FREED GROUP WOMEN'S SCOTTISH OPEN

August 5, 2023

Ginnie Ding

Dundonald Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Another great round today. How much has this experience been fitting you, and how are you enjoying your week?

GINNIE DING: Yeah, I think it's exciting, for sure. I think that's the biggest thing. I was telling Gaby, who I played with today, that this is my first LPGA event, and a really big one. And so I'm really just trying to soak in everything.

And there were times where I forgot that I was -- I had to play or I was first on the tee, just because I was watching the other players. And it's just been a fun experience.

Q. And you've been watching and learning, no doubt.

GINNIE DING: Yes. Yes. For sure. I mean, just trying to take up everything, not try and get too caught up in scores. I think that's what made yesterday so special, just because like I knew what the cut was, but just knowing how to play well here and knowing where to put the ball was important, yeah.

Q. And you're at Vanderbilt University.

GINNIE DING: Yes.

Q. Are you a junior?

GINNIE DING: I'm going to be a senior, so my last year.

Q. And do you hope to play professional afterwards?

GINNIE DING: Yeah, I'm planning to go to Q-School, LPGA Q-School this year, so it's in about two weeks. So this is a pretty good preparation for that. So, yeah, I'm excited.

Q. And what have you found surprising that you didn't expect playing in your first pro tournament?

GINNIE DING: I didn't -- so this is my first time playing links, like a links tournament and such a big LPGA tournament. I want to say I didn't know that this course would suit me, how I play, very well, just because everyone says it's tough, it's windy.

It just so happens that I hit it very low -- I hit it -- I mean, my putting, my chipping is decent recently. It's honestly been suiting me pretty well. I think that's the biggest thing. Doesn't seem as tough as everyone has said.

Q. Scottish links might be your thing.

GINNIE DING: Maybe. I don't know. I mean, we'll see.

Q. And literally never played it before?

GINNIE DING: No. No, I'm -- everyone asks me have I prepared at all, I mean, I haven't. This is the first time in the U.K., first time -- second time in Europe. So it's crazy. But, yeah, I've loved it. It's been just a joy.

Q. I feel like people out there love the challenge of links golf or hate the challenge of links golf.

GINNIE DING: Yeah. I mean, it also hasn't been crazy in terms of the conditions and the weather. I think we've been lucky with the greens and everything softening up a little bit with the rain.

So maybe it's not like the truest test yet. I mean, we'll see tomorrow. It didn't rain a drop today. So the conditions have been good. But I love it so far.

Q. And obviously you were very thankful to the Freed Group for getting you here.

GINNIE DING: Yeah. Mm-hmm. I mean, I met with them I think three nights ago. I mean, they're awesome. I mean, just the support that they have for Hong Kong is amazing, and obviously me and Tiffany Chan, you know, it's just great to be here. They called me up like three weeks ago, and I was like, Yes. I'm not even -- I'll clear whatever I have. But, yeah, I'm very thankful to them. Yeah.

Q. And in terms of obviously you were thanking them very well with your performance, what other things would you say you'll take away from this week in terms of what you've learned with your playing partners and any particular pros that have given you lots of advice?

GINNIE DING: To be honest, I've just been more open to see how their attitudes are around the course. I think they vary a lot, especially in pro golf. And for me, I've found that I like to play quite calm.

But even watching Gaby today, she was calm but aggressive, which is what I really look up to. I think I want to try and play a little more aggressive tomorrow, see how that will go. But, yeah, she was very confident, very cool and collected. And, yeah, you could tell she's just like a veteran here.

Q. What's the plan tomorrow? Are you going in with any goals or just let it flow?

GINNIE DING: You know, I told you yesterday I was going to play aggressive today, and I didn't. But I played well. I mean, the wind picked up a little bit in the end.

But considering all the conditions, I mean, I'll try. I'll put everything out there. But, again, like the strategy was right today. We'll see tomorrow. We'll see. I'll adapt.

Q. Bouncing straight back from a couple of bogeys --

GINNIE DING: Yes.

Q. You consign them to history straightaway?

GINNIE DING: Yeah, it's just putting. Putting today was good. Couple of mistakes here and there. My ball-striking wasn't as good today. But, yeah, the putting was able to make up for it.

Q. And you raced the bad weather.

GINNIE DING: Is it going to be?

Q. It looks like it's going to be nasty.

GINNIE DING: That's just how it is.

Q. Based on what you said now about the whirlwind of the last three weeks, the call-up, coming in, never playing links golf before, what are you judging -- are you judging yourself this week? Are you looking at score?

GINNIE DING: Yeah, good question. Yeah, again, it was a very short sort of -- sorry. It was a very short notice. But that's one of the reasons why I think I came here with such fresh eyes. I mean, I was -- there was not a moment that I've been here that I wasn't happy with just the way that I've played.

Obviously the first day is the first day. But other than that, I mean, not giving myself too much pressure. Like I said with yesterday, trying to -- I was on the cut line the entire day. And I knew that. But it was just about not really dwelling on bogeys and not giving myself too much pressure. And I think that's what's important. Being grateful that I was given this spot in the first place I think is the right way to look at it.