THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 1, 2022

Annie Park

Mission Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Back with Annie Park. Another great day, six birdies on the card, just one bogey. Your best 36-hole score ever at a major. What's gotten into out last two days? You seem to be playing free.

ANNIE PARK: It's great to see you again today. Just kind of like going back to what I said yesterday, just having fun out there. I think that's kind of the biggest key, and it's been a while that I've had a great time on the golf course.

I mean, I am by myself out there. There is a lot of talking to myself and been stuck with my caddie's dad jokes.

But just overall it was a great day and I feel pretty -- a lot better about my long game. Been putting a lot better. Made some really good putts out there. Did leave some out there but overall I'm stroking it pretty solid.

Q. What are some of those good putts you mentioned? Could you tell us about some of those?

ANNIE PARK: To be honest, it's been a long day for me right now.

Q. Long early day.

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, so trying to think.

Q. Well, you had birdies on your back nine, which was your front. Birdies on 14, 16, and 18.

ANNIE PARK: Yep. Yeah, 18 was a great putt. I hit a great third shot in, played exactly how I wanted it, and then it was kind of just a tricky right-to-left downhill putt.

It was like, I got to get the speed right, got to get and line right, and I did that, so that was a really good putt.

I think that was the best putt I could think of all day.

Q. About how long was that, do you think?

ANNIE PARK: Probably inside 15 feet.

Q. Okay. And then birdies on 1 and 2, so made the turn back-to-back, and then another on 6.

ANNIE PARK: I forgot about that. On 2, I don't know what it is with my par-5s today, but I pulled my drive there, pulled my drive on No. 9, and I was -- you know, luckily the tree kind of saved me from going OB.

I hit a good 3-wood third shot. Wasn't like my best but it worked, and then hit a really good putt. Made a birdie out of the left side.

Q. Isn't that one of the strange things about golf, you feel like you screwed up off the tee and you get to the end and you've done one better than you should.

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, it's crazy. Golf is crazy.

Q. Annie, what has happened in your game that has kind of got you to this point this quickly?

ANNIE PARK: To be honest, I been working on my game the last couple weeks. I been studying my own swing and working with Corey, and it's been kind of helping me guide my DNA and base foundation out there.

With putting I actually changed to a new putter and it's been helping out a lot. So, yeah, I've added new iron shafts, new driver; equipment was a little bit of it.

But, yeah, I just overall started having fun on the golf course again last week, and been enjoying it this week as well.

Q. So there has really been no mechanical changes, just attitude and equipment?

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, I definitely think there is for sure a huge component on the mechanical side. Overall sometimes you're not always going to be there; you're probably not going to hit it well or something.

As long as you have a good attitude out there it's going to get better.

Q. What's the new driver and new putter?

ANNIE PARK: I just added the Scotty Cameron and the TSi3 driver.

Q. Playing by yourself out there, was there a point that you forgot you were playing in a major? Did it take some pressure off?

ANNIE PARK: Yes and no. Honestly, my goal was the same out there whether I was playing by myself or with playing with someone.

The only difference was I was -- yesterday I was just chilling, taking my time. Then I realized the group behind me started to catch up and I'm like, I'm going to get a warning at this rate by myself.

Yeah, just playing by myself was kind of weird yesterday, but today I kind of got used to it. I think when I made the turn and started waiting on players in the group in front of me, kind of just starts to feel like a normal golf all over again.

Q. Would you consider it advantageous or disadvantageous to play by yourself?

ANNIE PARK: I think a little bit of both, to be honest. It could be an advantage that you do have a little bit more time to yourself; but also overthinking is not always great.

I kind of realized that yesterday, where I was just strolling around, started overthinking. Okay, there is no more of this.

So, yeah, I would say a little bit of both maybe.

Q. Have you thought at all that if you shot a 69 on Sunday instead of a 68 you wouldn't be here?

ANNIE PARK: Honestly, my personal goal since last week and this week was to have at least seven birdies. I've been one short since Sunday, yesterday, and today.

Hopefully eventually get my seven birdies.

Q. What has it felt like to be in contention for the first time in years?

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, it feels good to be back. You know, I think for a while I thought about stepping away from the game. I mean, COVID really was long.

Last year I took the two-month break just needing some time to myself. Yeah, I think last week was the first time I started to enjoy it again. Just not with golf, but just in general, like being able to see the spectators again and just having I think like this newfound passion for golf.

Q. Does that make the fans and the crowd here on 18 even more special to do that putt in front of them?

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, it's nice. I think the fans are very supportive. So nice to see just fans out there again, always supporting, Hey, go Annie, fight on.

I'm like, Oh, my goodness. I see you. And then there is a couple New Yorkers out there, so it's always nice to see fans.

Q. USC was a little bit ago. Looking back, what's been the most difficult part of being a pro that you hadn't anticipated back when you were in college?

ANNIE PARK: Yeah, I mean, I think during college you learn a lot about yourself. You meet lifelong friends. When you're out here, I mean, it could be just me getting older, but I would say the hardest part is just starting to make decisions for yourself, putting yourself as a priority.

That's one thing that I learned.