HSBC WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

March 3, 2023

Jin Young Ko

Sentosa Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back inside the Media Center here at the 2023 HSBC Women's World Championship. I'm here with Jin Young Ko. What a round. Our defending champion, part of the 7-under 65 today, in these conditions, which is quite impressive. Just walk me through your round out there.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I had solid round today, especially lots of rain out there. And I putt really well today. And my goal was trying to get to putters today, so I think I make it. And my swings are -- everything is going better than yesterday. And I'm looking forward on the weekend.

THE MODERATOR: Had another really good round last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Is there anything that you maybe took from that round that you applied to today that let you go low?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think so. I took a lot of confidence from last week because I didn't play well in last year, so I don't have great memory on the course. So I needed to get some confidence with the course, but I took a lot of confidence in last week.

So that's why I think play well today. And I have two more rounds, so keep it up.

THE MODERATOR: Yeah, the weekend is still left out here. The conditions were not ideal. What did you do to adjust, and any highlights really stand out?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, yeah, today course was longer than yesterday. Huge longer than yesterday. I think driver or all the clubs less than yesterday, maybe 10 meter.

So I could hit like one or two clubs more and hitting like 5-iron or 6-irons, lots of like -- lots of hit 6-iron today. But I had -- I made -- I had great chance for birdie with 6- or 5-iron, so the reason is my swings are better and good. So yeah. If I'm putting well on the weekend, yeah, it should be great.

THE MODERATOR: You like this weather. Got a win at the Cognizant Founders Cup a couple years ago. It's warmer than it was, but it was still really wet. What is it that you like about these kind of conditions or maybe that suits your game?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think my personality is really calm, so I think that help to play in the rain and in the windy. And, yeah, I don't know why I'm playing really well in the rain and not good conditions. But I think my personality is really calm.

THE MODERATOR: We love your caddie, Dave. Don't want to give him all the credit, because you have to hit the golf shots. But he's English, obviously knows this kind of weather pretty well. Does he help you in these kind of conditions?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think so, yeah. But yesterday we had one misclub choice, No. 17, so I was really mad. But today wasn't like nothing -- nothing problem today. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. He's good caddie.

THE MODERATOR: We love Dave. Being in contention, heading into the weekend, just how good does that feel? I know obviously played really well last weekend, but how much are you looking forward to playing the weekend here?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I hope no rains on the weekend, but I check the weather forecast, but I couldn't. So, well, let's have more gloves and towels.