BMW LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP

October 23, 2021

Hee Jeong Lim

LPGA International Busan

Press Conference

Q. I just want to start with 54 holes bogey-free. Do you remember the last time that that's happened?

HEE JEONG LIM: I think recently there was an event where I had one bogey-free round. But three consecutive bogey-free rounds I think is a first time for me.

Q. A big milestone for sure. It means you're just continuing this impressive streak of play. Just take me through how you were feeling out there today.

HEE JEONG LIM: So after the second round, I felt like my game was really good, so I said that I was actually looking forward to the third and fourth round.

And going into today, I felt like I could be a little bit more aggressive. Of course there were some putts here and there that I wish I could have done better, but I'm really happy with the low score.

Q. You started off your front nine with a birdie on every other hole. What do you like most about the front nine here at LPGA International Busan?

HEE JEONG LIM: First of all, I think the course can play a little bit difficult, a little bit tricky because of the wind. But at the same time, it's a course that offers you a lot of opportunities and chances.

So if you stick to the holes where you really need to keep fairway and make it on green, then you can make a lot of birdie opportunities. So I think for me being calm and not rushing myself was really key in playing this course today.

Q. You talked a little bit about how yesterday you felt really secure and you were excited for rounds three and four. Did you realize entering today that you hadn't missed a fairway at all? You've now only missed one fairway through 54 holes. Has that ever happened to you in competition before?

HEE JEONG LIM: Actually, I think I'm pretty good at keeping the fairway, especially when the fairway is not too narrow. And I am pretty confident about my tee shot accuracy. And I feel that the fairways here at the International Busan course is quite wide. So I think I had that confidence going into the shots and that played a key role.

Q. Did you realize when you missed that one fairway today that that was your only missed fairway?

HEE JEONG LIM: I wasn't necessarily aware of the fact that that was the first fairway that I missed during this event. But I'm not really used to missing the fairway. I usually keep the fairway pretty well. So being in the rough itself was a bit awkward I would have to say.

Q. I would like to congratulate you on your bogey-free 54 holes. And I know that you have wins on the KLPGA, but I would like to ask how you feel about being in an LPGA event in the final round, going into the final round being the lead.

HEE JEONG LIM: First of all, I really wanted to play well initially because this is the only LPGA Tour event in Korea. And I have to say it hasn't really hit home that I am leading right now.

But this isn't the final round. We still have the final round to go. So I think I'm focusing more on the fact that I need to do well tomorrow.

Q. You do have quite a lead going into the final round. How much more confidence does that give you to know that you're playing so well and you have this lead going into Sunday?

HEE JEONG LIM: I think psychologically and mentally trying to catch up with the lead is more comfortable in a way. And when you're in the lead, everybody is trying to catch up with you. So you have that extra bit of pressure.

But I'm trying not to think too much about it and just going to try to focus on my game tomorrow.

Q. The winner of this tournament, if they're not a member of the LPGA, certainly can accept membership for the LPGA. Have you thought about that option, and do you dream of potentially playing on the LPGA Tour?

HEE JEONG LIM: I think when I started with golf, my ultimate goal was to make it to the LPGA. And I would always see other players who would win the LPGA Tour events and automatically get to go to the LPGA, and I always kind of wanted that route for myself as well.

So I think I have a really good opportunity in front of me. But I always thought that I wanted to build my competency here in Korea and then later, perhaps when I'm more ready, go to the LPGA. But I think I'm ready to grab the opportunity if it presents itself.

Q. I was going to say, you don't have to answer this now, but if you were to win, do you think you would accept membership?

HEE JEONG LIM: I have to say that that's something that I would have to really think hard about. And so I can't make a hasty decision. So right now I think I'm going to focus on the final round, and when I do really have that opportunity, I think that's the time when I have to dig deep and think hard.

Q. As we take on tomorrow, I think one of the main story lines, we've talked about this, the winner would be the 200th win by a Korean player on the LPGA Tour. What would that mean to you or to any Korean player that wins tomorrow?

HEE JEONG LIM: I think for anybody to be able to round off that number, it would be an honor. And it is true that there is a lot of interest in the 200th Korean player to win a LPGA Tour event in Korea. And having so many Korean players doing well right now, I think the chances are high.

I think that the Korean players tomorrow may especially have to work hard.