CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 19, 2021

Jin Young Ko

Tiburon Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Jin Young Ko after a solid 5-under 67 today. Hit 13 of 14 fairways, 18 of 18 greens. You're striking the ball really well. Just take us through some of your highlights.

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I would say my swinging or putting not perfect, but I hit a lot of fairways and greens as well and I made a lot of putt today.

And I was happy to play with Lydia. That's why I play good I think.

Q. You two had a really big hug at the end. Are you two really good friends?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. So more fun to play with Lydia than maybe somebody else?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I like to play with Brooke Henderson or Lydia or the other Korean players as well. Just I love to play in this tour with who else, doesn't matter really.

Yeah, I'm happy.

Q. How did you find the golf course today with the wind? It was pretty windy out there.

JIN YOUNG KO: It was really, really windy out there, way different as last year for the direction from the wind.

But was cool. It was fine.

Q. How is your wrist doing?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, yeah, this tournament is last tournament of the year so everybody has injure a little bit, little things.

But same as the other person. I hope getting better.

Q. When did that pain start?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I would say was in May.

Q. Yeah.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah.

Q. Right after ANA?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. What about Lydia, what makes her such a great person to play golf with?

JIN YOUNG KO: Lydia, she's always smiling on the course and she has great attitude for golf, for the other person, and she has -- I love her and I love about her personality, and she has great short game, everything.

So I want to copy it.

Q. And then going back to the wrist, if this wasn't the last tournament of the year with $1.5 million, Player of the Year, all that stuff, do you think you would've withdrew if it wasn't the last tournament of the year?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, my caddie said yesterday No. 11, he said, This is no point if you have really bad injury. You can withdraw or whatever.

But I said, Yeah, I'm sick right now, but I don't want to withdraw from the tournament. I wanted to play until 18 holes yesterday. I had icing it last night and it was getting better.

Yeah, no, I think if this only -- is not prize money is $1.5 million or last tournament, I would not going to withdrew, yeah.

Q. What's it say about your confidence level that you can go onto the golf course without hitting a full shot in practice and going out and shooting the scores that you shot the first two days?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I don't know. I don't have 100% confidence for my swing or whatever; everything just keep doing -- hit the ball straight and just choose right club and choose right direction from the wind and read a break right and, yeah, just enjoy.

It's fun.

Q. After a round like today, maybe the best practice is no practice?

JIN YOUNG KO: No.

Q. Is there a particular shot that the wrist bothers you a little bit more that you're trying to hit, or not?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I would say it's starting to backswing I felt little pain, and backswing to downswing I can feel it little pain here.

But I had a lot of tape on my wrist, so better. Fine.

Q. Does driver hurt more than, say, 9-iron?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. Last one from me. I feel like when you're in position to do some great things, like win the Player of the Year award, $1.5 million, you really show up. What changes in your mindset when there is so much on the line for you?

JIN YOUNG KO: I would say it's going to be little pressure on me on the course, but I don't want to get a lot of pressure, and even stress.

I will just keep doing same as last two days. And I did well this year, so, yeah. I don't want to get more harder than easy shots.