Q. (In progress.)
JIN YOUNG KO: It's hard to keep the greens because really firm and like slopey is very like too much I think.
So it's going to be toughest playing in the golf course, I guess. But I play well today and I had some missed putt, but I made still par or birdie, so I finished well.
And especially I got birdies No. 8, No. 9. That was my back nine, so 17, 18. So it was huge finish.
So, yeah. I played well today.
Q. Yeah, you finished 4-under today. Playing with a good group, Lydia Ko. How did you find the competition out there?
JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I'm always happy to playing with Lydia. We had lots of conversation on the course. Especially I wasn't, but if I'm playing with Lydia I talk a lot; she talks a lot, too.
So it's fun.
Q. Yeah. Coming off your week at the U.S. Women's Open, fourth place finish, what's it like coming off a big major, big successful finish there and then coming to a smaller, shorter tournament like this?
JIN YOUNG KO: Well, it's hard to keep the vibes from last week to this week because I know last week was really hard, especially golf course and lots of crowd there and like a lot of pressure.
But this week I feels little more like easier than last week. But I had to focus, of course. But, yeah, everybody -- I think everybody same as easier than last week, but we have to keep trying to get lots of birdies on the course.
So I want to win this week, so I will focus it. Yeah.
Q. Especially coming off a major week, what makes you want to play in a tournament like this?
JIN YOUNG KO: In majors or this week?
Q. What makes you want to play in a tournament like ShopRite after a major? Like you said, a major is really hard. Why do you want to play here a week after?
JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I finished second last year, so I want to do better than last year, so that's why I'm here.
This week is just three days tournament so I need to lots of birdies this week. So, yeah, it's fun.
Q. Speaking of it being a three-day tournament, we're one day in, only two days left. Does that change the game plan at all knowing you put yourself in a really good position?
JIN YOUNG KO: A little bit. Yeah, a little bit. Because normally we playing four days, but this week is three days, so we need to get lots of birdies because course is short and greens are small, so if hit -- irons hit really well, putting well, can make lots of birdies.
It's a little different management from four days as three days.
Q. And you've had an early start today. Do you like an early start because it gives you more time to rest?
JIN YOUNG KO: Yeah, I love to play in the morning, yes.
Q. I saw you birdied here on our Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole. How do you like that hole? How do you find it?
JIN YOUNG KO: Well, I tried, but I couldn't. I had greed, greedy, so I had three-putts.
So, it's okay. It's par. Yeah.
Q. What's the strategy going into tomorrow?
JIN YOUNG KO: Well, tomorrow will be afternoon, so it's going to be more firm on the greens, and then, well, especially wind is really important this week.
So, well, keep doing this everything and just keep smile, just keep enjoying.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports