THE MODERATOR: Start with defending champion, Bailey. What do you remember most about playing here last year and how does being back here bring back some of those memories?
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, just be being back here brings all the memories back, all the feels of just being in contention and kind of all the nerves.
I think I was so nervous that whole week, and just all positive shots that I hit. I think I struggled a lot after this event so kind of to remember the good shots, remember the good putts, to come back here and just kind of remember that I can win out here and I can compete and play well.
Q. Minjee, fifth start here since winning in 2016. What is it about the course, this event, that keeps you wanting to come back?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I just really enjoy playing this golf course. I like that everything is very close, the hotel, the course; you can walk, so that's nice.
I just have really great memories here of the past five times I've been here. I enjoy my time every time. Yeah, that's what makes me want to come back.
Q. Jeeno, first time teeing it up at Blue Bay. What have you made of the course and how has your experience been here so far?
JEENO THITIKUL: I've haven't played any holes yet. Not even hit the ball. Hopefully it's good. Seeing the course from the hotel window is really nice. Just be here, just really nice to be in China. Then this is my first time here. Just hope to make some good memories here.
Q. Ronni, how excited are you to tee it up here again in China, especially since the last time you did on Tour you got the win in Shanghai?
RUONING YIN: It's always good to be back home and play in front of all the home fans. Especially last year in Shanghai I did pretty good, so I'm just looking forward to playing in front of all the fans again.
Q. Jeeno, from Saudi Arabia you have got a very tight schedule for tournament, so how you maintain yourself? And what's your impression of the all the condition right here at Blue Bay?
JEENO THITIKUL: I think it was good. I think the most we got feeling really tired, it's Thailand, because the weather is so hot and also have to standing there sign for all the fans.
But now it's my fourth week, I know it's getting tired, but it's more pressure than like the (indiscernible) time and then also last week, too.
Get a good rest here also last week, ans then also good food from last week, too, now.
Q. What was your thought, Bailey Tardy? This is your first time defending a title at an LPGA event. We want to know as reigning champion how glad to be back at Blue Bay?
BAILEY TARDY: I'm so happy to be back here. I think just the memories I have are so positive from here. I've obviously never been in this situation before but I think I just want to take the momentum from all of the memories I have here to push through this week and play well.
Q. Minjee, so from the very first (indiscernible) right here you played really well. Any goal for this season? And what was your goal as a past champion coming back to Blue Bay?
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, obviously I would love to play well and be contending come Sunday, but I know there is a lot of great competitors this week. So, yeah, obviously I have -- I'm not really sure what it is.
I think I just really enjoy playing the golf course. I've had quite nice results here. Yeah, I mean, I'm not sure if there is one specific thing that makes me play well here.
Q. Any target for your 2025 season?
MINJEE LEE: Any goals?
Q. Yes.
MINJEE LEE: Love to get another major under my belt. You know, got a new putter this year, so trying to get a little more settled with that. Hopefully everything comes together this year. This is my 11th year on Tour so I am getting a bit more and more tired every year, so hopefully, yeah, I can have a great year.
Q. Bailey, last year you set a tournament record under 19 in your last year journey. Any goal for this year? Also, did you ever play after coming back to Blue Bay, how beautiful our golf course condition this year?
BAILEY TARDY: I think the golf course is in great shape. I've seen seven holes I think. I played them before this.
And, yeah, I think it's in I think a little bit better shape than last year. I don't really have any set like number, shot goal, whatever, for the end of the tournament, but I just think my whole yearly goal is to stay more positive.
I have a tendency to get really down on myself and bring negative thoughts, say negative things about -- whether it's my putting or ball striking.
So just to stay more positive and really focus on not giving up on myself throughout every tournament week. So that's definitely something that I'll be carrying into this week.
Q. Jeeno, you've been (indiscernible) recently, so finishing tenth, consecutive Top 10 in tournament, so what are your expectations this week? And also, you're very good friend with Ronni. Any expectation with her on in the final group on Sunday?
JEENO THITIKUL: Well, I mean, it should be good if it I can be in the final group on Sunday. To be honest, I don't know what's going to happen. My expectation for this week is just so wide because it's my fourth week in a row.
And then just have a good time. Just be enjoy. Be just the course and pretty much that's it. Not have like specific goal of how I want to finish on the position-wise.
Q. Minjee, compared with your past champion here in 2016, what change of your mindset, your, you know, momentum...
MINJEE LEE: Yeah, I think I'm much more mature now. It's been nine years so I'm a much different person since then to now.
So I think I'm much more my own person. I probably was much more shy and quiet then and just really focused more on golf than anything. I think now I'm a much more balanced person. I have a life outside of golf.
And, yeah, I think in terms of golf, a lot of things happened since then, so I've got two more majors under my belt, much more experience.
Yeah, probably much calmer than I am in 2016 to 2025.
Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports