JM EAGLE LA CHAMPIONSHIP

April 27, 2024

Grace Kim

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Grace Kim after her third round at the JM Eagle LA Championship. I know it was a rough day for you, for a lot of the field. Can you just take us through the day today?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, I mean, the wind did pick up. It was a bit gusty out there, so mentally I knew it was going to be tough and I'd seen some high scores already.

I just tried to stay in the present. Again, like I backed away a few times because the wind died or gusted up, so the club selection was crucial.

I think just the poana greens in the afternoon get very bumpy and was probably the worst today. That's kind of a given. As you can see, it's tough for everyone today. Yeah, it was just one of those days. It's just golf.

Q. Yeah, I know it gets frustrating and you talked a lot about staying in the present. What are some of the things that you do or tell yourself to stay grounded and not let the frustrations get to you?

GRACE KIM: So this morning I wrote a few things in my yardage book just to keep me like going with little reminders on golf course. Verbally I said a lot of the things to myself just to keep me going and just conversations, positive conversations with my caddie.

So, yeah, just if it's not going to work in your mind at least say it so you're verbally saying a statement. And, again, fake it so you can make it.

Q. Any of those statements you mind sharing?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, can I open my book?

Q. Yeah, of course.

GRACE KIM: Very cliche, but I guess like I've said a lot of things on the golf course and I've said it's just me versus the golf course. Like don't worry about the whole field because it's tough for everyone. I tried to stay in the present of just the next shot, giving myself good chances. I know I had a few three-putts in there, but just keeping my head in the game and not losing that shot focus. Yeah, that's one.

And I said good things take time, so, yeah.

Q. There you go. I love that. Tomorrow you'll be still in the lead. Teeing up with Hannah, who has won here before.

GRACE KIM: Yeah.

Q. How much of a comfort will that be even though you're competing out there?

GRACE KIM: Yeah, it's always really nice to be paired with an Aussie. I think we're pretty quick players, so hopefully we get the round done quickly. Yeah, again, obviously friends before competitors, so whoever gets the trophy, yeah, we're very supportive of.

Q. Knowing you had a buffer today, did that help you stay calm? I know you went in with a four-stroke lead. You had a little bit of a buffer. How much did that help you today?

GRACE KIM: I think at the end obviously I shaved a few edges today, so I couldn't take things personally from the greens and the results, because, again, it was very tough.

But just mentally I'm telling myself I'm saving the birdies for tomorrow.

Q. Just knowing you have been in the lead the past few days, you shot two really good scores, does that help your confidence going into tomorrow?

GRACE KIM: For sure. I think knowing I can go that low is always a good reminder that I can win the thing.

But, again, it's kind of whatever happens, happens. I'm just trusting whatever outcome happens for me because you can't force anything because. That would just probably not turn out very good.

So, yeah, just going to, again, try and stay in the present tomorrow, take it one hole at a time, just continue giving myself good chances, and, yeah, see how we finish.