JTBC CLASSIC PRESENTED BY BARBASOL

March 25, 2022

Lydia Ko

Aviara Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Lydia, a very interesting and nice round two. What a way to end your Friday. Take me through the differences from yesterday.

LYDIA KO: I think I gave myself a few more opportunities for birdies today. The front nine yesterday I struggled to get my club selection on, and that just set up a lot of mid to long range putts. I was able to get the hang of things maybe when the temperature got warmer.

For the most parts, unless I had missed the green due to a poor shot, I think that was much better. So, no, I felt like I left a few putts out there. At the same time, it's not easy.

Overall I think I played pretty sold the last couple days, and hopefully that's good momentum into the weekend.

Q. Taking advantage of I think three of the four par-5s out here today. How important are those birdie opportunities?

LYDIA KO: I think the one that I didn't birdie was actually the one that was reachable. I hit a poor tee shot and made the only par.

No, I think you do have to take advantage of like any opportunity you get. I stuck it close on both of the par-5s that I birdied out of the three, and then one I got really lucky. I completely powered my putt and luckily had like a backboard inside the hole to kind of keep it in.

Yeah, I think no matter if it's a par-5, par-4, par-3, I'm just trying to set up opportunities, and I think that just puts a little less stress on the putting.

At the end of the day, the more opportunities you get, you feel like you're going to keep knocking on the door and then just wait for your share to fall.

Q. And a Lake Nona grouping with Leona and Nasa. How much fun is that for you?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, when I saw the pairings on Tuesday night I was super excited for our group. I haven't been paired with the two together before, so I was excited.

And they both been playing great. Leona had her first win on tour the week after I won, and Nasa has been playing great as well.

Yeah, I knew we were going to have lots of fun, and it's also great to be part of a good momentum. I think we were able to feed off each other. There were quite a few holes where maybe it was me and another player that birdied or all three of us birdied or the other two birdied, so it was just a lot of good vibes there.

Q. Aviara is a good memory for you in the past. What's it like having the confidence you have as you head into the weekend?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I think this is some of the most solid golf I have played on this golf course. I have played some questionable golf here, too.

Hopefully just being able to draw back on some memories from 2016. My distances are a little different compared to then. I feel like even though it's the same course, to some extent doesn't feel like the same course.

Just trying to play the best golf now and give myself good opportunities. I think the greens, even though they're poana, they haven't been super bumpy and been in really good shape, so trying to take advantage of those conditions as well.

Q. Just a comment on we were talking about bit with Golf Channel but Jin Young Ko's streak ending there. You talked about how incredible that is right now. What do you think of the run she's been on over the last couple weeks?

LYDIA KO: I think I posted on my Instagram, Baller. I would've put another word in front, like everybody knows which word, baller, but self-explanatory.

I don't think no words needed. You know, the six wins in the last ten starts, like who does that? I don't know if there is any better, any more consistent player or athlete in the world right now.

I think she's been dominating. It's not like she shot 80 today. She still shot under par. Just the 60 something, you know, 60s, round in the 60s, 16 rounds is pretty incredible. I've been able to play alongside her in some of those rounds and she's very consistent.

You know, she's kind of the player where I play with her and I don't really know what could go wrong, and I think I that's kind of the momentum she's been taking. Yeah, it's very impressive, and I'm sure there are many other streaks she will go on as well.