THE LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

January 26, 2024

Lydia Ko

Bradenton Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Lydia, great couple of days play, but it was a little bit different today, maybe not as good ball striking. What was the change for you?

LYDIA KO: I just don't think it was as solid. I gave myself plenty of opportunities, but maybe just not as close.

I three-putted to make the first bogey of the week on 7, and I think that killed the momentum a little bit, especially on a hole where I did hit a couple good shots and I felt like it could have been an easy birdie, but I kind of let that get away.

Other than that, I still made a really good bogey on 14. I made the hole a lot tougher than it should be, but it was solid.

I did feel like I didn't have my A-game, but still to shoot under par on a day where you don't feel like it's as solid is a good place to be.

Q. When you look at the last six rounds that you've played, the start of this LPGA Tour season, where do you compare to maybe where you were in 2022 with your game and maybe 2014 and 2015?

LYDIA KO: This time in 2022, I was actually really -- I felt really unprepared. Actually playing in the Tournament of Champions, I was struggling, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. So I actually got the positive out of the not so good.

I had a great first round in Boca, and I think that kind of set up the win that week.

But I feel like I'm playing really solid. I'm giving myself more and more opportunities. And I think last year that was the biggest thing where I was missing a ton of greens, and to scramble and make up-and-down five, six, seven times, it's a lot. It wears on you. And at one point you start thinking, okay, I'm probably going to miss one by now.

So it's definitely a better place to be. I do feel like there's still parts of my game that needs improvement, but I'm relieved that I was able to win last week and trying to feed off that good momentum this week.

Q. Joined now by Lydia Ko here after the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship. A little bit of a different round than yesterday. What were some of the challenges out there?

LYDIA KO: I think my game wasn't as solid as it was yesterday. In saying that, I still felt like I played pretty decent, just maybe not as many close birdie opportunities. Then a couple of holes where I made a birdie and then bogeyed the next.

Good to be able to birdie the 17th and still finish under par for the day. I felt like I still hit plenty of good shots the past couple days, and I'm hoping to feed off that and revitalize and have a good weekend.

Q. What is it about today, where the golf course is maybe playing a little bit harder than it did yesterday? Are the pins in different positions where it's a little more challenging?

LYDIA KO: Maybe a few holes where the pins were a little bit more difficult to get to. In ways, I think, when it is so windy, some holes can play really short. Where I think on No. 2 I had like a really chippy pitching wedge, and today I hit a 5-iron, and it's still short of the hole.

I think the wind is a huge factor around here, and obviously in the mornings there's a bit of dew like on the fairways as well. So you're just not getting as much of a run.

I think there were some pins that were harder, but there were some that were a little bit more gettable. I just think my proximity to the hole wasn't as good as yesterday, and that was kind of the three-shot difference for me.

Q. Six rounds in, I know it's super early, but how much more fun are you having on the golf course this year? You look like you're almost bouncing down the fairway a little bit more than maybe compared to last year?

LYDIA KO: I'm just trying to enjoy it obviously. A little bit of weight being lifted off my shoulders, being able to win last week. Even though I was leading, I felt kind of comfortable.

I don't know, you turn another chapter in your career. This is my 11th year on Tour, and maybe that's the difference of my mindset when I'm out there playing.

I think last week was really important, and I think for the first time I was back in contention and in the lead. Being at home in a place where it's comfortable for me, I think was really helpful. I'm pretty sure that's going to feed on throughout the year.

To be able to back up a great tournament with a good round yesterday, I think is helpful because you kind of aren't sure where it could go. But to be able to still play some solid golf has helped.

Q. You were 3 out of 3 in sand saves. How much of an advantage is it -- or more of an advantage, I guess, to missing greenside bunkers as opposed to spots around the greens?

LYDIA KO: I think it's very lie dependent, even in the bunkers. I feel like there's quite a bit of sand in there. So just very lie dependent and what kind of shot you have coming up.

But always nice to know that, hey, even if you do miss it, you've got a pretty good chance of making it up-and-down. Especially around this golf course, I think if you aren't at the pin, it's really important to be precise and know where the right side is to miss it.

Q. How much of a grind was it today compared to yesterday?

LYDIA KO: I think it was a little bit more work on making sure that, if I make a bogey, and try and not make any further mistakes from there. And I think I was able to kind of get around the mistakes really quick. That's just as important as making birdies.