THE MODERATOR: Welcome back to the interview area here at the U.S. Women's Open presented by ally. We are here with In Gee Chun, the 2015 U.S. Women's Open champion. What's it been like to be back here at Lancaster.
IN GEE CHUN: I feel so special because I have so much good memory from here because nine years ago when I won, like 2015 U.S. Women's Open, I just thought myself, oh, this is really good golf course, and it's kind of like U.S. Open course.
Then after being nine years on the Tour, now I know how I feel special to have this relationship with the Lancaster community and how much I got love from the community here and the LCC members.
Also I know how many people plan to all the efforts to make the good golf course, like amazing conditions here.
This week everything is so special for me, and then I really appreciate to have this kind of moment right before I turn 30.
Q. You've talked about it a little bit there, but what are some of your thoughts when you think back on that week in 2015?
IN GEE CHUN: I knew in 2015 I couldn't speak English, so after I won the U.S. Women's Open I could say only thanks to people. Now I can say more.
Q. You have such a deep connection to the area. Why has it been so important for you to come back every so often?
IN GEE CHUN: I grew up in poor family, so I got a lot of help from other people, too, and when I play in 2015 I felt really welcoming, and everyone was so kind, so I wanted something to give back to them.
Luckily I got an opportunity to make a foundation here. Now I know how important to help the people. That's how I grew up in Korea.
I really appreciate all those opportunities, like what I had from here.
Q. Speaking of your foundation, am I correct that you've raised about $500,000 and helped 100 employees at this club to go to college; is that correct?
IN GEE CHUN: So my foundation helped the caddies and employees and their dependents to reach their educational goals. I helped them to go to college and also like help the community here.
Every year -- it grow up like every year. Last year it was so special when 17 people got the scholarship, so I was here to, like, celebrate together and face to face.
Q. How special is it to be in contact again with those people who you have helped along the way?
IN GEE CHUN: In 2015 when I saw the firefly, suddenly some thought in my mind, oh, I want to be kind of like firefly to lighting up the people and give them some inspiration. I always appreciate if I can help the people, then they can help other people, too. It's so special to see who got the scholarship from my foundation.
Now after they graduate college they try to help our foundation and also help other people. It's so meaningful and emotional to see what they're doing and then keep continuing to be kind of like firefly.
Q. What is your favorite hole out here?
IN GEE CHUN: So my favorite hole is No. 12, which is when I'm playing in 2015, that hole was first time I heard, "let's go, Dumbo" from the fans because I didn't expect no one knows my nickname Dumbo, so I was so surprised the fans already know my nickname Dumbo, and they cheer me with the name Dumbo.
Q. As the person who played this golf course the best nine years ago, obviously there's been some changes. What do you feel like is your advantage already having tamed this golf course once?
IN GEE CHUN: Actually it's got longer this time and course settings got longer this time, and I think the greens are firmer this year. So all the like golf course got harder, but I have a lot more fans here than other players, so I can get all the love from the people. I feel it helps me a lot during this week.
Q. What makes the golf course so difficult?
IN GEE CHUN: I think a lot of players and caddies say it's a true major golf course. Like we need everything, we can gets all the tests for our golf skills from this golf course at Lancaster.
I agree we need good tee shots, good game plan, good second shot, and absolutely we need like good skills around the greens. The greens are so slopey, so we need good putting, too.
Everything is not easy from here.
Q. How often do you come to Lancaster even when there's no tournament?
IN GEE CHUN: At least once every year for the fundraising, the foundation, and then I think almost like twice in a year.
Q. Do you stay at the same place every time?
IN GEE CHUN: Yes, because I have my like grandmom is here. Her name is Jody. We have a special relationship, so I always stay at her house when I'm in Lancaster.
Q. Does it feel like a second home here?
IN GEE CHUN: Yes, because how I said she's my grandmom.
Q. Her name is Judy?
IN GEE CHUN: Jody.
Q. Have you made any equipment changes this week to help with the length of the course?
IN GEE CHUN: I feel like the greens got firmer, so I'm trying my 7 again to help make spin on the green. But I'm still testing right now, so maybe I can talk with my team and my coach tonight and we can decide to use it or not going to use it. I'm trying the new 7-wood this week.
Q. We had Lexi here yesterday and she was talking about how sometimes she can find life on Tour as kind of a lonely place, and the pressure from the media can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Is there anything you can relate to in that?
IN GEE CHUN: I grew up in Korea, so when I moved to the U.S. for golf, it's not easy because I got homesick and then I always miss my friends and family who lives in Korea.
But when people think in a negative way, it goes just that way, so I try to turn it. I'm trying to think how it's special to make other good friends out here and how appreciative to have this opportunity to meet all the different people out here.
That's how I started to think to buy a house in the U.S.
I know it's not easy. All the players have the same feeling, I think. But I don't want to put more negative things on my shoulders and in my head. I truly understand what Lexi got feel.
One day I had really depressed and went down and said the next day I'm trying to, like, be positive and be happy person. It's not easy to say because we know how hard to have that feeling. But I believe and I knew she was one of the golf symbol in U.S., so hopefully she feels better and I'm looking for her next chapter.
Q. What was your reaction to hearing this might be her last Women's Open?
IN GEE CHUN: To be honest, when I got depressed, the U.S. Open back in 2024 at Lancaster helped me a lot. Because I want to quit golf, too, but I always trying to tell myself, oh, In Gee, how it feels especially if you retire at Lancaster. That makes me keep playing golf on the Tour, then how I won the KPMG, another major.
But now I think I can play more, so I don't want to quit golf right now. When I had that thought in my mind and then after the way the time was really slow and I couldn't enjoy anything -- I mean, now I'm really happy to be here with all the people.
Every week and every day I got new goal. I'm trying to enjoy play golf and also enjoy my life.
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