PALOS VERDES CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY BANK OF AMERICA

April 28, 2022

Minjee Lee

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Minjee Lee with a clubhouse lead after a first round 63. Just what was it like going around Palos Verdes today?

MINJEE LEE: The first nine, I mean, we didn't have that much wind so it was nice just to play without the wind; then the back nine to picked up a little bit.

So regardless of that, the front nine we have a lot of like wedges into the holes, so I just took advantage of that.

Q. You started off with a birdie on your first hole. What was it like getting off to a hot start like that? You were able to make two more before the turn, but how important is it to come out with a hot start like that on a course like this?

MINJEE LEE: You know, I knew beginning there would probably be quite a few birdie opportunities. You know, there are some par-5s that are reachable and a lot of shorter holes on the front nine as well.

So starting on the back nine I think it was just nice to start off with a birdie. I mean, regardless of which golf course you're at, I think it's nice to start with a birdie. It was nice.

Q. Five birdies on the last nine holes. What is it about that front nine that suits your game?

MINJEE LEE: I think it's just the way like the holes are set up. There is a lot of birdie opportunities starting the front nine. Even like the 1st hole and the 2nd and 3rd, they're all wedges in; even I think 6, 7, 8, a lot of the holes are -- that Par-5 as well you can get on for two and it's probably a given for everyone in the field this week.

Yeah, I just think there is a lot of opportunities in a row that you can kind of capitalize on, so, yeah.

Q. And you definitely did. Being able to close with two birdies in the last three holes, take me through what was going well there on 7 and 8.

MINJEE LEE: 7 I probably didn't play it the way I wanted to. I knocked it in the bunker in my drive, and then hit out and pitched on and one-putted.

Then on the 8th hole I hit a really nice wedge shot in. Only had like 80 meters in, so just knocked it in close there.

Q. This is definitely a new type of golf course for a lot of players out here. For you, what was the mindset like as you strategize for a course like this? What goes into coming off of last week, the rest that you took, as you headed into this week?

MINJEE LEE: I mean, I took Monday off. Didn't even come to the course. Tuesday I played nine holes, and then I played the other -- saw the other nine in the pro-am.

So I think kind of set up well with just coming off one week. I think it's so hilly out here that you want to keep your legs fresh, so I'm glad I didn't (indiscernible) 18 on one of the days.

Q. That definitely probably came in clutch today. Just a quick questions with kikuyu. I Australians, that's kind of the grass you play on. Does it feel familiar playing on this type of grass?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, it does. My golf club back home it's the same type of fairways. I don't think we play a course with the same type of grass throughout the whole year, so it was kind of a nice surprise when I got here.

Q. It's quite a big adjustment for players that don't know how to play on it. Do you feel like that's an advantage?

MINJEE LEE: I mean, the fairways, they just like sit up, so, I mean, I think everybody is going to get pretty good lies out here.

I'm not sure, maybe like chipping it is a little bit more difficult. I think everybody has got it under control I think.

Q. Coming off last week, what were you able to take away as you headed into this week? You were able to get rest plus the practice that you needed. What were some of the things you learned about your game in LA that you've taken with you this week already?

MINJEE LEE: I feel like throughout the first half of the season already I been hitting it pretty solid, so I know my game is there. I just need to put it all together.

Hopefully I can take my good round today into the next three days.