EPSON TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

October 7, 2023

Auston Kim

LPGA International, Jones Course

Quick Quotes

Q. (In progress.)

AUSTON KIM: I mean, I was hitting it pretty close all day. I think the longest putt that I had today was 40 feet and I was making everything that I looked at. I'd just set my line, hit the putt, and it was going in.

Q. You've touched on your mentality, consistency and thinking like a goldfish. Do you think you mastered those three things today?

AUSTON KIM: Close enough. I don't think you can ever master anything, but I got really close to being really good today. And I know that I had a couple hiccups on the back, but I told myself those will happen, mistakes will happen. I just tried my best to do better from there and focus on every shot 100%.

Q. There is still a round left. You're currently in the lead. You have a pretty good chance getting into that top 10. How amazing would that feel to be able to walk away from this week at that position?

AUSTON KIM: It would feel really great. I know I've been knocking all year. A win would feel fantastic. It would also be a testament to what I've been working hard on.

Like I said, there is still another round left. The job isn't done. I don't want to get too ahead of myself.

Q. Last question from me. Are you proud of yourself for what you've done so far this year?

AUSTON KIM: I am. I am really proud of myself. If I just look at my scores from last year and think about how I was handling myself on the course last year and where I was mentally, I know I've grown a lot not only mentally, but on the course with my skills. I know that there has been a lot of improvement in aspects of my game, so I am really proud of myself for that.

Q. Went out and shot 8-under yesterday. Today going out knowing that you could shoot a low number like that, what changed the mindset and how much more were you able to attack today?

AUSTON KIM: I think it's really important not to be reckless on the course. There were definitely a lot of really difficult pins out there today, but I just focused on trusting myself and knowing that my numbers are good, my shots are really solid.

My drives were a little bit off today, but I knew that the angles that I had were really solid heading into those holes. It was all about trust today.

Q. You told me yesterday that you've been waiting for all parts of your game to click, and the putting especially is finally clicking. You said you made a little adjustment. Was it scooting up to the ball? Was it more eye-line stuff?

AUSTON KIM: Fundamentals. So just getting the balance really good and kind of making sure that I'm committing to every line that I see.

Q. You're hitting the ball really well, too. For you with ball striking and this week, what's been the key?

AUSTON KIM: Tempo.

Q. Tempo?

AUSTON KIM: Again, not getting too ahead of myself and trying to see where the ball is going. Just focusing on waiting for the club basically to hit the ball and let the ball get in the way.

Q. Tell me about your birdie on 16 today.

AUSTON KIM: Oh, man, I flared my drive out a little bit to the right, but I was still in the fairway. I had about a 125 shot into the pin. Hit a really smooth pitching wedge and got it to about two, three inches.

Q. Heading into tomorrow, knowing, again, low rounds are out there but not being reckless, what's the mindset? Really looking to (indiscernible) on the greens, trying to hit balls in the fairway, or what are you thinking? Really nothing to lose tomorrow.

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, when I plan out pins tonight I'll be really mindful of if there is a back pin, if there is a front pin I can really attack.

Again, it's fairways and greens, being smart, but also trusting my myself and the numbers I have in my bag.

If the putts drop, great. If they don't, I can try again and stay patient.

Q. How much have you heard from your sister throughout this week?

AUSTON KIM: She's busy studying right now, but I've heard from her a lot. We're talking and she's giving me a lot of good advice and keeping me calm, so I'm very grateful for her.

Q. I just have one question. You touched on the mental practices you've been doing this year and physically what you've been working on, but can you speak to kind of how hard that is to adjust some of the mental things and what specifically you've been working on throughout the year?

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, the first half of the year I felt like I was knocking and I couldn't miss. Like I had three top 10 finishes in a row. Almost got a win.

After that felt like I couldn't hit a shot straight or where I wanted. Putts weren't dropping. Nothing was clicking again. It gets frustrating. Golf is hard.

It's important to keep perspective about that. You can work ten-hour days and not play well at all, but the most important part to me right now is just surrendering to the outcome, just trying your best, knowing that your best is enough.

If you hit a good shot, great. If you don't, it's part of the game, too. This is a game of misses, especially this week, so if you miss a shot, just know you can do even better on the next one.