HILTON GRAND VACATIONS TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS

January 17, 2024

Mone Inami

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back inside the media center here to the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

I'm pleased to be joined by Mone Inami. Welcome to your first event as a member.

MONE INAMI: Thank you.

Q. What it is like being in Orlando?

MONE INAMI: First time playing on the LPGA Tour and I'm very excited. So different than Japan, the atmosphere and stuff. U.S. is so pretty, so I'm super excited.

Q. What was it like preparing for this event in particular and making your debut as a member?

MONE INAMI: So I watch the YouTube from last year how this tournament is going. First thought was it was kind of difficult but also fun.

When I get here, nothing much prepare for anything, but when I get here I just absorb all the course and stuff. Just excited, but hopefully I play well.

Q. What went into the decision to become an LPGA Tour member this year after your win in Japan?

MONE INAMI: I couldn't make decision for myself but the team really help me out and they give me a good advice to come here.

So it's just because of the team and, yeah.

Q. Why this event to start your season?

MONE INAMI: So only champion can play on this event so it's very special. And then all the top player is playing, so I just want to see them in my eye and also I just want to start the season early.

Q. Have you reached out to any other Japanese players on tour for advice about being on the LPGA?

MONE INAMI: So I haven't really contact anybody yet, so if I have a question every week I wanted to ask someone.

Q. What are you most excited about playing on the LPGA Tour this year?

MONE INAMI: So the most I'm looking forward is to play on the British Open because it's in St Andrews this year. Last year people asking me what's you looking forward for next year and I said to play in the St Andrews.

So it's the most looking forward to it.

Q. How often have you played links golf before?

MONE INAMI: So only time I play links style course was in 2020 because I played in British Open.

Q. Royal Troon, yes. When you became a member, you said this was a dream. Is it starting to feel like a dream come true being on the LPGA Tour?

MONE INAMI: Yeah, so I really just more excited for playing this tour, and I don't really want to think about all the result and stuff.

To play on this tour I just want to make my skill a little bit higher.

Q. This is an Olympic year and are the reining silver medalist. How excited are you to kick off your pursuit of going back to the Olympics at this event?

MONE INAMI: Right now my ranking is a little bit far away, but one of the motivation is to play in Olympic again, so hopefully I play good in the first few tournaments.

Q. Are you playing next week as well?

MONE INAMI: Yes.

Q. What do you feel is the best part of your game?

MONE INAMI: Maybe second shot.

Q. Why your second shot?

MONE INAMI: Just I just really like the iron, and even I start playing golf I was pretty good iron player.

So that's the why.

Q. You mentioned that if you have questions you'll just ask them kind of as you go along in the season. Who are you most likely to lean on to ask questions of?

MONE INAMI: So I cannot really speak English. I really want to get to know all the players but right now I cannot really speak English. First I want to look and observe the player and then hopefully trying to start get to know all the many players.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, so much.

MONE INAMI: Thank you.