BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 27, 2021

So Yeon Ryu

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. So Yeon, 4&3 winner over Eun-Hee Ji. Looked pretty steady for you out there, was leading the entire match. Tell us about your match today.

SO YEON RYU: Well, first of all, it was really, really hard condition out there. The green was really firm, it was like a rock, so it was hard to stopping on the greens, so I think you had to think about it a lot how to approach the greens. So that was the toughest part.

But I think my iron shot control was pretty great, and then I think ball is going a little farther here, but you think I was able to adjust pretty well, so it was really well teamwork with my caddie.

And I think I did not miss any of the birdie putts, so I think that really helped as well. It was really fun match.

Q. Good. You've played two solid rounds. What do you feel is the state of your game right now as you head into tomorrow's final day of group play?

SO YEON RYU: You know, actually I was really nervous yesterday morning. I haven't played match play for a while and the match play is definitely a bit different feeling as when you play the stroke play.

So my mindset was just like, you know, I know you have opponent at this time, but let's not think about it and then let's just think -- consider this as a stroke play, and then I think that really mindset really help me out to keep focus.

Because, you know, sometimes when your opponent is struggle like you automatically think, Oh, I'm going to win this hole. But it's not always happen, so I think that really help, and I hope I am able to hit the tee shot really well for tomorrow. I think that's one of the really important things.

Depends on where you are, it's going to be really, really different to approach the pin, so I hope I can do tee shot better tomorrow. And then looking forward to play all the way through Sunday.

Q. What is your experience with match play? When is the last time you were in a match play competition? Certainly Crown.

SO YEON RYU: Well, actually Inbee host Korean versus Korean LPGA players tournament in Korea, but that's a team match play, so team match play and single match play is totally different feeling.

I guess probably two years ago I played match play in Korea. I didn't play well, so last experience wasn't that great, but I hope I can make a good memory for this time.

Q. You can't lock in your berth today, but you can put yourself in a really good position. What's your mentality as you go into the final day of group play tomorrow?

SO YEON RYU: Yeah, you know, I think winning match two in a row definitely going to make me feel more confident to play tomorrow, and then I'm not going to consider myself as I'm definitely going to go through Friday. I definitely need to be more humble and then just need to be where I need to be tomorrow.

Q. You entered this tournament with 16 straight rounds under par.

SO YEON RYU: Oh, okay.

Q. On the year. Fun fact.

SO YEON RYU: Thank you, I didn't know that.

Q. After Thailand you took a couple weeks off. After Thailand what kind of state do you feel your game was in?

SO YEON RYU: Just think about the entire season, even though I didn't play much yet, I think first two events I felt like I didn't really have my confidence. I really tried to make me feel comfortable in the -- at the golf course, and then I think that really help me out to play really well in the Asia.

And then like even though I played really well in the Asia I was not really satisfied with my tee shot and irons, so I worked that a lot with my coach when I had a two weeks off, and then now I feel much comfortable with it.

Then like you said, 16 rounds in a row to make under par is really good to have, so I think that's definitely going to make me feel more confident to play tomorrow.

Q. Did you do anything fun during the two weeks off?

SO YEON RYU: Yeah, I was in Palm Springs last week. Supposed to be in Dallas for two weeks but Dallas weather supposed to be really bad, so I just flew to Palm Springs, and I really love to be in Palm Springs. That's like a paradise, you know, wake up having a fresh tea or like having a fresh coffee in the morning and looking at the beautiful scenery. Even though I was there for training there was a really fun week to being in Palm Springs.

Q. Living the life it sounds like.

SO YEON RYU: Yep, definitely.

Q. Overall what's this whole experience been like this week?

SO YEON RYU: It's amazing. You know, like -- well we're in the Las Vegas, but when you're in Shadow Creek you don't really feel like you're in Las Vegas, so this is definitely different experience.

And then I would like to say super thankful to Bank of Hope and Shadow Creek and MGM to make it happen. I hope we can have this venue forever.