PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 9, 2021

Jin Young Ko

Pelican Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Jin Young Ko who has been on a tear as late. Won four of your last seven events, your last win coming in your home country of Korea.

What was that win like for you in your home country at the BMW Championship?

JIN YOUNG KO: I didn't know that I had four times win in seven tournaments. Also I had great week in BMW Championship in my hometown in Korea. I was so happy. That playoff was my I first time in professional career, and, yeah, I did well.

I was happy with my family and friends.

Q. When you're there and winning there, how special was that for you? Did you feel like a superstar?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, always happy to win in hometown, especially me. Yeah, I had a lot good fans in Korea so they had a lot of fun to watch. They was so happy for me. Yeah, it's honor, yeah.

Q. Did you spend time in Korea after your win?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes, I did. I spent time in Korea, almost 10 days.

Q. You say you did not realize you had won four out of seven. How do you get into the mindset where you're that focused that you don't even realize what you're doing?

JIN YOUNG KO: I would say I have no idea. I just focus on my performance on the course and my body condition. So, well, yeah, I just care about my swing, my putting feel. I don't think about how many did I play in.

Yeah, I don't want to, yeah, think about numbers.

Q. So carrying that one step further, so much is on the line now, Player of the Year, all of the CME awards. How do you block that out and focus only on the next shot?

JIN YOUNG KO: I didn't check my cell phone to like numbers or like points or Player of the Year as well. I'm thinking just my swing and my putting, yeah.

Q. With your 10 days in Korea, did you practice with your coach? Did you take time off? What did you do with that time?

JIN YOUNG KO: I took a rest after the tournament, just one day in Busan, and I back to home and I practice with my swing coach and trainer. So I work hard before when I leave from Korea to the U.S. I had good time with my family and friends.

Q. What specifically could you possibly improve winning four out of last seven events? What are you working on?

JIN YOUNG KO: I was focusing on my swing, my backswing, backswing to downswing. Was cold in Korea so I didn't practice much, but I had great practice with my swing coach at the range.

Q. One more. The Vare Trophy, when did you realize that you wouldn't have enough rounds to be eligible to win the Vare Trophy? How did you react to that, I guess?

JIN YOUNG KO: Before the BMW Championship I knew about I can't get Vare Trophy, as with Nelly, too. It was little sad, but, yeah, we took a long day, so we couldn't get anymore in Vare Trophy.

But I have still chance for next year or two years later or wherever, so I can get Vare Trophy again someday.

Q. Could you tell me how satisfied you were overall with what you've done already this season?

JIN YOUNG KO: I would say ten out of the seven. Not bad, but not good.

Q. What did you feel like you didn't accomplish that you wish you had?

JIN YOUNG KO: More major championship, like U.S. Open and KPMG Championship and British and Grand Slam, and I'm done. (Laughter.)

Q. This was a really busy season, obviously the Olympics and the way that the schedule with the travel worked. How did you feel like you handled that?

JIN YOUNG KO: I had a lot of stress before the Olympics, and after Olympics I feels -- I was feel really fresh and I played really well after the Olympics. I got four wins after the Olympics.

So, yeah, it was tough season but I had good season. Two more left, so I'm going to be trying good finish, strong finish of the season. And, yeah, that's going to be, yeah, I hope better finish than last year.

Q. It's a little strange to have several weeks off before two events and then the off-season. What do you hope to do in these two weeks and what does it feel like to have a break on both ends?

JIN YOUNG KO: I don't want to leave from the Korea to U.S., because after the win I was -- I needed to more time of the rest with my friends. But 10 days was little short to me, so I feels like I didn't take a rest well in Korea.

So I need more rest, but I'm in here, so I have to focus on my tournament next two weeks.

So I will eyes on fire.

Q. You just said that you hope to finish better than last year. You won the CME. How could it get better?

JIN YOUNG KO: If I win, get better. (Laughter.)

Q. Since you took your break after the Olympics and worked with your coach for a few weeks, what's the biggest difference you've seen in your game since then to now?

JIN YOUNG KO: I can say my backswings are better than before change my coach, and like ball contact or like everything going to be better than before the Olympics.

And I had, yeah, a lot of practice with my swing coach after the Olympics, so yeah, I'm happy to be back with my old coach.

Q. What led you to take a break from your old coach?

JIN YOUNG KO: Oh, I had no reason. Just I need take a rest.

Q. And this isn't the first time you've really responded well to a lesson from your current coach. What lets you and him work so well together?

JIN YOUNG KO: He really knows -- he really well knows my swing or putting, or everything, so if I say anything he knows my feeling or my mindset.

So, yeah, that's really comfy. He knows everything from me.

Q. Do you remember at what point you called him to reconnect and go back to him this year?

JIN YOUNG KO: I didn't -- yeah, I didn't -- I can't remember. My manager, he did.

Q. And you talked about how long your lessons are with him. What motivates you to work as hard as you do at the game of golf?

JIN YOUNG KO: If I get win I'm happy, but more than happy around me, so that's going to be my motivation.

And even family or friends or my manager or my caddie, Brooker, they going to happy more than me, so I like to watch to them smiling all the time. (Smiling.)

Q. Just to kind of discuss the world rankings a little bit, obviously you and Nelly have been battling all year for 1 and 2. What has this been like for you and her to duke it out a little bit?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, it's doesn't matter. We have to accept for everything, so I'm not upset. Yeah, everything is fine. Yeah, life is good. Golf is good. I don't want to get stress from world ranking.

If I'm play better I can get No. 1 again, but I don't want to like -- I don't want to get like world ranking -- I don't want to get aggressive or like stress from the world ranking No. 1, uh-huh.

Q. Because of how good you've been playing, what is your mindset coming into a week like Pelican? Obviously looking to add another win to the resume, but what's the mindset coming into this week.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, this week and next week is bermuda. It's big different type of grass. Even the greens as well. But better than last year. Yeah, it's going to be little different as in Korea to grass, but, yeah, I have to get something from the grass in the bermuda.

THE MODERATOR: I think that's it. Thank you so much.

Q. Can I get the name of your swing coach?

JIN YOUNG KO: Siwoo Lee.

Q. Can you spell it?

JIN YOUNG KO: S-i-w-o-o, L-e-e.

Q. Perfect. Thank you.

JIN YOUNG KO: Thank you.