MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC

June 15, 2021

Xiyu Lin

Blythefield Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome the media center at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. We are joined by current Rolex Rankings No. 72, Janet Lin.

So far this season looking at the stats you've captured a career-best finish of T3 at the HSBC Women's World Championship, and also a career-best finish in a major with a T7 at the U.S. Women's Open, five top 25 results in 11 starts. It's been a career year so far, to say the least. What has gone into finding a few gear in 2021?

XIYU LIN: I think it's something that I worked on 2020 as well, because during the pandemic I decided to stay in Orlando and stay with my coach and work on lots of stuff, especially on short games and more details on the course, and even a little bit on my mind.

So I felt like 2021 I was entering the season with like kind of refreshing as a new player, so I am very happy with what I've done so far, but I definitely even looking forward to some even better results.

THE MODERATOR: When you say you worked on your mental game, was there anything specific platforms that you used?

XIYU LIN: Not really, because it was just -- it was the amount of time I put into practice and then like play couple tournament in 2020, end of 2020 and I done pretty good, only the miss one cut, but still didn't really have consistent result.

Then we're trying to kind of talk about how like putting practice and how that I should change my mindset after I put practice in.

So believe in myself more and like trusting the process more and even kind of get myself more exciting playing a tournament. So those kind of little things.

Q. You mentioned small details on the course. What were some of those that you worked on in 2020?

XIYU LIN: You mean mental?

THE MODERATOR: You mentioned some small details on the course. Not necessarily with your game, but details of playing on the course.

XIYU LIN: Oh, yeah, I feel like I was more careful when I'm playing a practice round. Like I will look into the golf course and try to think more of a strategy, like there will be holes that are good for me to go for and holes good to have a par and go.

I feel like that's one thing, and also just trying to stay positive the whole round, not letting a bad start let myself down and things like that.

Q. How difficult was it to be away from your family during the pandemic?

XIYU LIN: It was really hard because I haven't seen my parents for 18 months I think until right now, and I'm probably still not having a plan to go back to China until maybe fall this year.

But, I mean, it's something that I have to deal with as a professional player, and I definitely miss them a lot and also my grandparents, because they are getting older.

But thank goodness we have the technology these days that we can FaceTime and call them and that makes it a little bit easier.

Q. How often are you able to FaceTime with them?

XIYU LIN: With my grandparents it's a little harder because they don't answer the phone call from America number, so I have to really find time to -- like my early morning which is their night after dinner I try to FaceTime them probably every once a week, and when I was in Singapore and Thailand it makes it a lot easier so I talked to her probably like two, three times a week, yeah.

Q. Has it felt worth it, the success to be away from your family for so long?

XIYU LIN: I think it's -- I would say yes because I felt like as a professional golfer you have only that many years to be able to play and, I don't know, I have my own plans, so I'm not going to play golf for the rest of my life.

I feel like those couple years if I chose to playing full time on tour I need to sacrifice something, and pandemic is more than I expected, but even before that I will be in the states for like straight six months without seeing my parents.

So they kind of used to it.

THE MODERATOR: Just touch base on the Olympics. Women's Olympic field in finalized on June 28th; two tournaments remain to make the final of the Rolex Rankings, and you're chasing the second spot to join Shanshan Feng in Japan. Yu Liu not here this week. Two spots ahead of you. When it comes to Olympics, do you view this week as a pivotal week to have a strong finish with her not competing?

XIYU LIN: I mean, Olympics is definitely one of my goal this year, to be playing Olympics is one of my goal this year, but I can't look into that too much. The world ranking points change so quickly because it's like a three-years term. You can't really calculate what position you need to finish to be able to catch her up or something.

I felt like playing well on tour it's going to lead to a good result, so besides playing Olympics my other goal is win on tour. I think if I can do that the rest will take care of itself.

Q. What type of relationship do you and Yu have, and has it changed over the years?

XIYU LIN: I mean, we been always kind of similar like relation. We never really change a whole lot because of the Olympics. I mean, we even paired together in the third round in U.S. Open and we were talked about it, and I felt like we are more -- we always friend first and then we are one of the not many Chinese player out on tour, so I will always root for her no matter what, but at the same time we're competitors.

But that's just a little part of our life, so I think besides that we're still good friends.

THE MODERATOR: Will it change a little bit next week with a major and the final cut off? Will there be a little more aggression and excitement to make a run?

XIYU LIN: I mean, definitely for sure because everyone is chasing the same goals. I mean, unfortunately there is only two people going to make it, but I'm going to try my best and she's going to try her best, and then just see what's going to come out.

THE MODERATOR: Just how much of a goal is it to make the Chinese team again and implement country?

XIYU LIN: It's always a really big honor because Olympic is every four years, so imagine a player in their career how many Olympic can they play the most. I would say anything more than three or maybe four the most.

So every one of them is really important, and I feel like 2016 I was still a little too young that I didn't enjoy it as much as I should be.

So I definitely looking forward to go for another one and have a better result, enjoy it way more than last time.

THE MODERATOR: You're coming off a couple challenging events on the west coast. You mentioned the U.S. Open and then MEDIHEAL Championship last week. In regards to rest and preparation and adjusting to the east coast, how best do you do that in such a quick transition from the west to the east coast?

XIYU LIN: Well this morning I had a hard time to get out of bed. It's a three hours time different. But I think like this week will be easier because May I came play every year and then the course is kind of familiar. I heard it's a little changes, but we'll see.

But overall like the grass and the green I'm pretty familiar with, and then this is third week so I tried to save some energy this week by not playing that much practice round.

I know next week is brand new golf course and I heard it's a great one, too, so just looking forward to playing.

THE MODERATOR: You mentioned all the changes, over 300 trees removed, new bunkers, new teeing grounds here at Blythefield. You played the weekend here four times in six starts with two Top 10 finishes. Despite the changes, if you haven't seen them yet, what is it about this course that catches your eye that you like?

XIYU LIN: Yeah, I haven't seen the course, but I think first thing first, out of the course I have the best host family this week. I mean, I stay with her since my rookie year and it just really nice always come back to her. Last night we had dinner together to catch up because we didn't see each other in 2020. So that's always a great feeling.

For this golf course, I just felt like it's a challenging golf course and require to hit it straight, which I'm pretty good at. So, and then like the green, they roll really pure so I also really love putting on this green, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Who's the host family?

XIYU LIN: Her name is Beth Markham and she -- first couple years she used to work as volunteer on te 17th hole, but she's a nurse so she's pretty busy, so I don't think she's working as a volunteer this year. Yeah, she'll be watching.

THE MODERATOR: She'll be supporting.

XIYU LIN: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Thanks for your time.

^

^ this is Sophia.

THE MODERATOR: Sophia Howard ^ thank you everyone for tour patience. Joined by the every so bubbly personality Sophia Howard from the correspond days shared. Take us through your wish of meeting the correspond. Why the corresponded days believe I turned TV on maybe about a year or two ago and I my dad and I like to watch the PGA side but happened the LPGA channel was on and if I am correct, Jessica was up and she made a sweet chip from probably like hundred or so yards out ask I was like holy cow that was phenomenal. Then they switched to Nelly's holed and she had made a huge foot from I don't even know, 10 yards if to the hole and she made that in and I was like holy cow, these girls are good. And so I kept watching and they just kept making awesome shots /PRAERP there will doing well well I Googled them and search them up a bit and watched the stats and wept on the LPGA website and watched the enter /RAOUZ and highlights and I just fell in love with those girl's personalities and the way think play the game of golf.

So I think this year I really like sunk in that these girl are really who I like follow and would like to be one day so just to be able to meet them is just so surreal.

THE MODERATOR: You remember what event it was?

XIYU LIN: I do not. Uh-huh.

Q. Does it give you /KHEULDZ or anything to think how do you spell you inspired them?

XIYU LIN: A little bit. It's kind of crazy to think in my head that I'm inspiring them because they're inspiring me.

Q. (Indiscernible) what is does it mean for you to be able to continued to what you love despite your physical challenges knowledge I think any physical challenge doesn't have anything to do with it. Like I may look different, but I think I'm just another average person believe I go out and do the game of golf how everybody else and I don't let that stop me. Just go out ask kill it.

Q. (Indiscernible) what do you say to other young girls and boys and women who do have physical challenges that might beholding them back believe I think it takes a little push to get yourself out there right way but I think once you do you'll find out it's not a huge deal. Like you're just everybody else.

I think eventually if you keep /WURB you have pushing yourself out there you'll -- us people who have a different physical appearance will realize it doesn't matter we look this way or play differently. We can still be good or be at this level and still be winning tournaments?

Q. What was the hardest part for you playing with your two eye dolls today on I think I just how open they talk with me. On the greens and fairways it's just a -- they don't hold anything back. They just let me roll with it.

Q. So when we talked with Jess and Nelly is he both said that you're pretty after individual golfer and got a pretty impressive swing. Curious to know what do you enjoy most about the game of golf?

XIYU LIN: I -- well, firstly watching the game of golf I think the course would agree with me the LPGA side make shots that just then can't all the time so that keeps the game on the LPGA side just on people's toes of they can't hit it as far, they can't maybe do the best trick shot because may be they can't muscle it there but they make golf very interesting. They keep it -- there is a few highlights shots that I'm like wow I never could do that. So they keep the game of golf interesting. You never can tall asleep during that game.

Q. Awesome. And also, when we talked with Jess and Nelly, they mentioned that you all are group chat going and really it's only been a couple week since you met but how much fun has it been building a relationship with Jess and Nelly just as people that you look up to and them looking up to you as well? How cool has that relationship been that dynamic?

XIYU LIN: I think it's very cool. It's more surreal to me knowing that my idols take time out of their day to come chat with me. Media days, social. So I think that's very eye hope opening to me. Knew idols are willing to take time out of their busy day and come have a conversation whether in person or on the phone. That's very surreal to me.

Q. Nice to meet you virtually. I echo the shots, you know, swing of fun to watch videos of you. How long have you been playing? It what grade are you in? What tournaments are you playing local events this days? Huh are new high school?

XIYU LIN: I been playing golf for maybe three, four years, and I am 14 so I'm going into ninth grade. High school golf has in the started yet. It will start August ninth. That's maybe a month and a half before school starts. Yeah, so I'll play in some -- national local tournaments but play in some /TOPLTD that are adapt Tiff amounts that have a junior CheckAudio.

Q. Was there something you were really curious to ask Jess and Nelly, any fun tidbits I got or maybe a swing tip?

XIYU LIN: So it was kind of funny, the first time I met them the night before I was going to bed and all all they questions and out the thoughts I get to ask them. O- I'll remember in the morning and then I met them and we were sitting at lunch and shed Dow any questions for us and I was like you know what I should have wrote those down because I forgot all of them.

No, we went to the driving range and the putting green before we played the nine holes and well worked on the bunker shot. Just figuring out if I'm just -- how it narrow the ball and get it out of the bunker. And at one the best thing I think we found out is a lot of people open the club head to get the ball out of sand but I'm a closed faced person so I can get it out with a closed face. So that was something we figured out.

THE MODERATOR: Any other questions for Sophia?