DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 20, 2022

Minjee Lee

Wilshire Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the virtual media center at the DIO Implant LA Open.

Pleased to be joined by 2019 champion, Minjee Lee. Minjee, welcome back to LA. Some fond memories here of course. What do you think of when you think of Wilshire and your win?

MINJEE LEE: I just remember that it was very meaningful, because -- for my caddie that week, actually, he told me that his mom had an illness, and it was just really meaningful to be able to win that week for him and for Lorraine as well.

No, it was just kind of a good memorable week I think.

Q. What do you like most about coming back here to LA and to Wilshire Country Club?

MINJEE LEE: I think just the course in general. It just reminds me of the sand belt golf courses back in Australia. I grew up playing a lot of them in my amateur and junior career as well.

I think it kind of reminds me a little bit back of home, so I think that's why I like coming back here.

Q. I was talking to some people on the grounds crew. It just seems this course seems to be getting better and better every year. Would you agree?

MINJEE LEE: I think so. I know just the condition of the greens I think is only getting better and better each time we come back. The fairways obviously are really nice.

Yeah, just I like how there is a lot of bunkers on this course as well. Yeah, I just think it's gone from strength to strength.

Q. Definitely a place you feel comfortable in. A lot of good memories. I want to go back a few weeks ago to another core memory that you probably created with yourself and your family. Haven't seen you since you took on Augusta National's Par-3 course as a caddie, making your debut.

MINJEE LEE: Uh-huh.

Q. Take me through what that experience was like at Augusta following your brother, Min Woo.

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, it was really cool. I mean, I think if you haven't been there and you don't experience like kind of the hype, it's real.

It's just the course is just relentless. Really, really tough. I don't think the TV really gives it justice on how hilly it is. Just to see my brother competing there I think it was a proud sister moment.

Yeah, it was just really fun.

Q. When did he come to you ask say, You're going to be my caddie for the Par-3?

MINJEE LEE: He just asked me just casually. He was like, oh, do you want to come caddie in the par-3? I think he was going to go -- if he got into the tournament I was going to go watch that year anyway, so it just worked out well.

Q. And your family flew in from Australia?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think my mom was already with my brother for a couple weeks, and then my dad came for the week.

Q. What was that like, just being able to experience it as a family together watching him?

MINJEE LEE: I think watching him is probably more nerve wracking and stressful than me playing.

So, yeah, we were all kind of a little bit stressed, but obviously a lot of fun as well watching him go around the Masters.

Q. We saw the video of your shot that you took. Take me through what that was like too, and how did you fare? Unfortunately did not see it on TV. Saw it on your social media, so what was that like to be able to take a shot there?

MINJEE LEE: I actually hit one on 8 and 9, but the one on 8 I hit on the green, and then on the 9th it rolled -- it spun back off the green into the water, so, you know, it's probably better it wasn't on TV. (Laughter.)

Q. Min Woo had kind of a fun final day as well. Were you there for that?

MINJEE LEE: No, I was not there on Sunday.

Q. Were you watching from afar?

MINJEE LEE: No, I was just watching on my phone. I was actually not at the Masters on Sunday.

Q. I meant were you watching like on your phone through your travels?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, actually the app was really, really good. You could see every single shot, so that was really fun watching.

Q. Just overall how much would you love to see him return next year as well?

MINJEE LEE: Oh, I mean, I'm not sure if I'd go again if he plays next year, but it would be awesome for him. I think would like to give it another crack, yep.

Q. This week, LA open. We had Inbee here who says this really feels like Seoul and South Korea sometimes. We are in the heart of Koreatown. What's it like for you returning back to LA, and how comfortable are you at a place like this?

MINJEE LEE: I really do think the course really sets up for a good ball striker and it's a very ball striking golf course. Obviously like the poana greens, if you can manage your way you'll have a pretty good chance coming in Sunday.

Yeah, I do love coming here. Literally you can find so many amazing Korean foods. Koreatown is right down the street.

Yeah, it's just really nice when you can just go five minutes and then you can have whatever you want.

Q. This is the first of back-to-back events in the LA area. First time we've done that on tour. How exciting is that for just the tour in general, for you being a past champion, and having such a comfortability in the LA area?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think it's nice. We can drive to the next event and so I don't think we have two many tournaments that we can do that.

So just being in LA, you know, it's quite comfortable. You don't have to change any time zones or anything. I think it's nice to be in amazing weather and just good golf courses.

Q. What have you been working on specifically gearing up for not only this LA swing, but we've got the rest of the summer approaching us as well? How crucial is it to reset on those times you do take off weeks, and what are you working on on the course that you will prepare for this week?

MINJEE LEE: You know, I've been kind of working on everything generally. I haven't really spent too much time on something more or less. I think just trying to fine tune everything, just keep the balance in the whole game.

But I think this week ball-striking is really important, and probably if you just miss the green, it's a little grainy on the side, so chipping putting I think will be important.

Q. We're a good bit into the season here. You're currently on top of the Aon Risk Reward Challenge leaderboard with a bit of a lead. What are some insights you have in your decision making and strategy you've had this past season over the holes you've seen?

MINJEE LEE: I think for the most part I've been able to be pretty aggressive on the par-5s or on the holes that are Aon Risk Reward Challenge holes. I think that has been -- I mean, it has paid off a little bit more I think coming like the first half of the year.

So I think that's what I'm going to keep doing, and hopefully I have a good chance at the end of the year.

Q. Obviously the $1 million season-long prize is something that everyone on this tour is vying for. It's just like the winner for the challenger on the PGA TOUR as well. What does it mean to have a company like Aon still continue this kind of season-long race to give equal prize money across the LPGA and PGA Tour for this season-long race?

MINJEE LEE: I think it's amazing for Aon to step up and put up the same amount of money for the men's and women's tours. We're all pushing for equality in the prize money, so I think it's just great that they're supporting women's golf and the LPGA.

They continue to do so, so I'm really grateful to be able to be a partner and ambassador of Aon.

Q. You mentioned the sand belt and the feeling you get here is similar to that. How much do you sense when you go to places that playing that kind of golf in Australia helps you? Is it maybe more the major championships? You've done very well in the Women's British. Do you feel like the sand belt has helped you that way?

MINJEE LEE: Not really. I think the sand belt is a little bit different. We don't get too many courses that are like the sand belt. There are not many places with too much bunkering in the venues we go to.

This kind of comes -- the LA course kind of comes close to what I think is like the sand belt. That's all. I kind of feel like it reminds me back of home. I think just, I mean, sometimes we get hard surfaces and tight surfaces on the sand belt, so maybe it does help me around the British or places where we get harder ground.

Q. What's you favorite sand belt course?

MINJEE LEE: Oh, I really love Victoria Golf Club and Commonwealth. They're my two favorites.

Q. How are you today?

MINJEE LEE: Hello.

Q. So just a couple quick questions for you: You mentioned that you're defending champion -- sorry you won in the past here at Wilshire. You mentioned that you've seen little changes and this course is getting better and better and better. What are you noticing in particular about the course that you're seeing as far as it getting to be a better golf course?

MINJEE LEE: I think like the condition of the greens. Like come the afternoon poana gets quite bumpy at times, so I think just -- I'm not sure if it's because of the weather or what it is, but I think the greens have been kept really, really well this year.

I played both in the afternoon and in the morning and I have only really seen a really small difference. I think they're really doing a great job. You know, the bunkers and just like the condition of the course all round I think is in really great shape.

That's pretty much why I think it's getting better and better.

Q. Excellent. And then we're through one major now with the Chevron being in the rearview mirror. What are you going to be working on in particular as we wrap up towards the next major?

MINJEE LEE: Probably like I said before, just fine tuning everything. Probably maybe a little bit more emphasis on my putting. I would like to get on (indiscernible) a little bit more.

Other than that, I think I've been pretty solid in my ball striking and my chipping, so I think as long as I keep on that and work a little bit more on my putting, I think I'm going to be in good shape.

THE MODERATOR: That will wrap it up for us here. Thank you, Minjee. Best of luck this week.

MINJEE LEE: Thank you.