ARAMCO SAUDI LADIES INTERNATIONAL PRESENTED BY PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND

February 19, 2023

Lydia Ko

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

(In progress.)

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I got off to a really good start shooting 8-under the first day, and that was really the day that you needed to take advantage of because I played in the morning and in somewhat calmer conditions.

Yeah, tried to stay really patient out there. I think the weekend my golf wasn't -- I shot 6-under yesterday and 3-under today, but I feel like it wasn't as sharp as I would've loved it to be.

Even when it wasn't, I didn't get too flustered and I stayed calm. Just wanted to focus on my game, and I knew there were so many players that could potentially make birdie or eagles down the stretch to kind of flip it.

So I just wanted to play good golf on my part and I was able to play solid. The finish was not as pretty as I would've liked, but in the end I got it done.

Yeah, very glad that I'm able to get the first win of my season.

THE MODERATOR: You're a two-time champion here. Is there anything in particular about the course that suits your game, or was it just a great strategy, great playing? What's your take?

LYDIA KO: I think the golf course was in great shape. The superintendents here at Royal Greens did an unbelievable job.

When I came in 2021 I thought the course conditions were really good, but I came here again two years later and it's even better. The rough was a little bit more up so it felt a little different in ways.

But, yeah, when you're playing in really good conditions, you just know that you got to hit good, committed shots, and then you're able to get good feedback off that.

So, yeah, I enjoyed it. The course has been great to me. Definitely leaving both times (indiscernible.)

THE MODERATOR: So this Aramco Saudi Ladies International is a historic event. (Regarding prize money.) What does it mean to you? Is this a move in the right direction?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, I think this is the direction we're trending in not only at this event, but all the events. To have partners that support and believe in women's golf and the talent that's out here, it is just great to be a part of that and this history.

Hopefully this is a continuous movement on the LET and the LPGA, and for other tours as well.

As players, it's just really cool to be part of that history. I hope this is something that's going to continue to grow, because playing alongside the best female golfers week in and week out, it's -- there are so many amazing women out here. I don't think you realize until you come here and you see, wow, like look at all this talent.

Yeah, it's I think great, and as players, we're very grateful that these partners believe in women's golf.

THE MODERATOR: Last one before we open up to the floor. What will to win do for you in your 2023 season?

LYDIA KO: Hopefully I'm going to get some good momentum. I'm playing the next couple weeks, so the next week will be my first LPGA event of the season in Thailand. Not so long flight over to Thailand and start my season on that tour.

Every day is different, so I don't think you can take anything for granted. I'm just going to stick to my process and keep working on the things I've been working on and enjoy it. Hopefully this is a light to a good start of the 2023 season.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to the floor. Questions, anyone?

Q. You win two times with David Jones. I think you are good fit with the game. In what way he is help for you?

LYDIA KO: Yeah, this is our second win together. Our first win was my first win in three years, which was at LOTTE Championship in 2021. I had worked three events prior to that with him. I worked the Scottish Open and the British Open and then the BMW Championship as well.

So he is a new face, but like someone similar that I know that we have good chemistry. Dave, because he used to play, I feel like he has the mindset of a player and he's very positive. Even when I don't hit a good shot, he's out there thinking, what can we do to recover from here.

So I try and be more positive when I'm on the golf course, and he definitely helps me with that. I think his knowledge with that playing background I think helps.

Today he helped me read a lot of the putts because I felt like I wasn't reading it as well in my first three holes.

So just having somebody that I can rely on and believe and trust, I think is very important, whether it's (indiscernible) or not, that's a secondary thing, but I trust him.

So even though this was our first official week together, it didn't feel like it.