AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 12, 2023

Jiyai Shin

Mixed Zone

Q. How much fun is it to be back at the AIG Women's Open? You've won twice, back and not but back but contending?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, I miss all my British fans, so I'm really happy to come back and play in front of them. Yeah, I didn't play like seven years with this game. So this morning, the wind started early morning, and then I said, okay, yes, this is the AIG Women's Open. So definitely I feel all day, AIG Women's Open today.

Q. It's not quite as bad as when you won, though.

JIYAI SHIN: Sure. One of my toughest playing in Hoylake.

Q. But it's nice to be back here close to where you won your first one at Sunningdale?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, sure. Earlier this year, I very look forward to come over to this event, and yeah, I checked, and this course, and it's close to where I won at Sunningdale. So I have only good memory of there. So it makes more, like, enjoying this week.

Q. Have you seen fans who you remember from when you were last in Britain?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, it's a lot, actually. I met a lot of fans that are here, so I'm quite busy this week.

Q. So these are people who you remember who supported you in the past?

JIYAI SHIN: Sorry?

Q. Are these fans, people you recognise?

JIYAI SHIN: Yes, they all are talking about my two wins in Sunningdale and Hoylake, Royal Liverpool. So a lot of talking this week and it make a little busy this week.

Q. And were they following you this afternoon?

JIYAI SHIN: Yes, they are walking with me today, and then they are liking in the more excited game today.

Q. After Pebble Beach, is it exciting to be back playing majors and contending and being right in the mix?

JIYAI SHIN: Yeah, sure. Actually when I won Sunningdale, I was 20 years old, and now I am 35. So I don't know how more years I can play this game, so I'm thinking I should come back to play, and that's why I'm here.

And, well, yeah, a little bit feel different than a long time ago because at that time I only focused on playing on the game and only focus on the playing. But now I consider more around, so it makes it more fun, more enjoying the game.

Q. So there's more enjoyment now with the experience of what you've been through?

JIYAI SHIN: Yes.

Q. So does it feel like a second career in majors?

JIYAI SHIN: Sorry?

Q. Is it like a second career in majors?

JIYAI SHIN: You mean second?

Q. You had one go and now you have a new go.

JIYAI SHIN: Well, I don't know. I'm just playing and enjoying this game and then, you know, how we play in really tough conditions. So I'm just playing my game and my results following what I'm doing.

Q. The fact that you're playing majors again this year, did you want to do that at the start of the year or did you play well in Japan and think that you'll play in the majors again?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, I said already before starting the Japan Tour, because actually, my grandma passed away a couple months ago, and actually I want to show that I'm playing here and the U.S. to my grandmother. Unfortunately she's passed away a little bit earlier, but I think I still have, like I have to show to my grandma. I think she's definitely seeing me all the time. They are all with me now.

Q. Your sister (and brother), do they ring to say how well you're doing or do they ring you?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, oh, yeah, every day.

Q. Ring them or they ring you?

JIYAI SHIN: Oh, both, we are busy. We are good brother and sister, so we are -- sometimes I am calling, they are calling together. Actually, with the text message more, because we have a jet-lag, a little bit time difference, so they leave the message.

Q. And is it the sister that's older or the brother that's older?

JIYAI SHIN: Sister's older.

Q. Both siblings?

JIYAI SHIN: Yes.

Q. In the past when you were in contention, and now that you're in contention, so when you go home tonight, what's the difference between the Jiyai Shin who won the first two and the Jiyai Shin today?

JIYAI SHIN: Actually, I played on the Japan Tour the last ten years, and mainly we play in the morning time. We didn't play in late afternoon. So it made it a little bit hard to make the time scheduling. So I tried to keep remembering what I did when I played in the US.

Yes, I'm just very focused about the time scheduling, so maybe tomorrow now I have a good position, so maybe tomorrow, also, I play a little bit late time, so I need more, like, making the great scheduling for tomorrow.

Q. You have experience in this Championship, when you look back, how will you prepare?

JIYAI SHIN: Well, I don't know why I play good with the tough conditions, but that's when I'm coming this morning, okay, maybe my friend is coming, I said, the wind -- all the time, I say the wind is my friend. So definitely it works today, as well.

And then, well, today's wind made the ground firm, so the fairway and the green is so different than the last couple days. So of course, definitely, I have to get focused to hit on the fairway first.