FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 19, 2024

Ruoning Yin

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back inside the media center here at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship. I'm pleased to be joined by the defending championing champion here at Palos Verdes, Ruoning Yin, Ronni.

What is it like returning to an event? I know a new name, but still the same course. What is it like returning to the first event where you are defending a championship on the LPGA Tour?

RUONING YIN: Feels amazing. Actually is my first defending tournament and I think it's a whole new experience for me. I think it's going to be fun.

Q. What is the experience like? Do you see yourself on programs or posters or is it more pressure as a defending champion?

RUONING YIN: I feel like there is some pressure, but for me, I just like see it as a normal tournament for me.

Q. You were back in Asia for the Asia Swing of events. First time taking part in the spring Asia series. What did you learn about your game taking part in those events?

RUONING YIN: I feel like Asian Swing is always fun, but I just don't know why, like after every Asian Swing I get a little sick, like cold.

I think it's all about learning process. I can learn something from myself or from the course every day, and just keep getting better even 1% per day, I think it's good for me.

Q. Where do you feel like you're getting better?

RUONING YIN: I think it's more about the course experience, because the Asian course is quite different than the course in the States or Europe. The grass is different. It's quite hard.

I think I'm learning fast. I think next year will be better.

Q. Coming back to Palos Verdes, like we said as the defending champion, what are some memories that you have from last year that stick out to you the most?

RUONING YIN: I mean, time flies, right? I can't even believe it's a year ago. I think coming back to Palos Verdes, I like this course. I like it a lot. A little hilly, but I like it.

I think it just suits me.

Q. We've been asking everyone this: Obviously Seri Pak's name behind this championship. She's meant a lot to especially our Korean golfers out here. As a younger player on tour, what does it mean to be participating in an event like this hosted by someone like Seri Pak?

RUONING YIN: I mean, Seri is such a legendary, and I thought she have 25 LPGA wins. I think it's just amazing to be part of the field, yeah.

Q. Have you ever met her before?

RUONING YIN: No, haven't.

Q. Are you excited to potentially meet her?

RUONING YIN: Yeah, I would love to meet such a legend. That would be my dream.

Q. You were mentioning learning is a big thing for you. What have been some of the most important things you learned from your victory last year to now?

RUONING YIN: I would say the biggest thing I learn is how to say no, because obviously I got a lot of request since I win last year. I mean since I win a major last year.

So I get a lot of request, just people ask me for doing this, doing that. I think the thing I learn is say no. I just found out the famous you get you have the less time for yourself.

I just feel like I need to make more time for myself, getting rest or spend more time on the practice range or fitness. I just need some more time for myself. I think that's the biggest thing I learn last year.

Q. Do you remember at what point in time you realized oh, I have no me time, I need to take some time back for myself? Was there a number of things that you were doing that led to you a realization?

RUONING YIN: I think last year when I played the Shanghai LPGA event because that's also my sponsor event. That week is busy, like super busy for me. At that time I just realize, oh, maybe I should like have my own time.

Q. This win last year put you in the esteemed company with Shanshan Feng, and you did something else to put yourself in her company a couple months later. Could you encapsulate what 2023 meant to your career? Now and you Shanshan are the only two players from Carolina that have won a major on the LPGA. How cool is that for and how big was last year for your confidence and where you feel like you belong out here?

RUONING YIN: I remember last year after second round in the interview I said I'm thinking about getting to the winning circle not just making the cut.

I think last year definitely give me a lot of confidence. That makes me believe in my myself that I belong to this tour, and that makes me believe I can compete with the best players in the world.

That means a lot, and especially when I back to China and I saw a lot of junior golfers. They say, Ronni, you're my role model. I was like, that's -- even I think about that right now, that gives my goosebumps. I think that that means a lot not just for me, also China golf.

Q. And for you this year, I mean, I failed to mention got to world No. 1 last year as well. What are some of your goals? You reached a lot of pinnacles really, really quick. Obviously want to win more. What are some goals this year, personal or on the golf course?

RUONING YIN: I think the goals this year -- this year is actually pretty special because we have Olympic and I definitely want to do something on the Olympic.

But for me, I just don't want to put pressure on myself. I just kind of focus on every tournament, focus on every shot, just one shot in the moment.

Q. Olympic dreams, what would that mean to accomplish that and why is that something that's so important to you to really do?

RUONING YIN: Because China golf have major winner, have LPGA winner, but we don't have gold medal winner yet.

So that's definitely the biggest goal for me.

Q. I know you talk about the gold medal with the Olympics. There is a Chinese medalist with Shanshan. How much -- I know you talk about taking one shot at a time. What does it mean to you to know that you could potentially emulate someone you also looked up to?

RUONING YIN: I know Shanshan have the bronze medal. I think -- I don't really want to think about getting medal right now, but it's kind of special for me to maybe get a silver or even bronze. Any medal is good.

Like I said, I don't want to think about it right now because it's still have five months away. So I just kind of focus on my game and try to get better every day.

Q. I know you've been out on the course I believe. Are there any differences to last year? I know this course is kind of kindly taken to the rain it's got over the last few weeks. For you, what are some things you're noticing? Any change from 2023?

RUONING YIN: I don't feel like there is many change. I think the green is definitely softer than last year because last year was pretty firm and pretty windy.

I don't feel really windy today, but the greens definitely softer.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Ronni.

RUONING YIN: Thank you.