BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 25, 2022

Minjee Lee

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Minjee Lee after her first round at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards. Minjee, you just had a really good defeat because of 0your great game. Tell me, how did it feel to be doing so well out on the course?

MINJEE LEE: No, it was really fun today. I made a bunch of birdies and I was able to keep the momentum going to 10, 11, and then played a few more and finished on 13.

So it was nice to get done early today. It's getting really hot.

Q. Yeah, I was just going to say, with the heat and everything and a lot of golf in front of you hopefully, how important is it to just win as fast as you can?

MINJEE LEE: I mean, I'm definitely taking one step at a time and trying to do my best every time I'm out on the golf course.

Yeah, no, it's nice to have played really well today and hopefully I can take it into tomorrow.

Q. Youngin Chun, tell me, how did you enjoy playing with her? I know you kind of swept her, but how was the competition?

MINJEE LEE: It was fun. I don't really know her too well. I know she's a little bit younger than I am. I met her when I she was an amateur and I just turned pro.

So I think it was nice to see her again. We didn't chat too much, but it was just nice to walk the fairways with her today.

Q. Playing with players that are younger than you, do you feel like a role model to them? Try and take a role model...

MINJEE LEE: Not today because I was trying to get my match finished and play well today. You know, I hope I set a good example on and off the golf course. Hopefully she sees me as a role model. But, yeah, no, I always try my best to be, so...

Q. I know it didn't affect you today, but I would like to get your thoughts from last year as well about the switch from 9 and 18 and how that will affect play here.

MINJEE LEE: I think it's really exciting. The 18th hole last year and the 9th this year, such a great hole and a lot of things can change on that hole.

Especially on 9 this year. I think it's just a really good hole for birdies or eagles. I just think it's a good change, and especially because it's right here and a lot of people can watch from the hospitality tent as well.

It's one of the most iconic holes here, so I'm happy that it changed.

Q. Happy that you get to play it or...

MINJEE LEE: I played it a few times last year, so...

And I'm probably going to play it every round this time. So it's a good hole. Good par-5.

Q. And then I asked Gaby this as well, is it better to have won a match? To have played really well? Or get off the course so quickly?

MINJEE LEE: Is it better or...

Q. Or is it just a combination of all these three things?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I played well to finish early, so I mean, I don't think you want to be out there too long because it's really hot.

But I played my best and to sort of showed in my results as well. So, no, I'm happy with how I played today.

Q. How much do you enjoy playing match play? You played it a lot as an amateur. Certainly an Am champ at match play, and other than International Crown we don't play it a lot on the LPGA Tour. What are your thoughts on match play?

MINJEE LEE: I think it's a really good like change of pace. We're always playing stroke play, four rounds, and here it's just like a knock-out, one-on-one kind of thing.

I just think it's a really good confidence booster if you're playing well. Regardless if you hit is good shot or bad shot it's kind of gone after you play one hole. You can really ride off momentum even if you have a bad hole.

Yeah, no, I just like that it's really competitive and I'm a very competitive person, so I like playing it.

Q. Gearing up for tomorrow, tell me, what did you learn today that you are hoping to replicate?

MINJEE LEE: Actually, my caddie said that it's going to be really windy tomorrow so I'm not really sure. Wasn't very windy today when I played, so maybe be much more bouncier and a little bit -- I'll you have to judge the wind a little bit more.

But I feel like the conditions will be pretty similar. The greens were running pretty well. Fairways were really nice. It's only just heating up now, so only get drier from here.

Yeah, let the fun begin.

Q. Let the fun begin. Let's end on that. Thank you, Minjee.

MINJEE LEE: Thank you.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...