FIR HILLS SERI PAK CHAMPIONSHIP

March 22, 2024

Ruoning Yin

Palos Verdes Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Ronni, defending champ here this week. Definitely turned on the jets early in the second round at Palos Verdes. How were you feeling from the getgo?

RUONING YIN: I felt like because yesterday my ball striking is not that good, and today, this morning it's also cold. I just tried to make as much as -- make, yeah, just try to make more fairways and make more greens, and stay patient.

Q. What do you like most about the front nine holes? Your back nine today but what do you like most about those usual opening holes?

RUONING YIN: The front nine the fairway is wide open and I can smoke it whenever I want. Plus, today's pin position is quite easy for attack. I can be aggressive.

Q. So you have a few birdies out from the gate. What happened on 17 and 18 and how did you reset going into the back nine?

RUONING YIN: 17 I hit a little short. When I hit it I just felt like there is a little into the wind, and just hit it into the left front bunker and just couldn't get up and down from the bunker.

18 I just made a three-putt which is not good.

But back nine, Dave my caddie just keep telling me you have to be patient. You have the game. You just need to be patient.

Q. Eagle, birdie, birdie, coming in. Walk me through what those holes felt like to you.

RUONING YIN: So No. 7 is a par-5, and the pin is like front right. I got 189 to the pin and just solid 5-iron. Just took one bounce and bounce up, and probably six feet for eagle.

And that was pretty straight putt. And No. 8 I hit a little short but it still on the green. It's like 45 feet for birdie.

I didn't think about much. I just -- I was like, okay just make two-putt here and go to the next hole.

But good speed, good line, made it.

So last hole I was like, okay, let's get a good finish here. If you can make one eagle, one birdie, why can't I make another one?

Q. Good mindset. For you, what is it about these greens that you're seeing the lines on? Poana always tricks people up being so bumpy out here. How have you managed to read the lines and keep them on line?

RUONING YIN: Yesterday was definitely a little bumpy, but today I think the morning the green was fresh and easy to read and just stay on line.

I think it's pretty difficult to play in the afternoon because the grass gets really bumpy, yeah.

Q. For you, what kind of mental attitude do you have when you have a couple bogeys back to back? Do you channel the frustration to getting back or how do you keep yourself so even?

RUONING YIN: I was so pissed after 18, after I made that three-putt.

I'm okay with -- if I make a bogey, I'm okay with it, but I'm not okay with three-putt. I was pissed. I was like, that's the mistake I shouldn't have.

But like I said earlier, Dave just keep telling me you got to be patient. Yeah, just did a good job out there.