U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

July 4, 2023

Jin Young Ko

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Please join me in welcoming World No. 1 Jin Young Ko. When did you arrive, and what's your practice been like so far?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I've been here -- I arrived here last Monday, and I got here Tuesday, and I started practicing Wednesday. I played a couple days before this week. I played yesterday and today.

Q. What are your impressions of the golf course?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I heard a lot of histories from this golf course, and I watched the Tiger's win the U.S. Open, and Gary Woodland, he won the U.S. Open, so I watched everything. Yeah, I'm really excited to play this golf course. I really wanted to play this golf course.

My life is pretty good because I can play this place, so I think I'm very lucky player in the world.

Q. Would you have come to a U.S. Open course that early if it wasn't Pebble Beach?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, just greens were a little slower. But pretty much the same as this condition. But starting today, day by day it will be more faster, the greens.

Q. Have you ever come to a golf course so early to prepare?

JIN YOUNG KO: No, no. It's first time.

Q. Just because it's Pebble Beach?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, just I wanted to enjoy the views and I wanted to eat oysters in San Fran, so I got here early.

Q. What did you find to be the hardest shot?

JIN YOUNG KO: Here? Yeah, greens are poa. Greens are a little tricky to read the break, and the rough is sticky. Some lies fine but some lies really sticky and long, so it's hard to hit really well.

Q. What's the hardest hole?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think No. 8. Jordan's, just before the steep.

Q. Did you look over the cliff where Jordan hit it from?

JIN YOUNG KO: No.

Q. What's your favorite hole out here and why?

JIN YOUNG KO: No. 7 because short. If not into the breeze, yes.

Q. I know you flew your coach out this week. How often does he get to tournaments, and what did you two work on in particular?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, usually he doesn't come to the U.S. often. But he came to U.S. just one or two times in 2019, but it's not often. But this year he has been in America already twice.

He stayed I think over 20 days already, and I'm working with him about my swing, as always, and some putting.

Q. It's been since 2019 since you won your last major. Is there a sense of urgency for you to win another major, given a Grand Slam is a goal for you?

JIN YOUNG KO: No. I just want to spend good time with my family and friends. That's my goal right now.

Q. Last week you passed Lorena Ochoa's record holding the No. 1 ranking longer than any other player since the rankings have been established. What was your reaction to hearing that you had set that new record?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I didn't realize I break the record with Lorena. But after last week on Monday -- last Monday I got some video from David. His friend is really close to Lorena. They work together in LA.

They took some videos and David sent me, and then I realized, oh, my God, because I really love Lorena. I really want to be like Lorena, everything, just personality, playing style, just everything.

I got the video, and then I realized -- I almost cried. I'm really thankful Lorena. LPGA Tour has Instagram, and they uploaded same video. It was heartful.

Q. The video was from Lorena?

JIN YOUNG KO: I think so.

Q. She said what to you?

JIN YOUNG KO: Congrats on your success for everything, and just keep doing, and really happy to David and me, she said. I think that's one of the great memories of my life, and I think that is the class react.

Q. What's the challenge you said you're working on your swing and your putting? At a venue like this in the midst of a major championship, how difficult is that that your game and your swing isn't where you want it to be?

JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, it's really hard to focus myself, especially in majors, because a lot of fans out there. Even me, like around me, I have like over six or seven people. Usually it's just manager and me and caddie, but this week is coach, manager, from my club agent. It's really hard to focus myself, so I need to focus myself.

I'm working on my swing with him, and if I'm doing really good about the swing motion or the swing key, it's going to be fun to play this golf course.

Q. How much time do you spend with Se Ri, and what is the best advice she gave you?

JIN YOUNG KO: 2021 in Olympics, she was captain in Korea team. But the food wasn't good in hotel because it's really far from the golf course to our hotel, maybe 40 minutes. She always find great market or great like fresh fruit. She bought a lot of like grapes or peaches, all the fruit.

So she brought to all the players, and after dinner we always full, so she just wanted to make us to full and happy energy from the food. It's really important to Korean teams, I think.

She is one of legends in Korea.