Q. Joined by Grace Kim after her first round at the T-Mobile Match Play presented by MGM Rewards. We were just talking, your first time here at Shadow Creek. What have you made of the course and what were you able to take advantage of during your round?
GRACE KIM: Leading up to the event I think all that I heard about Shadow Creek was that it was tough. Obviously the wind picked up this morning early.
So knowing that anything can happen, you know, win with bogeys, with square, with doubles, so just kind of I guess eased my mind a little bit. It was going to be playing tough with the wind so, yeah, didn't have much thought to it.
It's been a while since I played match play, so, yeah, I tried not to think too much about it.
Q. I was just going to ask. I know the Aussies are pretty good as match play, especially in International Crown. How does it feel to get back out there and play a little bit of a changeup format?
GRACE KIM: Yeah, it's definitely a big grind mentally as well. I think, again, it has been a while, so just remembering what I've done well in the past. I think just expecting it to go in with the opponent's putts or shots.
Everyone is going to try and play their best, so, yeah, just having that mindset of, okay, well, they're going to try their best to hole the putt, and obviously if it goes in, great; if it doesn't, that's I guess a big win for me.
Just trying not to think too much ahead as well.
Q. Can you talk a little bit about the conditions? Just did it change throughout the day or was it just pretty rough from the start?
GRACE KIM: Well, I guess leading up to today was pretty windy as well. I tried to utilize as much as my practice allowed me the last two days. Yeah, it was tough knowing that greens were pretty bouncy and firm and they're quick to putt on.
Yeah, just tried to play as strategically as I could.
Q. How important in these conditions was it to get out to an early lead?
GRACE KIM: Yeah, I think mentally just capitalizing that was probably a big kick. But then again, like I didn't lose nerves or anything like that. Again, anything could happen in match play.
Obviously you try and at least square out the match as well, and obviously Amy fought hard to do that.
Knowing that, yeah, I never gave up.
Q. Foot on the gas; 4-up at one point. What's the mentality in match play when you're banking more and more wins? What's the mentality as you start to build that lead?
GRACE KIM: I think the low expectation definitely helps. It's also just me and the course. Doesn't matter who your opponent is, what number ranked they are; normally 64 can beat a No. 1 player in the world.
So anything can happen, again. So yeah, just me and the course.
Q. Being it is your first time here at Shadow Creek, what will you work on course-wise heading into the rest of the week?
GRACE KIM: I think, yeah, just course management. Obviously there will be tucked pins and you're not going to be able to get them on the full. So making sure I utilize the slopes as well as I could, seeing where the good misses are, because a lot of the times you hit good shots and still end up in the rough.
So a bit of short game and putting, and I think we should be good.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports