COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 5, 2021

Jin Young Ko

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, we are here with Jin Young Ko who it's been a little bit, but you are defending champion at the Cognizant Founders Cup. That was the beginning of a big year for you two years ago. What are your best memories of your win at the Founders Cup?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, in 2019 this tournament was my first time win in the U.S., like America, so it was like really big for me, and it was great memories.

And I played really well in Arizona, so I'm happy to be here. It's been two years, but yeah, still happy.

Q. Have you ever had to wait this long to defend a title?

JIN YOUNG KO: No, no, no. But Evian same. Same is like in 2019 and two years later I played Evian. Like same as Evian.

Q. This is such a special event with the Founders and everything with girls' golf. What is the overall experience at this event like with everything that we do that celebrates the women's game?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, yeah, I think we have to like thanks to like a lot of Founders. In 2019 I met one of the Founders at No. 18 and I had like handshake with her. I was so sorry she pass away, but, well, I appreciate it for a lot of Founders too, like from lot of girls. So I want to sigh thank you.

Q. They're very inspirational, just like you are now. I played well last week at ShopRite. How is your game right now as you come here? It's a little cold and wet. How are you feeling as you start a new week?

JIN YOUNG KO: I play nine holes early in the morning and I check the course, and this course is like major course. Like green, and so like clearing on the fairways, even greens as well, and everything is like perfect condition. So feels major and I'm defending, so it's going to be long week.

But, yeah, well, I'm happy. And fairways a little wet and greens as well, but just like in Portland. So, yeah, I can get a lot of good memories from Portland. I hope good week, I have a good week this week.

Q. You mentioned this is like a major course. What is it that makes this course different and special? It's very old. It's very important here in the Northeast. What is it about this course that makes it like a major course?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, like the course shape is like major. Even last week or two weeks ago like feels like wide fairway, a lot of like greens are like flatter.

But this week is like more undulation and hilly. Yeah, food is amazing here, so I think I can eat a lot of cookies.

Q. The cookies are delicious. I just had one.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I was happy.

Q. Cognizant is our new title sponsor. They doubled the purse, a lot support. The big news this morning was Chevron and moving the championship and the purse increase. How important is it to you as players to have companies like this who see you as someone they want to support, this tour to support?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, well, I would say, yeah, like if prize money going higher then we have to play -- we really want to play with a lot of prize money, and I want to say thank you to all the sponsors. Thank you to ANA. They sponsored this tour like since like over three years, so I want to say thank you.

And I won that tournament with the ANA in Palm Springs, and even with Chevron or like Cognizant, the sponsors of this week, yeah, like a lot of good players in this tour and I'm happy to (indiscernible). It's amazing and, yeah.

Q. This is our last week playing in in the U.S. before a break.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah.

Q. Break time, yay. How are you going to spend your off time?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I will go back to Korea straight after this week. I will meet a lot of good friends in Korea and I will eat a lot of good Korean food as well, and I will prepare for the BMW, and, yeah, I will come back in this November.

Q. Yeah for Pelican and CME?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah.

Q. Wonderful. And then I know you said after ShopRite you were going to go shopping in New York. How did it go?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I went to the shopping, I went to the New York City. It's been the first time to visit there. It was pretty and it's a little bit rain yesterday, but still good weather.

A lot of good cool peoples around the road. I saw a lot of good like fancy stores. I went to a lot of good stores but a lot of things is out of stock so I couldn't get nothing. I had just eye shopping window shopping.

Still happy. Yeah. Yeah, it's fine.

Q. It was your first time in New York?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes, it was.

Q. Really? What did you think?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, like a lot of peoples like wearing a lot of stuff on hands or necklace or earrings, or even diamond rings way bigger. So, wow.

It's a lot of like lightning from the like Times Squares or like -- yeah, was fun. I want to go visit again in Christmastime.

Q. Yes, you need to. It's beautiful. Rockefeller center tree. All right, thank you so much, Jin Young, appreciate it.