's not easy. So I was practice like 30 meter or 40 meter. I think even for -- even for 30, 40 meter you need the chipping with like hybrid and pitching wedge. You need a lot of skill, especially this course.

Q. You talk about the par-5s, taking advantage of the par-5s. This week No. 13 is the Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

Q. What is something about that hole that stands out in particular to you?

SEI YOUNG KIM: You need to a good tee shot and a good second shot with the 3-wood. Yeah, if you hit the solid 3-wood, yeah, I can reach the green.

Hopefully no wind at that hole. Yeah, it's easier to make the birdie. So, yeah, I think you need a good shot, yeah.

Q. Do you ever look back on how much you've improved as a player since your win here in 2015 -- that was your rookie season in 2015 -- to where you are now? Do you ever look back at the growth you've had as a player on the LPGA Tour?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, at the 2015 I was a rookie years; everything is very new for me.

So, yeah, I was young and now feel like time goes by so fast. Yeah, but my mind is the same as at the time, because, yeah, I want to -- yeah, I don't want to be like cocky. No, I think, yeah, just enjoy. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Sei Young, for the time with us today.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Thank you.