THE MODERATOR: Thank you for joining us in the Honda LPGA Thailand virtual media center.
Minjee, welcome back to the Honda LPGA Thailand.
MINJEE LEE: Thanks for having me.
Q. What is it like being back at this tournament? We weren't able to come back here in 2020, but here we are. This is a long-standing tradition in Thailand.
MINJEE LEE: It's really nice to be back. I mean, I'm sweating buckets out there right now, but it is nice that we are able to have this tournament again. I love coming back to play this golf course, and obviously we have no fans this year, but I think it's going to be a really good turnout.
Q. You've been to this tournament quite a few times. What changes have you seen in maybe the fan growth here in Thailand as you have been an up-and-coming player yourself?
MINJEE LEE: I feel like the very first years that I played it probably wasn't as popular, but as I've been on -- I've been on the LPGA Tour for this is my seventh year, so every year it's been going from strength to strength. Even in tells of player hospitality it's been getting better and better.
I think just the tournament has gotten better and better each year so it's strength to strength. It has been really great to come and play here.
Q. In 2019 it feels like a lifetime ago.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah.
Q. You had a charging final day, a charging week here. What do you remember most about this tournament back in 2019 and the way that you played?
MINJEE LEE: I feel like I played really well in Singapore, I remember, and then came here to play and I played really solid even the final day, but I think Amy just outplayed me really. I still had a good four days, but she just bettered me on the last day.
So, no, I just remember that I was really solid tee-to-green. Putted really well that week, too. So, yeah, just was able to -- the heat -- I just maintained my body in the heat.
Q. I was going to say, be what does it mean to you that you've had pasts of doing so well in this kind of conditions? What kind of confidence does that give you coming into this week?
MINJEE LEE: You know, I think because we have been -- like L.A. was pretty cool, so playing Singapore it was getting used to heat a little bit. We always are mentally prepared to come and play in the heat, but I think it was just because of playing later in the year than when we usually play it's that much hotter and more humid.
So I think last week was a good like body transition week, and then this week it's like -- I think it just tops Singapore, so, yeah, I just think it was kind of like getting ready for this week.
Q. I was going to say, this heat is brutal. If you're not used to playing in these temperatures it definitely can take it out on you. What's it like preparing for this kind of heat? You prepared for it last week, but now preparing for it again and even greater temperatures I want to say.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, you just got to drink plenty of water, and even if you don't feel like eating, you got to keep eating because your energy is dropping each time the time passes.
Yeah, I just feel like you just got to stay on top of your hydration and just how much you practice because it is really, really hot out there.
Q. It's definitely hot. I know that drinking water has been the most important thing of the day here. How well do you think you're prepared for this week, and how confident are you feeling in your game?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I mean, I feel like I've been really good tee-to-green; been driving it pretty good and hitting my irons pretty solid, but just haven't been getting it defending champion at putting greens lately.
This is a new week, so I'm coming in with a good attitude and positive attitude, so hopefully have a good week on the putter.
Q. I was going to say, what do you think you learned about your game at Singapore last week?
MINJEE LEE: You know, like I'm hitting it fine. Just I just lacked a little bit of confidence in my putter so I just been trying to grind through it and trying to hole a couple more putts just to find a little bit more confidence.
But it's just sometimes you just got to give it time, and as you keep playing you're just going to gain confidence. I've just been really patient and just grinding through it.
Q. Is that something that you've discovered at Singapore or something that's been at you this entire season?
MINJEE LEE: Not really my entire season. You have a couple weeks that are not so good and then a little bit of your confidence sort of wavers and then I think is just carries on a little bit.
So it's just been a couple weeks, but it's not the end of the world. I believe that I'm going to get on top of it.
Q. I was going to say, you'll get on top of it because you have an incredible record here without a win. What would it mean to improve upon it to the point of a win this week?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I feel like I'm not far off. You know, I really have good memories of this golf course and it really suits my eye. I think anything can happen this week. I think I'm playing good enough for that win.
Yeah, we'll see how we go.
Q. How do you rate your chances this year?
MINJEE LEE: You know, I think it's anybody's game at this point. It's really, really hot so I think it's whoever can really be patient and can control the, I guess the body temperature or -- it's just physically really draining here, so I think that would be a big factor in my chances this year.
I feel like I'm hitting it pretty good. Just going to try my best as always. Yeah, I am just going to say I'm -- I have pretty good chances.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports