THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 29, 2022

Yuka Saso

Mission Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's do. Let's kick it off. Here at the Chevron Championship with Yuka Saso, major champion herself at the Women's U.S. Open a few years ago. Welcome to the desert.

YUKA SASO: Thank you.

Q. Beautiful day out here. How you feeling to be back here in Rancho Mirage?

YUKA SASO: It's good to be back. I played here last year and made the cut and had some great memories, so, yeah, it feels really good to be back and playing first major of the year.

Q. You mentioned last year it was your first time playing in the event; tied for 50th. What did you learn about this golf course after seeing it for the first time last year that now you can use this year?

YUKA SASO: It wasn't actually my first time last year.

Q. That's right. Did you play as an amateur?

YUKA SASO: No, I played the AJGA event so we played here on the last day, and played with the Hall of Famer players.

Obviously golf course is very difficult, long rough, fast greens, you know, long par-5s. So I definitely learned a lot, being patient and be more mature inside the golf course.

Yeah, it was a very good experience.

Q. Coming here off a couple weeks off, at least here on the LPGA Tour. Last event was a tie for 12th in Thailand. What did you do during that break, and how do you feel now as you head into the tournament?

YUKA SASO: I didn't really do anything. I just probably slept the whole week and really gave myself a good week off. I came in early to practice here and get ready.

But, yeah, nothing really special.

Q. Where were you during that week off? Were you home or in the States?

YUKA SASO: I was in Carlsbad.

Q. Nice. You hung out in Carlsbad, huh?

YUKA SASO: Yeah, I was at Callaway.

Q. All right. Were you getting dialed in, getting some work done?

YUKA SASO: Yes. We worked hard. (Laughter.)

Q. What do you do when you go to something like that when you're working on your clubs?

YUKA SASO: Just talking with the team and hit some balls and go back home.

Q. Uh-uh.

YUKA SASO: Nothing much. Nothing complicated.

Q. Keep it simple.

YUKA SASO: Yep.

Q. Every time we've seen you this year you're just hitting it on a frozen rope and you're like, you got to pick Yuka this week. What's so good about your game at the present moment and why should people watch you?

YUKA SASO: What is frozen rope?

Q. Means you're hitting it straight and far.

YUKA SASO: You mean in the range, right? (Smiling.)

You know, I mean, every week we're trying to get -- hit better, get better as a golfer.

You know, the range you don't have much pressure, so I think it goes well, better there. It doesn't really -- I think it doesn't really matter what you do on the range. What matters most is what I do on the course.

Yes I hit some good shots, but the consistency is not there yet, so hopefully I can work on that and be better.

Q. What are you doing to work on that consistency?

YUKA SASO: Well, a lot. Trying to do the same thing every day. Probably more about the routine and stuff, trying to get my own timing, get used to it.

I'm still -- like I just turned pro two years ago, so I don't have much information about it, so it's good that there is some other players that I can talk to about it.

Q. One more: Since your Open win you've become quite popular. I see you have a new logo, KPMG. How have you adjusted to the fame and celebrity that comes with being a major champion?

YUKA SASO: First of all, I'm very thankful for all my sponsors, especially now with KPMG. I'm very honored to be joining team KPMG. It was one of my dreams to join team KPMG. I looked up to Stacy a lot.

You know, I don't think being famous affects my game. I think it gives me more confidence to play better and do more good stuff, be a better person.

So, yeah, nothing -- I don't have any pressure from any of them at all. I think what I feel is more about the support that they give me, and that gives me confidence to, you know, strive for better.

Q. You mentioned you're working on a new routine and talking to other players about it. Who did you talk with what is that routine now?

YUKA SASO: A lot, not just one or two. You know, like since I started playing as a professional golfer I have my own routine, but as I play more it needed some adjustments, like in my short game and stuff.

Those are the stuff that I struggle for a long time and still now, so I asked like Dorothy from Philippines for short game advices. You know, get some -- like the routine I had, to change a little with my tempo and stuff.

It's hard to explain everything because I'm not so good with explaining with words. But, yeah, hopefully.

And also I'm using a device that Lydia and Annika uses that help me a lot, too. I still have a lot of time to work on with, so I'm just taking my time and get everything together, and hopefully I can connect that to my game.

Q. Are there any memories of your round here from the AJGA event that stand out to you now?

YUKA SASO: I was just so thankful that I was able to play with the Hall of Famers. You know, the first year I played with Jenny Lidback and she gave me a lot of advices. She actually told me -- oh, no, actually I asked her about how she prepares for a tournament, and she told me she focus on short game.

So I think that really help me, and can you believe that after four years I'm still working on my short games?

Q. You'll never stop working on it, will you?

YUKA SASO: Yeah, I will never stop working on it. Yeah, I mean, it's good that I have something to work on than nothing, right?

Yeah, I thank her for that advices she gave me.

Q. What in particular in your short game are you working on now?

YUKA SASO: Everything. Yeah, everything.

Q. So overall, as you come into the week here at Chevron, we're getting so much support from Chevron, a big sponsor up there. You mentioned joining KPMG. Happy to be part of that family. What does it mean to have companies like Chevron, like KPMG, like Callaway that support the women's tour this way and support you athletes?

YUKA SASO: It means a lot I think. I mean, like it's great to have a great sponsors, like you mentioned KPMG, Callaway, all my sponsors. You know, to have support of women's golf, it means so much, a lot to me, and for everyone, I think that will push us to play better and get more attention of everyone.

THE MODERATOR: We're excited to have you here this week. Welcome back to the desert.

YUKA SASO: Thank you.