SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 29, 2022

Kevin Yu

Country Club of Jackson

Press Conference

Q. So nice start to the week. How would you assess what was going well for you today?

KEVIN YU: The front nine I was driving really good, so I was able to manage some birdie opportunities out there. Obviously, I had one bogey on par-5. I hit a terrible second shot out at 5 -- 4, 5, that par-5. I think that was the only bad shot I hit on the front nine.

The back nine, everything was just really stable. I was able to manage to make some putts on the greens, so I think off the tee was pretty solid today and then putting was pretty good today. I think that was the keys to playing good today.

Q. How do you describe the conditions this morning and kind of how they may have changed from when you started to the end?

KEVIN YU: Actually I think it's really windy in the morning. I think definitely I wasn't expect that kind of wind in the morning, but it was kind of kicking in early, and it stayed pretty much the same the whole day.

I felt like this course you have to really hit the fairways and greens, and you'll be just fine. But, yeah, it was a little cold and windy in the morning, but I really like the course, so it was a good day, yeah.

Q. Looking back in your second event as a PGA TOUR member, does it feel any different at all?

KEVIN YU: Not really. It's still mentality. Go out there and try to have fun and try to play good. Obviously, I did pretty good. I really enjoyed today. I, obviously, played decent today, yeah.

Q. Was there anything you learn from your first event that you have looked to apply this week?

KEVIN YU: Yeah, just really have to have confidence out there. I feel like the first week I was playing good, but I missed -- my putting was -- I think it was less in Napa, but off the tee everything was really solid.

Just that confidence, you know? Getting to the green, you know you can make this putt. Just like being out there, you know you can compete with those guys. Just the confidence out there, and I think that's going to help me a lot along the way, so I think I did pretty good today, so hopefully the next few days I could keep up the good work.

Q. How did you spend last week? Did you take any time off, or were you practicing mostly?

KEVIN YU: I took a few days off and then practiced a little bit in Arizona. Then went to Houston with C.T. Pan to practice a little bit because in Houston they have pretty similar conditions out there.

I think it was really good opportunity to play with C.T. and practice in Bermuda conditions. It was great the last few days and kind of worked out, I think, for this week, yeah.

Q. What course were you practicing at with C.T.?

KEVIN YU: I can't remember. It was really close to Woodlands. It's 20 minutes from his house, which was really good.

Q. Did you stay with him?

KEVIN YU: I stayed with him for a few days, yeah. It was really good.

Q. What's it like being able to be on the same tour as him and kind of share those experiences with him?

KEVIN YU: It's really fun because C.T. has been out here I think five years by himself. It's definitely really good for the country to have someone from the same country playing on the same tour.

It's just you feel more -- I feel like we have more connection with each other just being out here. There's someone already won on the tour and he has been playing awesome the last five years. Yeah, it's good to have him as my friend and as my mentor too.

We really enjoy each here, so it's been fun.

Q. Is there any advice he has given you at all?

KEVIN YU: Just asking about compared to your rookie year, what's different? He was just saying really you have to be patient out there because some of the pins or greens are really hard to hit, so once you get out of the fairway, you just have to hit it to the middle of the green and then try to 2-putt it.

Just trying to manage the bogeys and doubles, that kind of thing. Just really be patient out there. There's a lot of birdie opportunities out there. Once you have a good chance, then you can make some. Once you get out of the conditions, just trying to 2-putt it and get out there, yeah. Just be patient out there.