HONDA LPGA THAILAND

February 23, 2023

Xiyu Lin

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Xiyu Lin. Dang you like this golf course. Finished solo second here last year, that playoff. Today 7-under, had one blip on the card, but six birdies on the front nine. Walk me through that day.

XIYU LIN: I mean, this is only the second tournament of the year and I think I had a pretty good warm up last week, so I entering this week pretty confident.

Obviously I like this course, and so I think like start of the day I didn't -- like I gave myself lots of time to kind of ease into the game, and then front nine my putting wasn't very hot. Like a lot of good shot and miss by a little bit, so it was average.

Then I know this course, like you just never know. You going to all of a sudden have a streak and that's what happened on my back nine, so I'm very happy.

Q. So on the back nine, three in a row twice. When you're on those stretches or six birdies in seven holes, what's going through your head?

XIYU LIN: Well, I think I just keep telling myself this course is -- there is plenty of chances there. Almost every hole you can make birdie, and then like as long as you get a comfortable number you should just go for it.

So I just keep remind myself to be aggressive, and especially when there is a good club, good number, I just aim at the pin and go for it.

Yeah, then, I mean, I still missed a couple putts, but I just stayed patient very well all day, and then last couple roll in some really good ones.

Q. Did you play at Nona, Hilton? Sorry, you didn't. Had a really good season last year. I know came close a couple times. Still looking for the first win. What did you learn about yourself last year that you'll carry with you heading into the season? You played some pretty good golf last year.

XIYU LIN: Yeah, it was a great year for me, and, yeah the whole winter took me a little bit to kind of ease into that kind of a season, and to also regroup and reset a goal.

I think last year was great, but my biggest goal, which is winning, I haven't achieved that. So I feel like I just still trying to get better every day and then try to learn from each of the tournament. And then I think this year, like I put myself in some -- like from last year I put myself in some really good position.

This year, like majors and stuff I'm not going to worry about entering, getting into the majors, so I feel like my schedule was very easy to set up, and then I feel like I'm going to pay lots of attention to have some good results.

Q. Talking to you after Texas, that was a hard one for you. How do you temper your expectations and keep yourself in the moment when at that win isn't coming and you know it's on the horizon or you're close?

XIYU LIN: I mean, it's just I feel like -- there are so many first-time winner last year. I watch every one of them, and I feel like the biggest thing I learned is there are so many of them. Like there are player that play well the whole year, but also there are player start off a little struggle, but then they just get back on track really quickly, and not just one, maybe a couple.

So what I learn is winning really takes time, but also you just never know. You just have to be patient. And then even I just keep telling myself, like even sometimes it doesn't start as what you want it to be, but if you keep trying it's going to happen.

Q. Off to a good start this week so far. What's the mindset heading into the next three days?

XIYU LIN: I mean, just like today, have fun. And then this course play a little different than last year when it's a little drier. I think overall I still like this course. I think it's just a course that you need to shoot a low round, so I just need to be patient and then hopefully I can play another three good rounds.