THE AMUNDI EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 10, 2024

Amy Yang

Evian Resort Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the media center at the Amundi Evian Championship. Amy Yang, one of the newest major championship winners, maiden major championship at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

I love having you in here so we can actually talk about this. I haven't been able to see you to talk about it. Have you been able to reflect over the last couple weeks what that victory meant to you personally and also to your career as a whole?

AMY YANG: It took me for a while to realize, and still it's just amazing, exciting. Yeah.

Q. What are some of the moments when I ask you about the win that pop up to your mind?

AMY YANG: Final round. Yeah, it was the longest 18 holes I ever played. A lot of people told me that I looked pretty calm on TV but I was feeling very nervous all day.

So I think that was the toughest moment.

Q. Was there a shot or a highlight of that final round that sticks out the most?

AMY YANG: Yeah, one hole, No. 8, one of the toughest tee ball hole. I hit my driver like perfectly all four of the rounds. I think that gave me good momentum through the rounds.

That's just stick in my head.

Q. And now here we are I think at your 60th major start at Amundi Evian Championship.

AMY YANG: Wow.

Q. I don't mean to make you grimace when I say that.

AMY YANG: Okay.

Q. What is it like for you to come into an event you have been to plenty of times before, and now walk into a major championship as a major champion?

AMY YANG: I mean, yeah, I counted how many Evian championships I played. This is 19th.

Q. 19th.

AMY YANG: My first one was back in 2006, and ever since I came back every year. Just so happy to be here. You know, course is playing tough, but my game have been improving a lot and just really looking forward to start tomorrow with Nelly and Yuka.

Q. That win at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship propelled you onto the Republic of Korea's Olympic team.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. What's it like being in France with the Olympics right around the corner?

AMY YANG: It's a dream come true, and playing in the Olympics is huge honor for me. You're not just playing for yourself, you're playing for your country and a lot of fans will root for Jin Young, Hyo Joo and I, so I'm going to make sure and prepare really well and do my best.

Q. Did you get a call when it became official? Anyone call you or anyone from the team that you were so excited to hear from?

AMY YANG: The KGA, Korean Golf Association contact me and ask me all the stuff to prepare. Yeah, just everything got very excited, yeah.

Q. You were talking about 60 majors. It was 59 at Sahalee. Does it make it more magical, special?

AMY YANG: Of course. Because I always wanted to win a major before I retired, and I'm getting older and I had injuries and I had a moment should I retire or not. Also I got so close to winning major few times and never made it, so I questioned myself if I ever be able to win one before I retire.

I wasn't counting how many majors I played, but I'm very happy to finally get a trophy.

Q. So in connection with that, you were saying 19th Evian Championship.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. You're kind of part of the story of this tournament, no? So any special memories playing here?

AMY YANG: Special memory? It's such a beautiful place. Every year I come here every year, but just never get old, just how beautiful it is, and the food. I have enjoy it a lot.

Golf-wise, I'm not sure what's the best finish here for me. I don't remember.

Q. What is your favorite food here?

AMY YANG: Chocolate croissant.

Q. You mentioned obviously getting a little bit older. What's been the key to your longevity and how you've been able to be so consistent and having that long of an incredible career?

AMY YANG: Okay, so I think it's more mental thing than anything. I used to be very serious and try to be perfect, try to -- I was kind of like perfectionist when it comes to golf. That put me in like very stressful situations and I wanted to get out of it.

So I went to phase of like I don't want to play golf, I want to play golf. As I get older I still do love and I do my best, but I feel like I experience a lot of things out here and it doesn't really bother me anymore.

It's more change to enjoying it than try to do something. So I think this really helps me calm out there and more stress-free.

Q. After that win you got to celebrate with a lot of different people. How much fun has it been to really share this victory with all your friends, all the caddies out here, and make it a big group success instead of just your success?

AMY YANG: It's a big group success. I'm happy, very grateful for my friends and caddies, colleagues on the tour. Just very happy for my caddie, Jan, as well, because he puts a lot of work in to help my game improve.

So, means a lot. It was a huge, huge win, yeah.

Q. And then being back in a major, you have a lot of familiarity with this golf course. You know this place really well. Do you feel the more you play a golf course it gets easier, our still every tomorrow you come out to a major championship venue, does it still feel like, okay, I got to remember where to plot the ball and plot my way around the golf course?

AMY YANG: It's still tough out there and very slopey, so it's not going to be easy. Easy walking, easy playing. Yeah, but very looking forward to, yeah.

Q. What's the best chocolate croissant you've eaten this week?

AMY YANG: I stay at Hilton downtown, and I think they brought very fresh one. It was very warm and soft. I was like, I can eat this every day.

Q. We talked a little bit about the celebration in general. There was quite a celebration on 18 green after that. Were there any celebrations that night?

AMY YANG: That night? Actually no. I went on red eye flight go to play Dow. Yeah, I played with Jennifer, my friend.

Q. And just in general, from what you learned over your 19 experiences here, what would you say -- what does it take to be successful on this golf course?

AMY YANG: Oh, I want to say -- I mean, of course you you have to hit good, play good. But how be patient out there, especially majors, because it's going to play extra harder than the regular tournaments. How mentally tough you are, being patient out there I think is the key.

Q. Congratulations.

AMY YANG: Thank you.

Q. How many offers have you had for sponsors for your hat since winning a few weeks ago?

AMY YANG: I actually heard one company that wants to do back in Korea, like Korean company. So I think, yeah...

Q. Are you tempted?

AMY YANG: I think we're working on it, yeah.

Q. If the price is right.

AMY YANG: Yes.

Q. You mentioned that you didn't get to celebrate that night with anyone because you were on a flight. Have you done anything, special party, dinner?

AMY YANG: I did it on following day after. We got there -- was it Monday or Tuesday following week.

THE MODERATOR: Tuesday.

AMY YANG: Tuesday I called all the Korean friends who waited for me on the 18th and we went and had nice Italian restaurant in Midland, Michigan, yeah.

Q. I'm French so I have a question about Celine Boutier. Could you tell us what are her main qualities according to you and what are your relations with Celine Boutier?

AMY YANG: Yeah, Celine is such a nice girl. Every time we meet, she greets and asks me how things are going. She's, yeah, nice person, great player. I think she has very solid game that she can continue to play great, yeah.

Q. I know you took a small field trip yesterday.

AMY YANG: I did, yeah.

Q. To the Olympic museum in it Lausanne. What did it mean to you to visit that place now knowing that you are an Olympian?

AMY YANG: That place was so cool. I got to see all the equipments and histories and just gave me more motivation to prepare well and look forward to the tournament.

Q. What was one of the maybe best things you saw in the museum?

AMY YANG: The first entrance, when you walk up the stairs, first door with the Olympic Rings, that was very -- yeah.