THE MODERATOR: How was your break? Did you get a lot of rest? How are you feeling? Played a couple events in Aussie, so...
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, well, the end of last year I played Aussie Open, so it was like the beginning of December. I went on a couple trips. Went to Tasmania, went to Korea for Lyds' wedding. Came back to Oz for about six weeks, did some training, and also had some time off.
So it was really good.
Q. How were those two trips? I know Lydia getting married was I am sure a special thing for a friend of hers.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, no, it was really good. All my trips, they were all pretty chill and very different cultures everywhere I went. So, no, I really enjoyed it.
Q. Back here at the Honda LPGA Thailand, a place that you played well before in the past, runner-up a fee years ago. Just how good does it feel to be back here and playing in front of this crowd again?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, the course is in great condition. I played both nines now, and I think it's going to be a great turnout. Hopefully a lot of people can come out and watch.
Yeah, it's just really nice to be starting the year here. I always love coming back to Thailand. The food, the atmosphere is always amazing.
Ready to get the week started.
Q. What is it about this golf course that suits your game so well?
MINJEE LEE: I think it's a very ball striking golf course, so obviously second shot is really important. That's where I feel quite confident in terms of my game.
So, yeah, I just think it really benefits -- this type of golf course benefits my game. So, yeah, I think that's why.
Q. I know looking forward to another year, but looking back, you had an incredible year last year, let's be honest. U.S. Women's Open, getting a couple other -- winning at the Founder's Cup. What's your goal for 2023? What are you really looking forward to? Obviously win more majors I would think would be at the top of the list.
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, two is kind of my goal. I think most of my goals revolve around the majors now, and they're probably right up the top of my priority list.
But I think also one of my big goals is not to be too tired by the end of the year. I want to pace myself throughout the year and be happy. I think if I'm happy, I'm happy on the golf course as well.
So, yeah, obviously golf-wise, majors are a big goal, and world No. 1 is at the back of my head, yeah.
Q. Well within reach. You came close last year on a handful of different occasions, and again in a really good position and just started the season. How much did that mean to you? I know you're close with Webby, and I know the history of Aussies at No. 1, but what would that mean to be table achieve something like that?
MINJEE LEE: To me, probably means everything at the moment. You know, I've been close a couple times, and because I wanted it so much it hurts to not be able to be in that position.
So, you know, obviously I don't know what it entails because I haven't been there before, but I think if I keep going through my processes in my golf game and just stick to what I know and what I'm good at, then I know that playing good golf, that's like the result of it.
So I'm going to try not to put too much pressure on myself.
Q. How do you temper those expectations, especially having a year like you did last year coming into a fresh season and going, you know, I did some really cool stuff in 2022; it is a new year, clean slate. How do you temper your expectations?
MINJEE LEE: I think towards the end of last year I kind of tapered off a little bit, so I think I still have quite a lot in me. I have goals that I want to meet and a lot of things that I want to do yet.
So, yeah, I do have high expectations, but I think last year the U.S. Women's Open was big for me and the other majors are there for me to win as well, so, yeah, I think my expectation is there, but I'm just going to have to meet them. (Laughter.)
Q. Nothing wrong with that. So, again, speaking of that 2022, you said you kind of tapered off a little bit at the end. Was that just kind of exhausting from the success early in the year, or was that just it's been a long year and you just get a little tired?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I got sick one of the weeks, and then I felt quite tired after that for the next like month. Maybe it was COVID, maybe it wasn't. Just from there I probably should have taken some time off. I could have done some things differently, but it's in the past now, so got to go and look forward.
Q. Obviously starting your season here and I would assume next week as well. What events are you most looking forward to this season? I know the title defense is at a very big location, Pebble Beach. What are you most looking forward to?
MINJEE LEE: I think on our schedule, obviously International Crown is going to be a big one. I've never been to that golf course and I'm really looking forward to just playing in a team format. Definitely Pebble Beach, U.S. Open, but all the majors. We are going to some great venues and like the tour is only go to better and better places and prestigious golf courses, so I think I'm just excited for the whole year.
Q. And speaking of that International Crown team, I know for those that don't get to participate in the Solheim Cup that event means a lot. It's back this year. How excited are you to play in that event again and have it back on the schedule?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, it's been five years, so it would just be nice to play with the girls, Greeny and maybe the two younger players coming up. So I think it would just be a fun atmosphere. We don't always get that team format on the schedule, so I think it would being a whole lot of fun and just a lot of the fist bumps and, yeah, it will be good.
Q. So 2018 Minjee versus 2023 Minjee, how much has changed since the last time you tee'd it up in Crown?
MINJEE LEE: In Crown?
Q. In that five-year span. You've changed wildly I would imagine.
MINJEE LEE: Right. Yeah, I am a totally different person. Much more mature. I think being 22 and 27 or 21 and 26 is such a big difference. I'm just a women now, I'm not a girl now I guess. I don't know how else to put it.
Q. Just looking ahead to this week, what are you looking for out of your game this week that will really get you off to a good start?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, it's the first week so I'm not sure too much how it's going to pan out obviously. Yeah, just want to see some improvement in my putting. Just see where my ball striking is at and pretty much where everything is at.
I guess it will be a good gauge for the year to come.
Q. How is the ball striking? I feel like you've become known for your ball striking.
MINJEE LEE: It's going good, but playing in tournament mode is different from back home playing a match with your friends. So, yeah see how we go.
Q. Going to have a fun question for the end. Talked about the Thai food. What is your favorite Thai dish?
MINJEE LEE: Dish?
Q. Dish.
MINJEE LEE: I like Paco Pao (phonetic). Obviously mango sticky rice can't go wring. Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, they're all really good. I love any type of noodles, so yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports