KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 23, 2023

Minjee Lee

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Minjee Lee. I just want to go into the second day here. What were some of the key differences for you after the first day at Baltusrol going into today.

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I felt like yesterday I played pretty solid. I just kind of had -- I put myself in that position, but kind of an unlucky break on 17.

Then I felt like I had a pretty solid day regardless.

Today I had a really good back nine and just made two birdies and two bogeys on the front. Pretty solid day overall.

Q. When did you feel like you felt the groove here at Baltusrol during the second day?

MINJEE LEE: Obviously with the two par-5s on 17 and 18, you could make birdies there. There wasn't that much wind out there today, so a little softer. I think the greens -- less wind, so I was able to be a little bit more aggressive.

Q. With your experience with majors, it's assuming that those back breaks are going to happen and you're going to get some lucky breaks, too?

MINJEE LEE: I put myself there, so I take full responsibility. Yeah, I don't want to call it unlucky because I don't really believe in unlucky or lucky. I put myself there, so it is what it is.

Q. This is kind of a lesson for amateurs. How do you deal with that and go on to the next hole?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think you just acknowledge it, acknowledge how you feel. That was my 17th hole, so I just wanted to have a good 18th hole. But just drove it in the rough.

It is what it is, and you move on, and I had a good day today, so hopefully I can have the good momentum into the weekend.

Q. Is there a specific mindset for the majors or another way you approach the majors that you wouldn't approach other tournaments?

MINJEE LEE: Not really. I pretty much approach every event the same. Obviously I want to do well in every event, so I don't think your mindset should change.

Q. I understand Min Woo was going to come but he did too well so he couldn't come?

MINJEE LEE: That's a good problem to have, right?

Q. He's still doing pretty well.

MINJEE LEE: He is doing well. I just saw that he's tied seventh or something.

Q. A little bit more on the round, as well. You talked about yesterday 17, to be able to birdie those two par-5s on 17 and 18, how much did that help you with your momentum today?

MINJEE LEE: I actually hit it kind of in the same position, but it was a little more wet, so the ground was like matted down. I guess I just had a better lie, and I was able to hit a better shot into the green. Yeah, birdie is always nice, especially at a major. I'll take as many as I can.

Q. How important is it to take advantage of 17 and 18?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, obviously when you're playing from the first hole, it's a little bit different than starting on the 10th. I think it really was a great momentum for me, obviously playing it as 8 and 9 into the front nine. It was just nice to have 4-under on my front nine going into the back, which was my front nine.

Q. What you might not know is that Min Woo has been watching and tweeting. He was supposed to be here this week and then he got the call up to Travelers. What was that like to see him do well last week and to see him continuing that momentum, as well?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, it's super exciting. We pretty much -- I followed it because it was like -- the time difference was so different, so I was able to catch the whole thing after we played. That was kind of cool to watch him do so well.

I think he kind of thrives in that atmosphere. Really exciting.

Q. Is he one of those people to text you as soon as you're done?

MINJEE LEE: No. I already checked it, but he wasn't.

Q. You're obviously a player that we talk about ball-striking with. But as far as putting out here, these greens are so big. How key is two-putting?

MINJEE LEE: I think they're big, but the places where the pins are and where you have to hit them is quite small. Your landing area is quite -- it's like the front of the green to like 10 meters on, so it's quite a small target. They are big, but they have really, really subtle breaks, so it is quite important when you're really far away to two-putt.

I think the conditions of the greens and the roll is really good, even with a lot of kind of misty rain all day. It was really in great condition, and the course is in great condition, so it's really lovely to play.

Q. What have you been working on or what have you found with your putting this week? I know that's been a part of your game you've been really trying to get after.

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, obviously lag putting around here is important, so I've been doing a lot of that. Trying to be able to picture the lines into the holes a little bit better, so I've just been working on that, as well.

Q. This golf course is so hard; how good does it feel to get this kind of a round going with some momentum as you look ahead to the next 36?

MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think it's really important. Obviously had a really nice day today, and I'm hoping that the momentum carries on into the weekend. Hopefully we have nice weather and a lot of people can come out and enjoy the golf course, so I'm really looking forward to the weekend.