THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

March 29, 2022

Jin Young Ko

Mission Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Jin Young Ko, our 2019 championship, winner. Jin Young, welcome back to Mission Hills. Tell me how you're feeling now and your excitement for this first major.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I'm happy to be back here, first major of the year. I have great memories here, so I'm happy.

Q. Very happy. You got to take the jump into Poppie’s Pond. Tell me about 2019, that experience, that win. What was the excitement of that week?

JIN YOUNG KO: The jumping was -- it was first time jumping in the swimming pool in my life, so I had -- I scared a little bit, but I had to. I had to jumping.

So I tried to keep smile on my face, smiling face, and jumping in Poppie’s Pond. It was fun, but was a little scared.

Q. So now you know what to do, right?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I can do again.

Q. We know you can. You can do anything. And speaking of doing anything, playing so well, so many rounds in the 60s, so many rounds under par, so many wins. How do you feel coming into this week? Is your game still at the top?

JIN YOUNG KO: Not the top I think. I'm trying to better play than yesterday and two days ago, even better.

Well, yeah, my games are pretty good now, so I can't wait to play this course, of course. This year is going to be last year for us, so I can't wait to play.

Q. You say you want to be better than yesterday.

JIN YOUNG KO: Uh-huh.

Q. Yesterday was very good. What are you working on? Is there anything specific that you're trying to work on in your game right now?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, yeah, under 100 meters wasn't good in last week so I had a lot of wedge game yesterday on the range. I practice a lot with my caddie.

I didn't play the course yet, so I will go to play after this interview. But I heard this course condition is really nice, so I can practice a lot on the course and the range.

Yeah, I hope better to play under 100 meters in this week.

Q. So you did win here and you've played here last year. Is this going to be a strange week knowing it's the last time that you play here? Why does this course fit your game so well?

JIN YOUNG KO: I don't know. I just trying to hit straight driver or everything, but this course fairways are narrow, so we need to keep the fairway. That's why I love this course, I love to play this course.

Q. You said last week we haven't seen the best of you yet. What does the best of Jin Young Ko look like?

JIN YOUNG KO: (Through translation.) If you place second with a 5-par difference then it would be the best that I have done so far.

THE MODERATOR: With a 5-par difference?

JIN YOUNG KO: 5 shots.

Q. So if you win by 5? Sorry, could you say that again?

JIN YOUNG KO: 5 shots -- if I win the tournament behind second place players, if like five shot behind it's going to be my best performance, I guess.

Q. Is there a point in your career so far that you feel like you have gotten to that level, that you have been the best you can be?

JIN YOUNG KO: Not yet, no. No.

Q. Given as well as you have been playing coming into this week, do you expect at this point to win another major championship?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, of course I can.

Q. I'm going to piggyback off that. Looking at our KPMG Performance Insights. Since 2019 you are a combined 50-under par at major championships. What is it about major championships that brings out the fighter in you, that really seems to make you play well?

JIN YOUNG KO: Major competitions are a motivation itself. That makes me a lot more focused, yeah.

Q. Jin Young Ko, amidst this run you're on, what does it feel like when you're shooting 16 rounds consecutively in the 60s and all these other accomplishments?

JIN YOUNG KO: Nothing really, just play. No, I don't care. I don't really have anything in my mind. I'm just playing, just focused on my game.

Q. When you won here three years ago you became world No. 1 for the first time.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah.

Q. Three years prior to that the world No. 1 changed hands consistently. What has motivated you to have such a sustained run of success over the years since your win here?

JIN YOUNG KO: So rather than the ranking itself, I'm very motivated to go on, to just focus on myself, to concentrate on what I'm doing, and that just makes me move forward, continuously just playing.

Q. What's the biggest difference in yourself, in your game, that you've seen since your victory here in 2019?

JIN YOUNG KO: Getting old. (Laughter.) I need more stretching my body.

Well, before the three years ago and now and I had a lot of experience on my golf, in my golf, so I knows how to play better in the rough or bunkers or wherever, so it helps me develop more.

And as a person, I learned to love golf more.

Q. What would you consider to be the key of a strong wedge game from 100 yards and in that you're working on?

JIN YOUNG KO: I practice with my caddie within the boundaries of 100 meters, and I have these routines with the caddie, little games in a way, to have a certain point that I want to reach.

That's just a matter of practicing where I want to land.

Q. So it's just feel?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, yeah.

Q. I know the Hall of Fame is a big goal of yours, getting enough points.

JIN YOUNG KO: Uh-huh.

Q. What are your other big, huge goals you would like to accomplish?

JIN YOUNG KO: Grand Slam, uh-huh.

Q. And did you go to the champion's dinner last night?

JIN YOUNG KO: I didn't hear it anything from so I couldn't go. I didn't know that.

Q. Bummer. Just a follow-up to my earlier question. You said winning here by 5. Why is 5 the number?

JIN YOUNG KO: At least 5.

Q. At least 5?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah.

Q. Why that?

JIN YOUNG KO: Because it's a big number. Yeah, the number of hits, so...

Q. So 4 wouldn't do it?

JIN YOUNG KO: It's fine 4. If I win, fine. (Laughter.)

Q. Now if you win it's good?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, yeah. Always win is good.

Q. Did I hear mom and dad were with you in Carlsbad last week?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. Are they here this week?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes.

Q. Have they been here before?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes, 2018.

Q. Okay, so there were here. Is it more special to have mom and dad here when you play?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think so, and I think they want to look at the name on the bridge for sure, so I will take to them to there.

Yeah, they are going to be enjoy it, yeah.

Q. You said it was the first time jumping into a pool. Can you swim?

JIN YOUNG KO: No. No.

Q. Do you want to learn how to swim?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yes, from her. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much Jin Young. Hopefully you get to take that jump.