MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 7, 2022

Sungjae Im

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Sungjae, welcome to the press building, and congratulations on a great round, particularly your wonderful eagle on No. 13. What a great start to the tournament. We look forward to you continuing this great success. I'd like to now open it up to questions from the media.

Q. (Question in Korean.)

SUNGJAE IM: The thing today I drove it well most of the holes and it gave me opportunities to have better second shots most of the holes. I'm glad with how everything went today.

Q. You had a victory this season, but it was a while ago. Since then it's been a little uneven. Did you have any indication that this was coming heading into this week?

SUNGJAE IM: The win at Shriners was a while ago, and golf is a game of consistency. I've played some good rounds and had a lot of top 10s in the beginning of the season, but you're right that I kind of struggled at a few events.

But yesterday at the Par 3 Contest I received some good vibes from my dad. He hit a great shot at No. 9, and that was an exciting day for me.

Q. You played really well two years ago here, so what do you think your game translates so well at this golf course? And second, compared to two years ago, are you feeling anything different, or is your preparation different this time?

SUNGJAE IM: Yes, it was great to have a great finish at my Masters debut, and because of that experience I feel comfortable when I come to Augusta. I feel like I can play well here every time.

My preparation stays the same for each tournament, but I felt like my driving game was not as up to par as what it used to be, so I worked on my driving, and today the key to a successful round was having good tee shots, so that worked well today.

Q. Do you think this golf course really fits your game?

SUNGJAE IM: Yes, so I think it fits my game. It requires tee to green good shots overall and to put the shot into spots where I have a chance to attack the green is important, so I think it fits my game, yes.

Q. When you came off the course today I think it was you and Cam Smith and Dustin Johnson in the top 3. Did that feel at all like 2020 to you? Did it make you think about that day?

SUNGJAE IM: Yes, there is a coincidence there somewhere in it, and I did look at the leaderboard, and it's pretty cool to see that we're all up there together.

Q. Can you describe the emotions you felt in the hours after that second-place finish in 2020 and then compare that to the emotions you feel when you look back on that now.

SUNGJAE IM: Overall it's a great memory that I'll carry on with me. Just to finish runner-up here in the Masters is a feat that I really am proud of. But again, we're only one day in. I've got three more days to play. I just want to keep this momentum going and try to finish well this week.

Q. Can you tell us your dad's name?

SUNGJAE IM: It's definitely a memorable day. I didn't expect much. My father's name is Ji Taek Im. And it was the ninth hole, the final hole of the Par 3 Contest, and when he was setting up, I remember the group behind us, we were at the tee box, Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Billy Horschel, they were just having fun and having a crack at my dad, and it got me, too, so I was laughing.

But once he hit the shot, it was the most beautiful shot I've seen. It was like a professional shot. It was definitely a fun day and a memorable one.

Q. What was the biggest key to your fast start today, and if you haven't discussed it already, could you talk us through the eagle at 13?

SUNGJAE IM: So the birdie on the first hole was definitely a good start to the momentum. I hit a 6-iron, and I won't say that a 6-iron is an easy club to hit, but it was a pretty good shot, and I felt good about it. So starting off with a birdie. No. 2 and No. 3, I would say that, relatively, compared to other holes, it's a birdieable hole, so to get off to a three-birdie start really got me into a good momentum.

And the 13th par-5, hit a good tee shot. The second shot I hit a hybrid and it had a little bit of a draw, but it landed softly and I was able to convert that to an eagle. Overall four good holes.

Q. (Question about the preparation process this week.)

SUNGJAE IM: A couple of par-5s were extended and it got longer, but to be able to hit those and score out of those par-5s was good.

It got a little windy out there, but leading up to this week I did practice at home in the wind, so I think that helped a lot today.

Q. I'm pretty sure, 99 percent sure, you're the first Korean to be on top of the leaderboard. If that's so, how does it feel seeing your name at the top?

SUNGJAE IM: Records are always great, but I try not to think about it. Again, still have three more days to play, and I think with the rain passing by, the greens are going to get firmer, the fairways are going to get firmer, so I just have to be prepared to do the same thing I did today.

Q. I wanted to ask you, in 2020 when you finished second, you had the record of the best finish ever by an Asian player at the Masters. Then Hideki took it over in 2021 by winning the Masters. Has that inspired you, and are you really motivated now to go one step better? Can you go one step better than what you did last time?

SUNGJAE IM: I don't want to think about overachieving anything at this moment. I still have a lot of days of play, and there are a lot of talented players out here at the Masters, as you might know.

But talking about Hideki's win last year, I have my utmost respect for him. I've watched him play since I was a kid, and hopefully good things will happen.

Q. I'd just like to ask about K.J. Choi. Is he a big inspiration to you, and is he important to the development of golf in your country?

SUNGJAE IM: I myself including all the other Korean players out here grew up watching K.J., and for him to be a pioneer and to win out here and to be successful really motivated all of us to do the same thing. And when we meet occasionally, he gives us advice, and it helps us with our game.

THE MODERATOR: Sungjae, thank you for spending the time with us this evening. Congratulations again on a great first round, and we wish you every success in the rounds to come.