PURE SILK CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY VISIT WILLIAMSBURG

May 23, 2021

Wei-Ling Hsu

Kingsmill River Course

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Thank you for joining our press conference with our champion. A quick question before we toss it over to everyone else in the group. How do you feel now that you got the trophy right next to you?

WEI LING HSU: Little calm down right now. When I finished 18 I was really emotional, because couple weeks ago I ask my caddie, like if I won are you going to cry, and my caddie say, Yeah, I'll cry, and I told him like I'm not going to cry.

I think this is happiest thing ever how he cry, and somehow I just cry so hard the last hole. But I feel happy and just happy.

THE MODERATOR: Were you at all nervous over the final putt, the birdie putt?

WEI LING HSU: Actually not just the final putt, I pretty much nervous the whole day, whole 18 round. And just got to 15 when I made that eagle putt, that really start shaking my hand and like my heart just pumping so hard almost come out.

THE MODERATOR: Last question from me. When did you know this week that you could end up here with the trophy next to you?

WEI LING HSU: I definitely never expect this. Like I said earlier this week, I was so tired. I didn't expect much. And definitely when I finished first round solo lead I definitely thought about that, but the second round just knock me down a little bit because I had a 1-over par.

But I just come by my -- just try to thinking, you know, there is still four-day round. It could happen anything during this four day.

So, yeah, definitely like this place a lot. I mean, I finish fifth two years ago, which is -- I played very great that week as well, so I got a good feeling here.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Questions.

Q. Congratulations. How much in your seven-year career vow thought about this, dreamed about this, and how much different is it to accomplish it?

WEI LING HSU: Yeah, seven year definitely it's a long time, and like I'm not a good like long hitter, and what I can do is just step by step. Definitely I did pretty good my rookie year and definitely I play really bad on my second year, but I think that is really helping me in these past couple years.

And also last year I stay home whole year and kind of enjoyed my life, do something without golf and learn about more myself. I think right now I was playing the golf, living in the tour, which is happier than the past.

Q. How has that year helped you this year?

WEI LING HSU: Yeah, like I said, I can totally relax. I mean, I was on tour for six or seven years, but before that I also played on the Symetra Tour. So for me, I been work hard I will say 10 years at least, so it's a good time for myself to slow down and then I can work with my trainer and knowing my body ability.

And also knowing like something besides golf. Something that if I don't play golf, like what can I do. So when I know those stuff, that made me become like braver in -- like more brave and not being afraid. I know golf is not my everything, but it's part of my life.

Q. Wei Ling, very rarely does a 72-hole golf tournament have so much drama on two holes. Can you walk us through 15 and 16? You're standing next to Moriya when she doesn't get it out of the bunker. Talk us through all the things going on there.

WEI LING HSU: Actually it's a very big moment for me on 12, making a birdie. At that moment I think I'm just too confident at that time, so I starting bogey on 13 and almost made a bogey on 14.

So I was telling myself, You know at this situation you have to be calm. You can't overdo it. 15 is really a birdie chance, reachable par-5, and I didn't know Mo was hitting into the bunker at that time.

I just try hit as hard as I can on the driver and try to hit a little closer, give myself a chance. I didn't really thought about like try to go to the wind, but I trying to be as close to the No. 1. Like it's going to be, you know -- you can be a finish with second or third. It's just don't give up yourself at that time.

So I had a really good 7-wood and actually I pull left a little bit, but just landed perfectly on that bunker and then just kick all the way right. Only had three pace left, so at that time it's just -- I was just like, Hey, I been waiting for this for so long. You have to make this putt. I don't want to wait another week or another year or maybe -- you know, just way too long, so I have to make this putt.

So, yeah, I kind of just be aggressive that putt, and soon as I saw the line it's right at the hole, I'm like, Yes!

At that moment I still getting more and more nervous, and on the very next hole I try to stay calm, and even a lot of people are cheering for me. So I try to like turn around and just focus on my game.

Q. And then you stuffed it on 16. What iron did you hit into there?

WEI LING HSU: I had 9-iron, I think it's 136, a little helping wind.

Q. How did you calm yourself down to hit it that close?

WEI LING HSU: I telling myself my iron, it's the club that I like. Like I love my 9-iron. I have to trust it. I have to take a smooth swing. Like just touch right over the pin and let the wind take it with it.

It just landed perfectly and perfect bounce.

Q. Then on 17 you hit the first putt a little bit long and I saw another fist pump after you made the par putt coming in. What was happening there?

WEI LING HSU: Well, I was super, super nervous, shaking hand, and at that time it's 17 pace for me. It's quite a long putt, and especially when I looking at that line. The sun actually towards me so I can't see that well, so I know it's very hard to make that putt.

My goal is just to be around the cup. I think I was shaking at that time, so I think before I hit the ball I just add a little bit more so it went past. I'm like, Oh, my God. How can you do that? I'm like, okay, focus and restart.

Just like the putt I had on 15, just doing the same thing and be aggressive. Try to be a little mean on that putt, which is i make it. That's why first pump.

Q. And after being out here so many years, is it more special now to be a winner?

WEI LING HSU: Oh, definitely special, especially Taiwan it's such a small country and I know it's been a while that -- without any Taiwanese player winning on the tour.

So I really wanted to break that breaker and to be the next one on the tour. And also to telling people doesn't matter where they from, you know, small player can also win a tournament. I kept telling myself don't need to be long hitter. Just golf game is kind of easy -- not easy. I mean golf game is like for everyone. It's not just for long hitter. You need consist and also need control.

I think I was rally good at that, so at that moment I feel like I don't need to be like chasing those distance. I just need to be good at my chipping, putting.

Q. You mentioned it was -- 2020 was a tough year for a lot people with the virus, and that continues in your country with some shutdowns and sports not being able to compete.

WEI LING HSU: Yes.

Q. You mentioned the other day just how you hoped to make everyone proud over there, your family, your friends, and just your whole nation. How proud do you think they are of you as they watch?

WEI LING HSU: Yeah, when I finish yesterday I think all my friend are asleep and so I didn't really get any message. And so I kind of wait to like people wake up and they start texting me and like start -- I don't know, Instagram and Facebook, start telling me like, Hey, you're going to win this, go for it, let's go. I'm like, Oh, my God. It's actually a lot of people are watching it.

And I don't know like what's this win mean for them, but I really hope that I can give them some positive thought and a good energy to believe something -- you know, you can always believe something and it will actually happen.

I know people are against to virus right now, sport are shutdown, but there is something you can still like -- like the player like us or the people or the Taiwanese playing a different sport out, different country, and they can still cheering for.

Q. With this win you're now into the U.S. Women's Open. What does it mean to you in the field there?

WEI LING HSU: I mean, now, well, like I say, it's really tired for me, but earlier this week it's kind of mess me up a little bit on my schedule because I don't know if I can play U.S. Open or not, like which tournament I should taking off.

So -- and I just -- I mean, I like this event so that's why I came here. But the same time, just want to see if I can get in. I'm ready to sleep as much as I can after round and try to play and find a way to, you know -- into the U.S. Open. Just get ready before that.

I kind of believe I will get in, but I didn't expect that I using like this kind of way to get in. I thought I going to be call like, Hey, if you want to play U.S. Open...

But I was so happy if I can play U.S. Open, and because since 2014 I play every single year except last year. I was in the field but I decided not to come. So if I did come I was in the field, I can play since 2014. That is really big meaning for me, because U.S. Open is one of my favorite tournament. I really want to win in the U.S. Open.

So definitely getting to the field give yourself an opportunity to win the trophy.

Q. You're in the field in Vegas next week before the tournament at Olympic Club. How many weeks in a row will you be traveling if you play in both those tournaments?

WEI LING HSU: I don't get it.

THE MODERATOR: Do you mean in all or...

Q. All. So she mentioned coming back from Thailand, Phoenix, and then coming here. So how many weeks total?

THE MODERATOR: So how many weeks in a row will you be traveling?

WEI LING HSU: So I play in Hawaii, I play L.A., Singapore, Thailand, Phoenix, and this week; six week already.

So I don't know about next week because I was really, really tired, but I was in the field but I'll see what I feel tonight.

Q. I've seen you credit your mom for a lot of your success over the years. I saw her out there this afternoon. Does she come to most or all of your tournaments? What is her first name?

WEI LING HSU: Wei Chia Lu.

Q. Does she usually travel with you?

WEI LING HSU: Yeah, most of the time. Yeah, I mean, she definitely very looking for my first win. She said, Oh, when you get the first win I can be retire.

But I don't know. It's a joke or something, but anyway, it's good to have my mom travel with me. She can do some laundry and cook for me. You know, someone that I can talk to after rounds.

Yeah, she been support me since I was kid all the way to here, all the way to today.

THE MODERATOR: I have a question. Today you won so many things, not just the spot to the U.S. Women's Open, the trophy, and also the Rolex First Time Winner. How did you feel after just accomplishing so much in one day?

WEI LING HSU: The most exciting thing is I got to play U.S. Open, and definitely I'm the LPGA winner finally after all that work hard, hard work.

Finally I can tell my friend that, Hey, I'm LPGA winner. It's quite amazing thing for me. It's just, yeah, amazing. Like you grow up as your goal like to be against the top level player, and right now I can say that, that I won the tournament in LPGA.

THE MODERATOR: How do you plan celebrate now?

WEI LING HSU: I want to go home. I don't know. Maybe -- I don't really thought about that. Just too happy.

THE MODERATOR: All right. Thanks, Wei-Ling. If anyone has any questions, please let me know. Last chance. All right, congratulations Wei-Ling.

WEI LING HSU: Thank you so much. Thanks for all the support.