KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2023

Jin Young Ko

Baltusrol Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're here with Jin Young Ko. 69 on the day. Talk about your round today and especially the stretch on the back with four straight birdies.

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I started not good first four holes. I made three bogies in four holes, and I thought, yeah, today is going to be really fun.

Then I made birdies after that, and on the back nine I got four birdies, straight four holes birdie. It feels great. Yeah, tough round today.

THE MODERATOR: You've gotten 72, 69, 69. Do you think you're starting to figure out Baltusrol?

JIN YOUNG KO: No (laughing), still I don't know this golf course.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open it up to questions.

Q. What's challenging you the most?

JIN YOUNG KO: Well, yeah, I missed some fairways today. So it's going to be challenging for me because this golf course if you miss the fairway, it's going to be hard to focus for next hole from tee shot. So it's going to be challenging.

And if made keep the fairway, I can make chance for birdies. So, yeah, I need to more focus my tee shot and second shot.

Q. I remember CME I think in '21 you had made eight or nine birdies in a row, so you are no stranger to that. Can you walk me through the four-hole stretch where you birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie?

JIN YOUNG KO: I thought I would make it. So I had confidence for my putting, yeah. The first two birdies, long putt after that, I made just 4 feet each hole. So, yeah, it wasn't easy, but I made it.

Q. What would it mean to capture your third major? You've been kind of hanging around all week. You're still not too far back, especially at a venue like this. What would it mean to finally get that job done again?

JIN YOUNG KO: I will never give up until tomorrow. Who knows? Leona is still playing really good right now. She won last week, and she have chance for win this week again.

But nobody knows, so I will never give up. If I made a lot of birdies on the front nine, it could be chance.

Q. What will be your strategy? Will you try to attack the golf course a little bit more tomorrow or still kind of stick with the same?

JIN YOUNG KO: Same. Same direction. Everything same.

Q. You have obviously won majors before, but especially after your first one, how did your life change after that victory?

JIN YOUNG KO: Nothing changed (laughing). Just first major was ANA in '19. After the tournament I was ranking No. 1. That was only change in my life for me.

Q. Then I know you might not want to reveal any secrets considering you want to win tomorrow, but a lot of players around you on the leaderboard, you know, are chasing that elusive first major. What kind of advice or what is kind of your mentality when you are trying to get that first major championship win? Yeah, advice or what was your mentality when you were trying to -- on Sunday when you were trying to get that first one at ANA?

JIN YOUNG KO: That's secret. I don't want to tell anybody (laughing).

Q. I came in late, but we are used to seeing such very steady, consistent golf from you. What was it like inside you today with all kind of things happening?

JIN YOUNG KO: I don't know. I just want to be, like, calm person on the golf course and without golf course either. You guys look me very calm and focused.

Q. You stayed really calm today. After the start you were still really calm?

JIN YOUNG KO: No, a lot in my mind. The first four holes I made three bogeys, so I brought back again.