BUICK LPGA SHANGHAI

October 13, 2023

Xiyu Lin

Qizhong Garden Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Janet, we were kind of talking about it, but definitely a fight kind of day for you. Just overall, what have the last two days been like for you at the Buick LPGA Shanghai?

XIYU LIN: Obviously Friday is completely different story than Thursday. It's very wet. Make everyone hitting very short. Even I'm playing with one of the longer hitter, Minjee, and she is definitely I feel like been because of the rain hit lot shorter.

So makes it even harder if I miss the fairway. So it's a good fight today. I had my struggle but I stay really tough and I have really good skill of forgetting bad shots, so I think that's the key. I did pretty good today.

Q. When you feel it not maybe 100% out there, what do you say to yourself or what do you talk about with your caddie to reset, refocus when it comes to finishing out strong?

XIYU LIN: I think it makes it a little easier when your short game is on. Obviously there will be days that long game is really hard and not making any putt.

For me, what I been working the whole winter is really sharpen my short game, so I feel like this whole season the short game has stayed very consistent and putting has been pretty good recently, too.

I think that helps so much when you are struggling with long game, because it all comes down to a longer par putt, and if you hold it, then nothing, no damage. So that's all what I tell myself.

And also I tell myself sometimes you reach the fairway with your irons and stuff, you're giving yourself plenty of opportunity, which I make I think seven, eight birdies today.

So yeah, I think I'm not at my best game, but like I said, this season the biggest thing I learn is how to score if even I'm not at the best.

Q. And you were recently here for the Asian Games. To be back in China as a Buick ambassador, what does this event mean to you?

XIYU LIN: It means a lot. Actually this three weeks I've been playing in China is the first time since COVID, ever, so it's been amazing, because I almost forgot what's the feeling of playing at your home, like your home course -- I mean home country.

So from Asian Game was a little bit of a shock when I seen that many people out there, and I started to get used to it and I was always trying to learn how to turn all these into motivation to myself.

I just felt like I enjoy playing in front of home crowds and making them proud and making them excited about some shot. Even there are some bad ones, but they still like super happy when I'm having a great recovery shot and they just been super supportive.

You know, these three weeks been unreal. It's first time in four years, so I just very grateful.

Q. How do you keep the emotions, I don't want to say at bay, but how do you center yourself to be as competitive as you can be when there is a lot of responsibility as a home country favorite?

XIYU LIN: I just trying to tell myself everyone here hoping you doing the best. Maybe when you hit a bad shot they will making noises or sound a little disappointed, but at the end of the day they came out here to support me, to help me doing my best, so it's the same goal as I have. I think I try to be just looking at them feeling as much support as I can.

Q. Definitely some positives on the scorecard today. You named it, seven or eight birdies out there. What do you take from a day like this heading into the weekend?

XIYU LIN: I feel like last two holes I hit two really good drives. Even though I said I struggle, but I'm not struggle. Like I know I have the ability and I'm not really far off from the leaders, and the weekend will be even more people coming out I'm assume to watch us or me or the Chinese players.

And, yeah, I feel like I just going to keep doing the same, myself, you know be happy, and just want to show you ever one how I play.

Q. Was it nice to close the way you did? Take us through what that was like.

XIYU LIN: It was great, like I said, because after 16 I know last two hole is really giveable, like especially with 18 hole with the front pin. But all I need is really hit the fairway, so I was on 17 tee and I'm like, you know, worse case we go three on, but I really think I can get this done.

So I think the last two good drive really gave me lots of confidence, and, yeah, and then everything else just go by plan. 17 I hit a great 3-wood, get on the green, two-putted for birdie; and then 18, so I had some mud on the ball so I was being a little more cautious that I didn't really go for the pin.

So landing on the right fringe was kind of my plan, but making that putt was just a bonus. Yeah, so I think this is pretty good end for Friday.