MAYBANK CHAMPIONSHIP

October 23, 2024

Ayaka Furue

Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, I'm here at the media center at the 2024 Maybank Championship, joined by Ayaka Furue, 2024 major champion winning the Amundi Evian Championship this year. So happy to have you here.

Just talk about this course and what you have seen so far over the past two days of practice and playing the pro-am this morning.

AYAKA FURUE: It is obviously so humid and it's kind of hilly course I think.

Q. And this is your second time playing in this event. What do you remember most from playing here last year and just the golf that you played here last year?

AYAKA FURUE: Nothing special but I remember the rain the most. Like it's so humid and so raining.

Q. And how this week do you combat and work with the humidity?

AYAKA FURUE: I think I just keep stay hydrated and then keep holding umbrella to get rid of any sunburn, yeah.

Q. And then let's talk about your 2024 season. Played very well this year with a lot of top 10 finishes. What do you think has been going so well in your golf game this year?

AYAKA FURUE: I just renew my driver this year and then I can hit farther than last year, so it is easier for me to aim the green with the clubs. So that will be one of my points that I could -- I've been like in contention this year.

Q. And how would you describe this year, your finishes from your perspective compared to your other seasons you've had on the LPGA Tour?

AYAKA FURUE: It is very good for me to finish top 10, but also it's kind of like disappointing for me because I couldn't win before like winning the major Evian Championship.

But I feel very happy to win at Evian major championship, so that is kind of good for me.

Q. And talk about what kind of confidence that win at the Evian Championship has given you after getting that victory?

AYAKA FURUE: Yeah, I was definitely being confident because of that win because I was like -- I went to top 10, finished top 10 a lot bought I couldn't win any of the other tournaments, so that was definitely make me kind of like confident.

Q. Just talk about, too, we're heading into the last stretch the season. We have this event, an event in your home country next week, and a couple more. How are you motivated by this last push of events to finish well?

AYAKA FURUE: I just come back from to LPGA Tour from since last week, like BMW. I was playing on JLPGA. Last week it was kind of disappointing result for me, so I will, yeah, just want to not win but keep maintaining my momentum.

Q. Probably just like to ask what part of the game that you might think will be most important this week on this golf course?

AYAKA FURUE: I think it is important that it's really hilly course, slopey course, this course, so, yeah, it is important to manage that hilly course.

Q. Off the golf course what do you enjoy most about being in Malaysia and what is your favorite Malaysian food?

AYAKA FURUE: I love the beautiful town, like twin building, twin tower here, and it's really nice to see that is kind of like light up buildings.

Q. Do you have a favorite food here?

AYAKA FURUE: I'm not sure. I don't really know.

Q. Not yet then?

AYAKA FURUE: Yeah.