PELICAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP

November 9, 2022

Sei Young Kim

Pelican Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Sei Young Kim, the 2020 champion of the Pelican Women's Championship, and last year's runner-up. You play super well here at Pelican apparently. What is it about this golf club and about this event that works so well for you?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I like this golf course because it's really suit my eyes, and especially Tampa is my favorite, because when I came here first year I live here, live in Tampa for two years.

Yeah, it feel like back to my second home. Yeah, it's very familiar when I get to Tampa airport. Yeah, feels very comfortable. Yeah, a lot of people is like really nice and chill. Yeah. (Smiling.)

THE MODERATOR: Yeah, I know you won here in 2020. That was two years ago now. Take me back for some of the memories you have from that win and just how you have changed since then and are getting ready for this event this year.

SEI YOUNG KIM: What is...

THE MODERATOR: Take me back to 2020, memories from your win here at Pelican Golf Club.

SEI YOUNG KIM: 2020 year is a lot of good memories because I won the first major tournament. After that this tournament I play, so I got a lot of confidence, so it's more comfortable and like a lot of confidence, which is mean like I play really enjoy.

And I'm still the memories like really clearly. Yeah, I played really enjoy, yeah, uh-huh.

THE MODERATOR: Last year, playing your way into a playoff and being in a playoff with Nelly, Lexi, and Lydia, take me back to that moment you realized you were going to be in a playoff with them and what that memory is.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Last year I played the playoff with Nelly and then Lydia, Lexi, so it was really impressive the memories. And I made last hole -- 18, before I go to the playoff I made a long putt and I was able to go to the playoff, so I got really exciting. Okay, so one more hole.

But I missed the tee shot first hole, the playoff. So, okay, maybe next year. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: When you saw who you were playing against in the playoff, what did you feel like?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I felt like -- it's like I never played playoff with four player, so it's really rare situation. So it's like, I don't know. I was like, oh, it's little different, yeah.

But I was really too tight and then nervous and then -- but Nelly looks like very calm and relaxed. Yeah, she might be take it, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Yeah, so you said Florida is like a second home to you, your first home being Korea I assume.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: You're coming off an event there. What was that like, to get to go the home-home for a couple weeks and coming here to your second home?

SEI YOUNG KIM: I mean, the Tampa is really comfortable to me because I practice a lot this place, so even I move -- after I move even to Dallas, because this place is really good weather, so, yeah, I like that. When I get here it's really comfortable, so, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: How did you enjoy being back in Korea a couple week ago?

SEI YOUNG KIM: It was really fun because a lot of my friend and then my family and a lot of Korean fans follow LPGA tournament because only one all years, the tournament. So, yeah, it was so exciting. It was fun. Yeah. Enjoyed, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Did you enjoy the off weeks after? Did you stay in Korea or did you come back here?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Right after the CME I'm back to the Korea, yeah, until the first tournament. (Smiling.)

THE MODERATOR: Okay.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Coming off a good stretch of golf, seventh place finish at MEDIHEAL, top 20 in Korea at BMW. How do you carry that momentum into this week?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Because I really want to win the any tournament, because I haven't win since last year, so I'm really want something.

I think too much is push myself last couple week -- last couple years, so just this week I just want to, yeah, play more enjoy, yeah, relaxed. Yeah, that's what I like it. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Coming back to a place where you have been successful, your confidence is up going into this week?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, kind of, I feel like. Yeah, hopefully good weather.

THE MODERATOR: Yeah. We'll see.

SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Definitely be some rain, so what are you expecting as far as challenges of this course?

SEI YOUNG KIM: Depend how to play the green play because this course is a lot of undulation.

And par-5 is good advantage reach the two shot, so, yeah, how do you -- how to play, how to strategy, yeah, and then how to mindset.

So, yeah, a lot of thing going on on the course.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you. That's all we need. Thanks.