THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 24, 2024

Byeong Hun An

Royal Montreal Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What's the week been like be so far?

BYEONG HUN AN: It's been great. I took a day off yesterday, just practiced, but I saw the course today. A little bit different than about a week and a half ago when we were here, a little bit firmer, the greens are rolling better and faster. The course is in great shape. Hopefully the weather stays a little bit better than forecasted.

But the atmosphere has been great. I guess we all know each other enough from last time and all over the year. We have just great energy going into this week, so hopefully can pull it out.

Q. (Indiscernible).

BYEONG HUN AN: I mean, on the course, not much, but I feel like I'm a better player than four years ago. I don't think I'll be as nervous as last time on the 1st tee for sure. Last time it was my first time playing in it, and I was very nervous. But this time I'll be definitely nervous a little bit, but I'll be better. Hopefully I still have the energy like I did four years ago. I'm looking forward to it.

Q. What makes you a better player now?

BYEONG HUN AN: That's what I believe. I think I'm a better player right now than four years ago. I'm hitting it better, putting it better. Every aspect of the game I feel like is better than four years ago.

Yeah, that's what I kind of believe. I think the stats show that, too, I think.

Q. (Indiscernible).

BYEONG HUN AN: Actually the last time when I played four years ago, we had a good team bonding. We had a lot of team dinners all over the year, so we got to know the potential players here and there.

I didn't get to play in it two years ago, but I just feel like the whole tradition that's been going on for the last four years, even the two years ago we had these team dinners all over the year every couple months, and we got to know each other. So when we come in here, we're all prepared and ready to go.

I think there's not much things changed over the last couple years, which is nice. I feel like after you get used to or adjust to the different stuff, different cultures, yeah, it's been great.

Q. Who's your role model and why?

BYEONG HUN AN: In my life or golf or -- it doesn't matter? I don't have anybody. A bit of everything. Adam Scott is my teammate this week; I'd love to play as good as him and as long as him. This is his 11th Presidents Cup, so hopefully I can play 11 times in my life. That's a great achievement.

But role model, I never thought about it. I've never had anybody. I just try to be the best version of myself, not trying to be someone else.

But golfing, definitely Adam Scott. He's been playing for a long time.

Q. Do you feel an obligation to be a role model?

BYEONG HUN AN: No, I don't think so. Maybe you'll have a life model or something you can stick on to, but I feel like everyone is from different families, different cultures, everything, so I don't really have a role model, but just trying to be better every day.

Q. Outside of golf, give me two or three things you think of when you think of Canada?

BYEONG HUN AN: Oh, maple leaves -- well, maple syrup maybe and hockey.

Q. Anything else?

BYEONG HUN AN: Winter Olympics.

Q. Everyone has got a role to fill in a team environment like this. What do you want to be MVP of?

BYEONG HUN AN: Me, I'm very vanilla. I'm an average -- I'm not the best player in the team, I don't think, but I don't know. I have some experience, I guess, because I'm on kind of the older side -- one of the older guys on the team, not like Jason or Adam, but I'll try to get the five points or four points or however many points I'm available to take.

But I'm not like Min Woo or -- he's our kind of -- he does little social medias, does a little bit of fun, is an entertainer. But I'm very average. I'm really quiet in the team room. I'm a boring guy.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

BYEONG HUN AN: I'm the foody guy, I guess. I'll be the judge on the food.

Q. The other night at the Bell Centre (indiscernible)?

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, it was great. It was my first time watching -- going into a hockey stadium. It was a different atmosphere. I see the players really close, and I was very surprised how big they were. Yes, they had the skates on, but they're humongous. They were bigger than Ernie. How big they were, how fast they were. It was great. All of us went there to have a peek at it. It was a great experience.

Q. How was it for you, the culture of hockey?

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, because Korea, yeah, we don't play much of hockey. There are not many -- I don't think we have a league. Some college plays it, but it's not huge. But over here you can kind of tell because I heard it's an exhibition match yesterday, wasn't the regular season, but the people almost are lined up outside the stadium trying to go in. You can see people love their hockey because exhibition match doesn't really do much, but there are people loving it.

Yeah, I loved it. I would love to go watch actually a real hockey game one day. Yeah, it was great.

Q. We'll have to have you come back.

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, definitely.

Q. (Regarding hockey at the Winter Olympic Games.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Oh, yeah.

Q. You went?

BYEONG HUN AN: No, I didn't go there. I was probably playing golf over here.

Q. (Regarding weather.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, it was a little cold for me yesterday.

Q. (Regarding last time you played in Canada.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Probably Canadian Open back in 2017. Yeah, played at Glen Abbey I think. Yeah that was my first time playing in Canada I think.

Q. Before when you came to this country, what did you think of Canada, besides golf.

BYEONG HUN AN: Well, actually this time, because I went to Toronto last time when I was playing the Canadian Open. This is the first time come to go Montreal. I was surprised how many people speak French and all the French signs and stuff. That was kind of surprising.

I knew the Canadian people also speak French a little bit, so I knew that. I didn't know all the signs were going to be in French. It was pretty interesting.

Q. What else did you think of it?

BYEONG HUN AN: Not much, but yesterday went to the hockey, watched the Canadians at the hockey game. We were there for warmups and it was an exhibition. I was surprised how many people were there trying to get in the stadium. It's just an exhibition match, but people still wearing the jersey and trying to show up. That was impressive, yeah.

Q. (Indiscernible).

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, definitely, because I know people love it. I have few Canadian friends around. Seems like they love hockey, yeah.

Q. Have you watched much?

BYEONG HUN AN: I watched few times on TV, but they all tell me it's a lot better in person. I would love to go watch it one day. In Orlando where I live they have a second division hockey team, so I would love to go watch one day because I heard in person is much better.

Q. Hockey players tend to be really good golfers.

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, similarities I think with the motions. I heard they hit really far. They can hit it a long way. That kind of helps. And they're big people. I saw yesterday some of the guys are massive, even bigger than Ernie Els.

So, yeah, I think that's how they hit it far. Once you hit it far you got a big advantage in golf. Yeah, and they told us they love golf, they play quite a bit. Yeah, I think they're a lot of good golfers.

Q. Looks a lot bigger with the skates and stuff.

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, he does, with the shoulder pads. Yeah, definitely big.

Q. Having one of these her, how has the preparation been for this one? Did you try to change things up?

BYEONG HUN AN: No. I mean, I just try to kind of pace myself a little bit, not do overly many things I guess, especially on the golf course, on the range. Yeah, it means a lot to us, but I don't need to go do extra stuff. I feel like my game has been ready. Had a good tournament last week, had a decent season, so I know where my game is.

I don't need to find anything. Just keeping it really nice and calm and hopefully I can perform this weekend.

Q. Feel like last time you were soaking it in? You talk about pacing yourself.

BYEONG HUN AN: Not really. You know, I got to play all five matches, but because I was four years younger and you got all the adrenaline you don't really feel it. This time I just want to make sure -- I feel like I'm a better player, too.

So, yeah, just got to keep reminding yourself you don't overdo stuff. I don't think I overdid it last time. As I get older I don't want to do too much of it.

Q. What did you like about Jason Day?

BYEONG HUN AN: What do I like about him? Everything. I played with him today. Played a few times over last couple weeks. Doesn't miss many shots, doesn't miss many putts, doesn't miss many chips. He doesn't miss many shots.

He's a very good golfer. That's why he's here. Been at many Presidents Cups. I love everything about his golf. His swing looks better than last couple years. I think he's been swinging the best so far. I really admire his putting. I just can't take my eyes off it.

Q. (Regarding course setup and guys you might want to play with.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, we had all the informations, how the course is going to set up. We saw it today. It's very close. I don't think they can change much or the rough will be gone and I don't think they'll do that.

I think greens, all depends on the weather. Course setup might change a little bit.

Yeah, we just know what everyone else knows I guess.

The pairings, nobody talks about the pairings. That's where all the team outings and dinners are about. It's not like I'm meeting them for the first time. We all know each other. We feel like one big family.

I don't question whoever they pair me with. See who plays on Thursday and Friday, but I might play and might not play. They'll all do the best for the team.

You know, they'll know a lot more than I do in my head, all the stats, all of who fits better. I don't want to give them my opinion. I just got to do what I got to do: play some good golf.

Q. (Regarding the evolution of Korean golf.)

BYEONG HUN AN: You just have a lot of players playing. We have a lot of players playing in Korea as well. I wouldn't be surprised if there are more people coming over to compete on the PGA TOUR.

It's so hard to come over because the culture difference and language barriers. I hope a lot of the young kids growing up learn some English. It will be a lot easier when they come over. And obviously good golf. You see Sunjae, Tom, they are great golfers. There are many others on the PGA TOUR.

Hopefully I can see more of them, but we love golf in Korea. That's why you see young guys coming up every year. Women's probably more than the men's.

I'm not surprised at all, yeah.

Q. Playing with three of your current friends.

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, I mean, we have 12 guys and four guys from Korea, so that's impressive I think. Hopefully got some more Koreans and hopefully that means we have a good level of players, all the Koreans. So I'm very proud of them. I'm one of them, too.

Hopefully I get to keep playing in the next couple Presidents Cups. Like I said, a lot of young guys coming up. Hopefully we can stack up the teams.

Q. What's the big difference in playing in 2020 for your team and...

BYEONG HUN AN: Golf is -- has been an individual game, you know, for last, I don't know -- ever. It's a little different. We get team sports every two years. It just is maybe because we don't get them every year or every month, that it means a little bit more to us.

We play for the internationals, and now we play under the shield. Just I think we have a lot of fun. The dinners we have together, practice rounds we have fun. You guys probably saw today. We just had plenty of fun. Maybe everyone -- I don't know, we just love hanging out with these guys. We don't get to do that other weeks. Maybe that's why.

Q. On Tom, what makes him so special?

BYEONG HUN AN: It's Tom. That's what makes him special. His personality. Golfing, everything. Nothing we don't like about him. He's a great guy. Fun guy to be around. Energetic.

So I really like -- we all do, love hanging out with him.

Q. (Regarding the shield.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, we have the link so we can watch it. Yeah, because it started four years ago when Ernie was a captain. He came up with the shield. We all know what it means. Over the last four years I feel like the process has been getting better and better. We've all grown into it. It's kind of a culture now, which that's what he wanted. Yeah, it's been going great. I hope we can keep this going, make it better every year.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Definitely, maybe because I'm getting older I get more emotional watching the videos. Get the goosebumps and have more desire to win the Cup.

Q. Saw Tom celebrating when he made putts. (Regarding side action.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Yeah, we had nice match going this time and also couple weeks ago. We had outings out here. Who doesn't like a little game of golf, right? We had alternate shot today and Tom and Min Woo won today. Of course he shows a little emotion when the winning putt drops. It's great. We love those games. Even the practice rounds today we had a bit of best ball match going.

It was fun, it was great.

Q. (Regarding being PGA TOUR alum.)

BYEONG HUN AN: From the card ceremony? That you know you done it. Yeah, had a year there I was fortunate enough to get my card straightaway, but it's just a big relief that I'm going back to the TOUR and kind of -- yeah, I locked my card up couple months before, okay, I've done it. I'm going back to the TOUR.

So big relief I guess.

Q. (Regarding one player with best swing.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Adam Scott. 11 other guys will say the same thing. Adam Scott has to be it. I almost hope like -- hopefully he gets -- sells his golf swing on the video somewhere. That's how good it is. Whenever it pops up on Instagram or Twitter, it's one swing I will look at fully and go to whatever is next.

Q. (Regarding taste in music.)

BYEONG HUN AN: Oh, does that include captains? (Laughter.) Maybe -- I don't know, they all of a good taste I feel like, they got the songs from everybody and they're playing in the bus. It's been good. Maybe not Ernie. He's a little old-ish side so I don't know the songs he's playing. Apart from that, I don't know. I'll give it to anybody.