KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 22, 2023

Ruoning Yin

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are here in the media center at KPMG. Ruoning Yin, perfect on the day, no bogeys, two birdies and an eagle. Talk us through your round.

RUONING YIN: It was a solid round. I hit 13 fairways, 17 greens, no bogeys, which is perfect for me. My ball-striking was right on spot, and yeah, just focused on my targets.

Q. Can you walk us through the eagle on 18.

RUONING YIN: I think I got 205 to the front and 220-ish to the pin. I just smashed my 3-wood up there and ended up pretty good.

Q. How close was the putt?

RUONING YIN: Six feet.

Q. When you play such a demanding test, what's the satisfaction of striking the ball as well as you did?

RUONING YIN: I actually didn't hit my 3-wood very well when I warmed up today, and my coach just told me, just get a long and smooth swing, and I did it perfectly on 18, so was pretty happy.

Q. You've been hitting the ball super well; what's been the key to your ball-striking lately?

RUONING YIN: I've been working on the start line and finish line. I think as long as I focus on those two things, I can hit it pretty good.

Q. To get this kind of a round going at a place that really has eaten a lot of people's lunch this week is really hard. What does that mean to you, and where does that tell you your game is with three more rounds left?

RUONING YIN: I mean, the happiest thing for me today is no bogeys, bogey-free. That tells me I'm quite on spot right now, and just keep doing my thing.

Q. What did you learn in LA that you may have carried with you to this major test?

RUONING YIN: I mean, the course condition is pretty good, and it's tough. But I think the key thing for me is just keeping my ball on the fairway.

Q. You mentioned your instructor. Who is your instructor, and how often is he on the road with you?

RUONING YIN: My coach is Holton Freeman, and he will probably come once every month. I also live in Orlando. He's in Orlando, too. We basically meet very often.

Q. Where do you practice there?

RUONING YIN: Tranquilo.

Q. Do you prepare for a major any differently than you do any other week, and if so, how?

RUONING YIN: I would say no. Just like I said, I just focus on the start line and the finish line. That's the two things I focus on. There's no big difference for me whether I play a major or whatnot.

Q. How do you mentally prepare for the fact that a major test usually the scores are going to be higher?

RUONING YIN: I mean, majors are meant to be hard, and it's a good test for me and for my game. I mean, I would say just play my game. Just enjoy it.

Q. You won earlier this year. How much good did that do for you?

RUONING YIN: I think this year versus last year, the big difference is I see myself can win on this tour, and I did early this year, which gives me a lot of confidence. I just believe I belong to this tour, now I can win more.

Q. When you look at the leaderboard, are you at all surprised that there are two Chinese players on top?

RUONING YIN: No. I'm not surprised. Janet, she has a pretty solid game, too, and I'm not surprised she can shoot 4-under at this course, maybe 5-under.

Q. She's a good friend of yours, too, Janet is. Kind of describe that relationship. How did you become such good friends, and how cool is it to be at the top of the leaderboard at a major championship?

RUONING YIN: It's amazing. I can see her name and my name together on the top of the leaderboard.

I think I knew her, I met her five years ago. I think we got that click. That first time I met her, I know we're going to be good friends.

Q. Was she like a mentor to you?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, definitely, she's a big sis, helped me a lot, yeah.

Q. Curious about your relationship with Shanshan and how much time you've spent with her.

RUONING YIN: Not much.

Q. Is she an inspiration to you?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, definitely. Shanshan I think is my goal. All the Chinese players' goal. I think. She's got 10 Tour wins, one major win. Yeah, she's my goal. I wish I could spend more time with her because right now she's the head coach of the China national team, and I'm going to play the Asian Games this year, and I hope I can spend more time with her and learn something from her.

Q. There's a good amount of Chinese players now in college in Division I, which tells you that there's a bright future for Chinese golfers. How do you see that future? How many players do you think could end up here on the LPGA, Chinese players?

RUONING YIN: Right now I think we've got seven players on the LPGA Tour and probably 10 plus players on the Epson Tour. I think there's more to come.

Q. Would you call that your best ball-striking round of the year today?

RUONING YIN: Not really. Not really.

Q. I think you only missed one green; is that right?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, but I can hit it more closer, I think.

Q. What was that best round?

RUONING YIN: It didn't happen yet. (Laughter.)