COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 7, 2021

Jin Young

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Jin Young, you played fantastic last week. Wasn't able to get the W, but rolled it over into a tremendous round of golf today. How much motivation did not getting the trophy last week contributing to your stunning play today?

IN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I was a little sad on the Sunday last week. I had a lot of putt on back nine, so I was thinking, yeah, but still my putter is really good, so like don't be the negative something. So I will just give myself positive thinking, and today I had great round. The putting was not bad.

But, yeah, I had couple great shot but I had couple miss shot on the last hole, third shot. But I made par, so I'm happy for that.

Q. Just heard Nelly Korda talk about being No. 1 and she knows players are chasing her. How much does that motivate you coming in to regain the No. 1 spot?

IN YOUNG KO: Yeah, she's great player, but I think great player as well. So, well, we are each other like good competition, but, yeah, we'll see like -- yeah, she's...

But I don't want to think too much for the No. 1. I did a long time so I don't have like (indiscernible) for the world ranking No. 1.

So my goal is just thinking shot by shot and don't look at the scoreboard this week. Just my goal is like under -- my putting average under 30. It's going to be like 4-, 5-under each day, so it's going to be win.

Q. This time of year seems to be very good for you. Last year you played really well coming into the final stretch. What is about finishing off the season strong that makes you able to achieve so well?

IN YOUNG KO: I don't know. Like my body is really tired right now. This week is my four in a row. So I didn't practice much before the tournament. So I went to the New York City on Monday and I had great like refresh.

I don't know, like -- I don't know.

Q. It's great that you found some balance and very well played today and good luck the rest of the week.

IN YOUNG KO: Thank you.

Q. Jin Young, early leader with a round of 8-under 63. You played well last week; now a whole bunch of birdies here today. Tell us about your round today. You had, what, six birdies on your back nine?

IN YOUNG KO: Uh-huh.

Q. You played well today. Tell us about your round.

IN YOUNG KO: Thank you. Yeah, I had great round today. I was little sad last week on Sunday, so I was thinking like keep it all for my putting this week, and I had great putt today, so I shoot -- yeah, I got nine birdies today and one bogeys, but, yeah, still pretty good.

Looking forward next three days.

Q. Yes. You had just 25 putts today. You said you were trying to get under 30. That is a pretty good day with your putter. Were you working on it at all?

IN YOUNG KO: Yes, I did. I was thinking my swinging or like course management is pretty good, so my putting so well I think I can play a lot of birdies and a lot of under par.

So I had a lot of practice for putting before the tournament, so, yeah, pretty.

Q. Yes, so I just wanted to ask you, you now have 11 straight rounds in the 60s, and that's the third longest in LPGA history; the record is 14 by Annika. Did you know that stat?

IN YOUNG KO: No, no, I didn't know.

Q. Now that you do, is there maybe any motivation to try to break that streak?

IN YOUNG KO: Of course. Yeah, I think so. It's great honor to record beat Annika. If I can, even it's going to be great honor.

If not, still fine.

Q. Is there any sort of motivation to grab back the No. 1 spot in the world?

IN YOUNG KO: Well, after this week I back to Korea. That's going to be good motivation for me. So nothing. No, I don't have motivation for the rankings.

Q. Jin Young Ko, who opened with an 8-under 63 to jump out to the early lead here. How would you describe the round today?

IN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I had great round. I had couple miss shot on last hole, third shot, but I made par and I did a lot of great shot and great putts, so I made 8-under today.

Q. You had a lot of great shots last week as well at ShopRite. Came up just short there. What did you take away from that finish?

IN YOUNG KO: Well, I didn't bringing from the ShopRite nothing. Like I feel was little sad on Sunday, so I didn't want to like take away from ShopRite to here.

I just like I need to refresh my mind and for the golf as well, and I didn't practice much before the tournament. I had just naps and watch Netflix. Yeah, nothing.

Q. Resting and Netflix are always a great combination.

IN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. You're also in the hunt for some of the biggest awards of the end of the season. Chasing Nelly Korda. How much is that a motivator for you in the final events of the year?

IN YOUNG KO: Well, I don't want to think about like a lot of the money rank or whatever, world ranking, whatever. Nelly is good player and I'm always happy to compete with her.

I want to better play than her a little bit, but she's still like hit farther and great putter, so it's going to be have to -- I have to like more focus my game when I playing with Nelly. Yeah, she's good player.