BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

October 21, 2021

In Gee Chun

LPGA International Busan

Press Conference

Q. In Gee, a nice solid day to start this tournament. Just take me through what was working so well for you.

IN GEE CHUN: My ball-striking wasn't going very well, so I practiced a lot and I prepared a lot. And going into this round, my ultimate goal was to have a bogey-free round, which I did. So I would like to pat myself on the back for that.

And another goal I had was to not really miss any opportunities that arise, and I think I did that too.

Q. What's it like to be back at the BMW Ladies Championship participating in this Tour event in Korea? What does it mean for you to be playing well at an event like this?

IN GEE CHUN: A little bit disappointed, but at the same time I'm happy to be back here to play at the BMW Ladies Championship. I really missed the event last year, I always really enjoyed to play in front of all the fans out here. So I I want to say thanks to BMW.

Q. Plenty of birdies out there for you. When did it start to feel like you were clicking out there during your round?

IN GEE CHUN: Honestly, I didn't know I made that much birdie out there because I'm trying to make a good focus every hole and every shot. So I don't know. I thought it just going through really well.

Q. What have you been specifically working on leading up to this kind of event, and how comfortable do you feel in your game after a solid performance like today?

IN GEE CHUN: When I played the tournament in Korea, I really want to make solid finish. Sometimes that makes me a little more pressure. So this time I just tried to play well and a little more enjoy.

After first round, if I made the first round and I was happy to play going to next day. Hopefully I can make another good round tomorrow and during the weekend. I want to see my name on top of the leaderboard.

Q. How much did coming back here after the Walmart Championship help you kind of get into the zone and help you maybe mentally, also, just being back in your home country?

IN GEE CHUN: So all my friends here, so it was good seeing my friends before I came here. I spent a lot of time with my friends after practice and I had good food, and for mom. I was enjoy -- I was really happy to stay at home, but now I have house in U.S. too. So I don't know, but I really want to go to Dallas as well.

Q. What will you take away from your first day here as you prepare for the next couple of rounds? I know you said you want to see your name at the top of the leaderboard. So what will that take for you?

IN GEE CHUN: I don't think it's specifically a takeaway from day one, but I believe that with golf, every hole and every shot is really important, and it's the 18 holes and every shot that build into the good score that can lead to a win.

So that's kind of the attitude I'll have to go in with, and I hope that the hard work that I've put in so far will come to fruition, and I really want to win.

And I've noticed that when I have that yearning, the pressure also comes along as well. So I think I'll have to try to really be on top of my emotions and do some mind control tomorrow on the course.

And I hope that I can show my fans my appreciation by winning. But even if I don't, this time around, I will continue to just simply work hard with every shot and with every hole.

Q. The first hole your second shot landed in a bad place, the lie was not good, but you ultimately garnered a birdie at that hole. So did that set the tone for the bogey-free, many birdies round? And what was going through your mind when you were trying to set up for the second shot? Did you think that this could lead to a missed shot?

IN GEE CHUN: So my tee shot fell at the right tip of the left bunker. So from my position, I thought my ball had fallen into the bunker. And I looked at the pin location, and it wasn't right behind the bunker.

So I thought I could play a nice bunker shot and I had a chance, but when I approached the bunker, I saw that the ball was not there, and it was in a really bad downhill lie.

But I looked at the ball and I thought that I could make a really good shot and I could still set myself up with a birdie opportunity.

And when my caddie gave me the reading on the distance, it's actually a distance that I'm really comfortable with, so I knew I could swing the shot as I used to and I could still make it.

So I think a shot like that, it does set the tone, especially for the next hole. And then if you keep up the momentum, it does set the tone for the round itself.

But I'm pretty simple in my thinking. I don't read too much into this. So I thought it was nice that I had a birdie, and then I just simply went on and worked on the next shot as I always do.