COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

October 9, 2021

So Yeon Ryu

Mountain Ridge Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with So Yeon Ryu after three rounds is 9-under. Take us through your day out there today.

SO YEON RYU: It was a rough day. I feel like after I miss the birdie putt on the No. 4 I sort of lost the confidence, and then after that I think that putt just really affected to my game.

And then I feel like my confidence level was really low, and so I obviously shot 3-over at the front nine. And then when I just make a turn I just told myself to like it's all about the confidence, let's just play like world No. 1.

And then I think that attitude helped me out a lot to shot 3-under, and then I'm glad to finish strong.

Q. Overcast conditions probably made the golf course play a little bit harder. How did you find the conditions at Mountain Ridge today?

SO YEON RYU: Yeah, definitely felt a little different, but we had some of the key teeing ground up, so I think when we had it into the wind on the Par-5 didn't really affect it that much because we had quite a forward tee.

Even though we had lot of wind, I feel like because greens soft enough we were able to place aggressively.

Q. So Yeon, when you don't have your best stuff out there, how do you grind out an even par round?

SO YEON RYU: I just told myself to like nothing to lose. If I'm not going to win, second position or 20 position is nothing really different. So just keep telling myself to just let's just be at the present. Don't think about the big picture. Let's think about each shot, and then just keep told myself to let's be confident.

Q. And you've always liked hard golf courses, major championship caliber. Do you feel as though -- what part of that do you feel as though plays into your game?

SO YEON RYU: I don't know. Like I think I always really enjoy the shape shot. I think that's one of the reason why I enjoy the tough golf course. Because obviously I think tough golf course means not always great design, but when we play tough golf course, most of the time it's really, really great design.

So I really try to listening to what designer wanted to see us to play, and then just sort of focus on just shot shaping.

Q. You work the ball, which is very rare these days for players to do. Do you find yourself starting at the middle and working it toward some of the pins out here?

SO YEON RYU: Yeah, you know, actually like today quite a lot of pin was really sideway, like a lot of corner side, so the tough thing was even though let's say the number 7 par-3, the pin position was like right. I think we only had like three from the right but the wind was coming from the right to left, so even though I really wanted to cut shot, like I enough cut to really like big cut shot.

So that was bit challenging part. Yeah, most of the time I try to just shaping the ball instead of try to hitting it straight.

Q. Do you find yourself out there looking at leaderboards when you're shots back and gaining them again, or do you shy away from doing so?

SO YEON RYU: I think it really depends the circumstance. Really depends on my feeling. I think when I'm anxious I try not to watch it because the most of time when I feel anxious that means I start to compare to other people.

So when I feel really anxious I really try to just focus on myself instead of think about the other thing. Then I think when I'm really confident enough, like I have no problem watching leaderboard.

Q. So today did you find yourself watching more on the back?

SO YEON RYU: No. I really wanted to focus on myself instead of think about other players. So I want to say like I watched it, but I try not to like see it.

Q. Just one more. With your four shots back heading into the final round, what's the mindset? Do things change for you? Do you go for broke considering you haven't won in it three years?

SO YEON RYU: If I'm going to have a good feeling of my golf swing I think I probably going to play very aggressive. And then, you know, like Jin Young is one of the best player out here and then I play with her today, and then still like she's pretty hot. Like her ball striking and putting, everything is pretty great.

So I think I have to go for aggressive to catch her up.