SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 9, 2024

Si Woo Kim

Waialae Country Club

Press Conference

Q. Like to welcome defending champion Si Woo Kim into the interview room here at the Sony Open in Hawai'i. What kind of memories came back to you as you stepped on the property this week?

SI WOO KIM: I was always like started in Hawai'i always been great, so I started one week earlier than last year, so still feel great and always happy to be back here.

Q. Like you said, starting last week at the Sentry, finished T25. How is the game coming into this week?

SI WOO KIM: Yeah, it was feel great. I thought I play pretty good. Shot 20-under, so tied for 25. Yeah, everything feels great. Feels more like I can start more here.

Q. If you shoot 20-under this week, do you think you'll finish 25?

SI WOO KIM: I think much better spot I think. (Smiling.)

Q. What is it about last week where scores keep going lower and lower? I know the wind is not blowing, but they go low when it blows.

SI WOO KIM: Yeah, I think I play few years ago. It doesn't that much lower score, but I don't know why like score is getting lower, lower.

All the players like playing so great and then doesn't blowing much, but with everything -- greens not that harder and kind of soft. Everything stops it. Even hit long iron stops, so I think that's why score is low.

But it's always enjoy to start there and good to be here.

Q. One more. You had really two big wins last year: Here on TOUR and Asian Games.

SI WOO KIM: Uh-huh.

Q. What was the feeling like having won the gold in the team and knowing that you were -- no military service?

SI WOO KIM: Yeah, I always want to play Asian Game like when I was amateur, 15, 16 years old. I try Q-School early because that's the last Q-School for direct to PGA TOUR. So that's why I tried, and I didn't expect through the Q-School, but it was.

And then I was turn pro -- pro never chance to play Asian Games, yeah, so I thought that was done, but somehow like two years ago they change the rule and pros can play. I was excited, so me and Sungjae and two amateurs, we enjoyed it. We stayed together like whole week.

It was enjoy, and then, yeah, it was honor to play with my country.

Q. Were you worried about maybe having to take time off for military?

SI WOO KIM: I can't say anything about that. Sorry.

Q. Last year after you won and we were talking with you, you were talking like you didn't really believe it yourself. Almost like you're saying you didn't feel like you belong. Has that changed? Do you feel more like you belong, and has that sunk in that you were the best here last year?

SI WOO KIM: Yeah, it's been like -- if I'm playing whole season, too many good players here, so hard to -- sometimes hard to believe myself. Like I always say like I'm the worst player in the field. Always said that.

But last year this week gives me more confidence and I can do like more about before. So, yeah, it's more confidence and always trying to play different, get confidence, and feel more comfortable.

Q. Is it a motivation device for you to think that way?

SI WOO KIM: Yeah, and first two wins came out so early for me, because rookie year and second year I had two wins. That makes me more like cocky. You know, I can win every year, but like next two years can't win and it was more like lose confidence. Win Palm Springs and here last year, and I think that more confidence and more motivation to get back here.