SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 12, 2024

Carl Yuan

Waialae Country Club

Quick Quotes

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Q. Carl, do you think you're going to go through the year being known as the guy who got in the last second?

CARL YUAN: Hopefully not. Hopefully I have my score and performance will kind of cover that part. Yeah, I mean, just looking forward to another year on TOUR. With all the learning experience from my rookie year definitely feel like I'm more prepared for being out here.

Q. What was the big lesson, do you think? I'm sure there are lots of little things. Is there one big thing you learned about your rookie year to apply to this year?

CARL YUAN: Yeah, definitely I didn't start off the season great. It's kind of being a rookie you got to play everything you can get in. After all the West Coast Swing, you play multiple courses, and that was just tough stretch.

Instead of really regroup my game when not performing and playing great is probably a big key, instead of playing everything I can get in and miss the cut. Definitely just recharge at the right time, and, yeah, taking some time off to refocus and come back out like I did in the fall, which help me a lot.

Q. I would imagine just because you keep going up and up and level in competition that's probably the most cuts you ever missed as a professional. Is that hard to take?

CARL YUAN: I mean, I had kind of had that on the Korn Ferry, when I was rookie on the Korn Ferry Tour. I had a similar stretch, missed six, seven cuts, in eight- or ten-week stretch.

Q. To not let it affect your confidence.

CARL YUAN: Yeah, definitely takes a toll on the confidence. Just got really take a different look at myself and see what I really need to get better at and kind of grind it out that way.

Q. The week of the RSM when you were on the bubble, how do you approach that week?

CARL YUAN: I knew what I need to do. First of all, I know I need to make the cut first to have a chance at it, which I did. I didn't played great on the weekend. Obviously I'm a little disappointed I finished just outside it.

I think it definitely motivates me more than anything in my life that I just got to be better, play the game a little better, and hopefully not in this position again, yeah.

Q. At Q-School, when was it that you learned that you wouldn't have to play? Where were you?

CARL YUAN: Just at home on Monday after practice round, and, yeah, my wife is gonna caddie that week. She wasn't going to be happy with all the bad weather that week. I was happy for her more than happy for myself.

Q. Obviously you're happy that you made it. What's that emotion like when you learn that you were fully exempt?

CARL YUAN: I mean, more kind of relief I guess. I mean, I didn't think that hard to get in Sony. I thought being 126 based on the past year's history that I would have got in Sony and next couple full-field events on the west coast.

I wasn't extremely concerned about it. Having full status is nice. No need to reshuffle. Yeah, I mean, before I learn the news I was really trying to get myself ready and come out and play good in Hawai'i and on the west coast and try to earn myself back on TOUR.

Luckily I got full status, but I'm still trying to do the same thing and come out here and play the best I can.

Q. This weekend what are you looking forward to? How do you think you can use past experiences in contention as you move forward trying to win for the first time out here?

CARL YUAN: Yeah, I had a couple chances last year being the final two groups, have a shot on the weekend. Yeah, I feel like I just got to do what I did last two days: be patient and stay committed, know exactly what I'm going to do before I hit a shot and see how it turns out.