FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21, 2024

Seri Pak

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Seri Pak, tournament host. Thursday, opening round. So just, one, just go back to yesterday playing in the pro-am. How was it getting back out there on the course playing the pro-am and also playing with Yani yesterday?

SERI PAK: Well, it's been a long time play. It's a full field actually. First time in a long time. I was excited, and at the same time, was feel kind of weird because during the day I was a pro, I played the pro-am.

But this year I was a host. I don't have that much pressure on it to play well, but it was really fun. It's great thing is see the Yani. She played really good. I really happy to see she play back again in tour, that's really special day.

Q. Talk about when we talked to you on Tuesday you hadn't really been able to see the course yet. Got play the course yesterday. Talk about the course.

SERI PAK: Was expect that the golf course going to be tournament golf course so going to be hard and you have a lot of thinking about how to playing, have to make a plan for the playing.

First of all, just such a great condition I saw it. The greens are small, but of course players, they have a -- they are having own play for this, play for the week.

But it's great. Great golf course setup. The weather has been perfect. Great field, which is thankful. All the good players come out and play and doing their best and showing the great scores. I was hoping.

But it was great. Great. I mean, I was always expect that we play always great condition of golf course, but it is. This weeks it's going to be happen, so it's really thankful to having great golf course.

Q. How has it been just overall as the host and just seeing the players that you know and then the younger players that look up to you? What has been the overall experience been like for you this week so far?

SERI PAK: You know what, actually it was really funny, because first day I was stop to the clubhouse. I forgot I'm hosting. I was one of the -- playing this week as a player. So still the same, actually feel that way.

But really happy to see all my old friends. I see they're really healthy, and see all the great young players come out from Asia. So that's really love to see that happen.

At the same time, I really thank you for having me as a host this week and Fir Hills. Without them, which is not going to happening. I was playing for such a young age. During the LPGA events I saw a lot of legends, play with them. I was thinking about to be as legend. Wish I can be like them. I was dreams about it.

But how lucky I am here to calls part of legend. Just not used to that yet. But it's really I'm very honor and proud of myself to being as a host, and hope everybody have a great week this week and hoping has a lot of great opportunity to have this week.

Q. There is always so much buildup it doesn't feel like Thursday is ever going to come. Now that's it's here, how satisfactory is it to see your event come to fruition and golf be played out here, excellent golf so far?

SERI PAK: It is. I mean, I say as a first about the players. Of course this is probably the season first tournament the U.S., beginning, right? Everybody has a lot of excitement, at the same time of course they got some nervous about it, starting the season.

I mean, definitely players already ready to play. Of course they are ready for the 2024 season. Hopefully this event this week has good start for the season and got all the way to the 2024.

I mean, this is about it. I mean, here, of course this is my first event for the -- I'm host, but every year I'm trying to build for the tournament to make a better event. Next year's got better, year after's are better.

I'm trying to see more great players can help them as much as I can and have to sponsor more event as much as we could.

Q. I asked you in the press conference and it hadn't happened quite yet, but now that you've had time to interact with some of the players, any interactions that have stood out to you?

SERI PAK: I say it, I say -- it has been long time. I don't see them for a long time for the field, right? However, I mean, we seeing each other excited and happy.

But I said, I'm here -- some player -- who say that? Yani does, Hyo Joo, and then our caddies. We are seen for a long time, right? They said they're thinking I'm not like retired. They think week after week we seeing each other every day, so they think I'm playing again here on tour.

That was actually giving the great answer for it. I said, we always seen for a long time. It doesn't really -- (indiscernible) is not a short time, but each other seeing after year later, I mean, they still seeing as like a good friend. They don't really giving huge different reactions, but I know what they thinking, and I really happy to see that happy.

Bit of surprise, but they call me -- they say they're really proud to see me in this week.

Q. Building off that question, any younger players you hadn't met before that introduced themselves to you that stood out with what you meant to them?

SERI PAK: Oh, you know what? I mean, I feel that part of it actually I'm not really -- I'm sorry about that moment because, however, everybody so busy this week, and then I don't really able to seeing any young new players yet.

Of course, couple Korean player from the rookie, but other than that, I don't see much new player yet. So but I knew it, and of course I have to walk me through to see some players, too, this week. But we'll see then what's going to be happening.

Q. What's been the hardest part of the week so far for you?

SERI PAK: Right now. I want to see my friends and then players, but I was working and interviewing here and there. I don't see my friends yet. I'm really excited to come back in U.S. and doing the tournament and see my friends here and theres, and then of course the fan out there this week I'm going to very hoping to see more.

But it is. I just got me nervous. I never having nervous, but as a host, is that normal? I don't know why. However, I have a little bit of pressure on it, but at the same time got a little bit nervous doing all this stuff.

Q. What's a successful week going to look like to you?

SERI PAK: Just this week I think. I said it's just the first tournament actually my name is on the tournament is probably special, so this is probably successful beginning with that.

But starting after this year, we going to be more I said making better events, and I'm going to see more talent player trying to achieve their dreams, make it happening. So this is what I can do my best to be the tournament.

So I said I always, always talk about them. I was so much lucky person I am. I can do dreams every step by step comes true. So thanks for all of them.