DIO IMPLANT LA OPEN

April 21, 2022

So Yeon Ryu

Wilshire Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with So Yeon Ryu. Just take me through what the first day was like for you back at the LA Open.

SO YEON RYU: Well, first of all I was in Korea last week so for me like No. 1 goal this week was just get used to this time zone.

And then luckily I slept really well for last three days, and then when I woke up this morning I was like I finally just get rid of jet lag, so I was really happy with that.

And then, you know, like actually these days I'm a bit struggle with the long game and these days swing feels better and better. I was thinking I'm not going to expect to be better like immediately. I just wanted to give myself some time to just get better, like slowly getting better.

And then I think compared to last week, and then even compared to the week at Mission Hills, I feel like my long game was lot better.

So no matter how I play, I think I was really satisfied with my long game today.

Q. Absolutely. When you say your long game, what is something you've been working on specifically?

SO YEON RYU: Well, just my swing was so off. Like I wasn't sure like how I'm swinging. I didn't really have full confidence about my golf swing. The biggest thing was I feel like I have zero idea about my golf swing.

But I feel like now I understand a lot and then now I know where to go, and then right now I feel like I'm in the -- going to the right direction.

Q. After a day like this, I would say so as well. What do you like most about coming back to this golf course? We were talking about how much you enjoy this, and this is a particularly challenging course for some.

SO YEON RYU: I just enjoy this Wilshire Country Club so much. Also, like depending on how they set up the golf course, the golf course could be totally different golf course.

I really love the fact you have to have lot of different shot shape. You have to know how to hit differently to get close to pin.

You know, this green is really hard to approach to, so I typically enjoy the challenging golf course. I'm not saying like tough one is always better, but this golf course are really good character, and then I think I played pretty well this golf course all the time, so I'm looking forward to finish strong this week.

Q. This is definitely in the heart Koreatown as well. We had Inbee, we have a lot of our Korean players coming up saying it feels like Seoul and feels like home. What's it like? You just got back from Korea and then we're here in LA. What was it like to be back in this community?

SO YEON RYU: Still because I'm in the state every time I see a lot of Koreans around us I feel really bless and I feel really fortunate. Korean really support the women's golf a lot. I really appreciate it.

Then to be honest, these days everywhere you can you go find a Korean restaurant. But especially we're in LA, K-Town, so I almost feel like it's just too overwhelm. Like every time when we have to pick up the dinner, like what we going to have, me and Inbee, Su, literally searching for 30 minute because so many options.

So I think it's really good problem to have. So far I been really, really enjoying my time in LA.

Q. What's where you favorite place to eat around here?

SO YEON RYU: You know what? Actually like during COVID my favorite restaurant closed, so I was so sad about it; hopefully they will come back.

So far actually everything I went to was so good. You know, I almost feel like all the restaurant in K-Town is like -- if I have to be like honest about it, to be honest, sometimes I feel like it's better than Korea.

Q. Wow.

SO YEON RYU: (Laughter.)

Q. Definitely some high marks there.

SO YEON RYU: Exactly.

Q. You talked about working on the long game. As you head into tomorrow, what will you take away from the improvements you made today?

SO YEON RYU: Like I said, I think it's going to be very slow progression, so I think biggest key for me is I really don't need to disappointed with every single shot.

Like sometimes just with the one bad shot I just disappointed so much, and then I sort of kind of like lost the motivation.

So I just don't want to think about like mistake. I want to see the positive way instead of the negative way.

So my biggest goal for this week because I got rid of jet lag right now is just be positive on the golf course.