U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

June 1, 2021

Inbee Park

The Olympic Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back. We are joined by two-time U.S. Open champion Inbee Park. This will be Inbee's 15th U.S. Open start. When I say that, what do you think?

INBEE PARK: I was surprised. I didn't know it was my 15th. Yeah, that's quite a lot of U.S. Women's Opens. Again, this year is going to be a great year, and the golf course is in great shape. I love the golf course, and I think it's going to be unbelievable. I'm really looking forward to playing this weekend.

THE MODERATOR: You've always played well in U.S. Opens. Why is that?

INBEE PARK: I think it's just my game really suits the tough golf courses, and probably I'm pretty calm on the golf course too. Whatever happens on the golf course, I kind of manage myself to stay calm no matter what happens. This golf course definitely needs some patience.

The course is going to play tough. It's going to be windy, cold, and we're going to have to hit some fairways on this golf course. Otherwise, you don't have much shot.

Q. Talk a little bit about the rough and what you've been able to hit out of it so far.

INBEE PARK: The rough is really thick and long. I tried a couple of shots with the hybrid, doesn't come out that far, and probably short iron is probably the maximum that you want to hit out of. Obviously, like I said, you have to hit the fairways on this golf course. It's almost an automatic bogey when you go in the rough.

THE MODERATOR: Have you been to Olympic Club before, and what are your impressions of the course?

INBEE PARK: First time being here, I played front nine twice and back nine just once today. Golf course has a lot of dogleg holes and it's very hilly. A lot of the greens have a lot of slopes, but you've got to hit the shots where you want to hit it on these greens. Not much of a greenside rough is the problem, but I think it's just the fairway side rough is going to be the big key.

Chipping is going to come out of the rough, but obviously, when you're trying to hit 160, 170 yards out of the long, thick rough, that's just going to be a very challenging shot. So my key this week will be hitting a lot of fairways.

Q. You've been on a good stretch of late. Talk a little bit about how you've been able to maintain that.

INBEE PARK: Yeah, I have been playing really good this year. Started with the win in Kia, and since then, I have been playing quite good golf and very consistently. Really happy with that. Obviously, this golf course, I really like it. I don't think it really -- I don't know whether it's going to show in the result or not, but I really love the look of the golf course, and this is really a true major golf course setup. Really happy to see this golf course.

Q. You've had a lot of success in major championships. Throughout your career, how have you sort of structured your schedule around those big events to play so well?

INBEE PARK: I always kind of like to play something before the major tournament to just kind of get myself ready. Sometimes I take a week off. Sometimes I don't. Most likely, I would like to play one before. I think I'm going to play five in a row starting last week, so I'm going to try the new schedule. But I thought that was going to be the best schedule for me this year.

Q. Do you have a goal at this point in your career? Did you always want to reach a certain number of majors?

INBEE PARK: Well, I don't really have an exact number how many. I think I actually have definitely gone beyond my number anyway. I've definitely achieved a lot more than I really thought. Obviously, when you reach seven, you're looking for eight. When you reach eight, you're looking for nine.

That's what I have been going with, and every week I compete trying to win no matter that's my 20th win, 30th win, it doesn't matter. I think you're just trying to go one more.

Q. And what are you working on with your husband right now?

INBEE PARK: Just really being consistent with the ball striking, because this golf course definitely needs good ball striking to give you some kind of chance on Sunday. Trying to drive it really straight and probably good iron shots around this golf course because it's windy and it's very hilly. There's not many yardages on the green that you can land. Just got to hit it really straight and where you want to hit.

Q. When did you learn to work the ball both ways?

INBEE PARK: I think it has been like since I started with my husband, probably about 2012, around that area. So it's been like nine -- eight, nine years, yeah.

Q. How is your perspective on golf changed since your first U.S. Open?

INBEE PARK: I think since my first U.S. Open, I think it's a lot of things has changed. My first U.S. Open, I was an amateur, so I had nothing to be afraid of. I played just a practice round with Japanese girl amateur, I think, and really reminded me of my first U.S. Open.

She just looked nothing to be scared of on this golf course and just bombing the balls. I kind of envy that, and I don't think I'll be able to ever do that again.

I'm definitely a different player than I was 15 years ago. A lot more mature, a lot more calm on the golf course. Probably I don't really get surprised with a lot of things on the golf course anymore.

Back then I got shocked when I make a bogey. When I make a double, it was end of the world. It definitely has changed a lot.

Q. And last question, is it strange to be starting on the 1st and 9th holes as opposed to the 10th?

INBEE PARK: I think I'd rather do that than going all the way out to 9 and then all the way back to the clubhouse. I don't think it's anything to be worried about. Nothing to be weird about, I think. It's a smart setup of the golf course.