ISPS HANDA WORLD INVITATIONAL

July 29, 2021

Chella Choi

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. You're one of three tied for the lead after the first round. How great were the conditions this afternoon? They seemed pretty nice for scoring.

CHELLA CHOI: Yes, very lucky. I think when I played with Olivia, I have very good love for weather. All players, not much practice rounds, so everybody same condition, and don't know golf course. So I trying to focus on just hit fairways and hit the green and made good shots today.

Q. Just because Olivia is Irish, she's good luck?

CHELLA CHOI: She gave me a lot of good luck. She played good today, and she's a very nice girl. I talked with her very good. Personality very good, and she's starting to qualifying this year, so yeah, it's very good.

Q. Did you give her some advice on qualifying?

CHELLA CHOI: Good luck. Only one time for life hopefully. She played so good, and she know everywhere, so I'm trying to follow her to tee shots, so that's why I played good.

Q. I saw an eagle on the scorecard. At one point I think they had you down for two eagles, but you at least had the one eagle on No. 1. Start with that one. Can you take me through hole No. 1 and how you found your way to an eagle?

CHELLA CHOI: Hit driver really good, and second shot I hit 3-hybrid to five feet and make an eagle. When I practice round only remember like 1 through 6 or 7, so I think 1 through 3 is a very easy golf course, so I trying to make a -- I really want a good score to starting, but I made my goal today, so that's why easy make up golf today.

Q. You said you only saw holes 1 through 7 in your practice round?

CHELLA CHOI: No, I played 1 through 16, but just remember is -- I feel like 1, 2, 3 is easy holes, so I really want to make a birdie first starting because I don't remember not much the golf course. I really want to play good starting.

Q. And you did that. 2, 3, 4 and you also had birdies. Then you also had a birdie at 9, 12 and 13. Bogey-free on the back nine. How good was it to make the turn and shoot bogey-free on the back 9?

CHELLA CHOI: Shot was good No. 15 through 17, but I didn't make a putt. I really good read but only make a speed or just a little bit. But No. 18 I pulled it, my tee shot, but I really good up-and-down on the last hole, so I have really good memory here and very positive.

Q. Have you ever been to Northern Ireland?

CHELLA CHOI: First time ever, so I'm very excited, and nice weather today. First time like even, right, men and women, so I played with two guys in my practice round, it's very fun. Like first time ever I feel like no tournament ever enjoyed like here.

Q. You've never played an event of this format?

CHELLA CHOI: No, it's not much, very unusual. Before the tournament I feel like really when I play with guys practice rounds really, but when I practice with them, they short game and putting is really good, so I really enjoyed it.

Q. For tomorrow you're playing the Massereene course. Were you able to practice over there at all?

CHELLA CHOI: I played yesterday pro-am, and it's very love for me because I play morning yesterday, so I play all holes, so I know the golf course. Better than here, I remember. I think that golf course, too, like the greens are pretty good condition. I know fairway is a little wider than here, so I think I'll try to keep fairway and keep green, make putts. I'll try, do my best.

Q. I heard it was a little bit bouncy, that there was a lot of run-out. Did you see that?

CHELLA CHOI: Well, yesterday rain a lot, so fairways got very wet. I know I heard very firm, but yesterday was not. It's a little difficult because I'm trying to make first couple holes -- I try to make, how do I play golf.

Q. First couple holes are kind of your bread and butter, get off to a fast start?

CHELLA CHOI: Yes.