Q: Here with Hye-Jin Choi. 6-under today. really solid round. You've been playing some serious golf the last few weeks. Started off with two birdies what was the key to that hot start?
HYE-JIN CHOI: Before starting my day today, it was really hot so I thought it would be a tough round. And before my round, my shots weren’t feeling good, so I was thinking a lot on how to deal with that. This morning during practice, I tried something different and it felt good, so I tried that on the course and lot of those shots went close to the pin so I had a lot of birdie opportunities. And my putting wasn’t bad, so I was able to convert a lot of chances.
Q: You were in contention last week in Canada and just missed out. You've been in contention quite a bit. What do those experiences teach you in the moment?
HYE-JIN CHOI: Last week, I thought I could have done even better, but it also could have ended worse but also better. Even though I didn’t win, I feel like I’m gaining more experience and developing more skills. Hopefully, I can use the experience I gained last week this week.
Q: What is it you like about Highland Meadows Golf Club?
HYE-JIN CHOI: It’s my first time playing at this course, and I didn’t think it’d be easy during my practice round. But my shots were feeling good and that helped me reduce the score. It’ll be important to protect the fairway this week and the green speed is very speed, so need to be extra careful in reading the slopes.
Q: What was the key for you today? Ball-striking?
HYE-JIN CHOI: I think my shots were the best part today. But outside of that, putting was good, so I thought I converted a lot of birdies. It was a good day overall.
Q: Off to a hot start. What's the mindset heading into the rest of the week?
HYE-JIN CHOI: [7:11 PM] David Kim
Before starting my day today, it was really hot so I thought it would be a tough round. And before my round, my shots weren’t feeling good, so I was thinking a lot on how to deal with that. This morning during practice, I tried something different and it felt good, so I tried that on the course and lot of those shots went close to the pin so I had a lot of birdie opportunities. And my putting wasn’t bad, so I was able to convert a lot of chances.
Last week, I thought I could have done even better, but it also could have ended worse but also better. Even though I didn’t win, I feel like I’m gaining more experience and developing more skills. Hopefully, I can use the experience I gained last week this week.
It’s my first time playing at this course, and I didn’t think it’d be easy during my practice round. But my shots were feeling good and that helped me reduce the score. It’ll be important to protect the fairway this week and the green speed is very speed, so need to be extra careful in reading the slopes.
I think my shots were the best part today. But outside of that, putting was good, so I thought I converted a lot of birdies. It was a good day overall.
It’s just the end of Round 1. There’s still three more rounds to go. I don’t want to stay comfortable just because I did well in my first round, but I want to treat every round like I’m starting Round 1 again and do my best until the end.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports