Q. So Katie, just tell me about yourself. Give me your background, how you got into golf, where you're from. Like what's your story?
KATIE YOO: I started playing golf. My dad really loved golf. I did the Stage I when I was 16 and I was pretty lucky enough to pass; turned pro at 17 and played good experience here on Epson Tour for like three years, including the COVID year.
And rookie year this year for LPGA; really excited.
Q. So from everything I read you're from Orlando but is that like where you reside now or...
KATIE YOO: No. I was born in South Korea, but I came to U.S. and I mostly lived in U.S.
Q. Uh-huh.
KATIE YOO: I did elementary, middle school, high school here, so you can see me as an American person.
Q. How old were you when your family moved here?
KATIE YOO: 2010, but I used to live in Australia before then.
Q. Oh, what?
KATIE YOO: So like I didn't live in Korea that much.
Q. Yeah. Where were you born in Korea?
KATIE YOO: I was born there but I barely lived there.
Q. But like what city in South Korea?
KATIE YOO: Incheon.
Q. Oh, you're in Incheon, okay.
KATIE YOO: Yeah. You know?
Q. I know the name. I've never been. I'm going this year. Really excited. What was it like to live in Australia?
KATIE YOO: You know, like I was too young. I don't really remember anything.
But I remember that I had really good memories over there.
Q. Uh-huh.
KATIE YOO: I remember I had -- I seen a lot of kangaroos in front of my preschool. Other than that, it was nice.
Q. So you're based in Orlando now, or are you in Florida just in general?
KATIE YOO: I moved to Dallas. Denton, Texas.
Q. Okay. So you live there now?
KATIE YOO: Yeah, I live there now.
Q. Where do you spend -- like when you started golf and started to get competitive in golf where were you?
KATIE YOO: Orlando.
Q. You were in Orlando. You said your dad got you into it.
KATIE YOO: Yeah.
Q. But what was your path get to the point where you could turn professional at 17?
KATIE YOO: I wasn't actually planning to. Like I was more of should I go to college first. My mom wanted me to go to college.
But that year when I took the stages the age limit changed, like you can start from 16 but you can't take the Stage III.
So we were like going -- we are playing the AJGA Invitational and everything and so we were like, why don't we just try and see how it goes, and then I made it.
Q. So were you like surprised?
KATIE YOO: Like I really didn't expect it because like when I first went there like it was so long, it was so hot. I was like, I'm not coming back here again.
Q. So how old are you now?
KATIE YOO: I'm 20 now.
Q. 20. Do you feel young? I feel like the golf age is getting younger and younger and younger. Do you still feel kind of young compared to your counterparts on the Epson and now LPGA?
KATIE YOO: You know, it's been three years of professional so I don't feel young, but like when I play with like other players, like when they ask my age I feel young then.
Q. What's been something the past few years that you've learned about yourself that really helped you get to the LPGA this year?
KATIE YOO: Just play your own game.
Q. Uh-huh.
KATIE YOO: Yeah, like I don't try to look too much on the scoreboard or like other players, what they're doing.
So I try to focus on my game and try to do the best.
Q. There is a large Korean contingency in Texas. Who do you hang swing out with when you're in Texas? Are there any players that you practice wit or really hang out with?
KATIE YOO: Not really. I heard there is a lot, but no, not really.
I'm new there so I don't really know a lot of places.
Q. Do you usually fly solo or did you have a group of people that you hung out when you played on the Epson?
KATIE YOO: I usually like to practice solo. If I have some friends around I love to, but mostly solo.
Q. Is there a reason for that?
KATIE YOO: No, not really. Just, I don't know, like a lot -- like all my friends mostly live in Korea, so...
Q. Do you get to go back to Korea very much or...
KATIE YOO: Every year I used to, but I couldn't go for the COVID and everything. Hopefully this year. Hopefully.
Q. You might get into the event this year I would think. There is that tournament in Korea in the fall.
KATIE YOO: If I get reshuffle, yes.
Q. So what are you most looking forward to about playing on the LPGA this year?
KATIE YOO: Just playing with the top players is the best, and, you know, I really want to get out of Epson Tour right now. Yeah, it's been three years, so trying to get more experience up there and just learning from good players.
It's good.
Q. Who do you -- as far as -- again, let's talk -- I mean, let's be honest, Jin Young Ko is Jin Young Ko; is there anybody on the LPGA from a Korean standpoint that you really look up to or you really want to emulate?
KATIE YOO: Hyo Joo Kim. Yeah, I really love her swing. I really like how she manage her play in games. I really like her.
Q. Will you go seek her out when you get to an LPGA Tour event and she's playing?
KATIE YOO: I'm kind of shy, but if I have chance I would love to.
Q. What are some of your goals? You are ready to get off the Epson. We've been here enough time. What are some of your goals when you get on and stay on the LPGA?
KATIE YOO: This year I want to be top 80 and try to stay on the LPGA rather than coming back and forth. It's hard to travel every winter.
Q. What's the first planned event that you're going to try to get into for LPGA?
KATIE YOO: Hopefully Hawaii. Hopefully. But there is so many players this year playing, so expecting a little more.
But hopefully Hawaii first and maybe a little more in the back of the season, middle I guess.
Q. Let's get away from golf. What do you like to do when you're not playing golf? What are some of your hobbies? Interests?
KATIE YOO: I'm not like a sporty person. I like to stay home, watch movies. I don't want to get out of my house. So I just like to watch movies, read books, or just go shopping a little bit.
Q. What have you watched or read lately that you have been really fired up about, or is there a movie that you've seen that you really loved recently?
KATIE YOO: It's not like I loved it, but the recent movie I watched was -- it was a Korean movie. It's like a history movie.
Q. Okay.
KATIE YOO: But I think -- I can't remember the name, but started with an N though, I know. But it was really fun.
Q. And as far as reading goes, what's your -- do you have a prefer genre?
KATIE YOO: I like mystery books or something calm, you know.
Q. Uh-huh, yeah. So one or the other: thriller or something like that?
KATIE YOO: Yeah.
Q. As far as shopping goes, tell me about that. Like what are you -- what's your store? Every girl has a store. What's your be-all, end-all, I-have-to-go-there-every-time-I'm-there store?
KATIE YOO: Seriously I don't have one. Just everywhere. Like mostly just eye shopping.
Q. Just window shop?
KATIE YOO: Yeah, just go around and watch. Oh, that's good, let's go. Yeah.
Q. Anything else like interesting? We're just trying to bank some stuff for media to kind of know about you once we start seeing you on the LPGA Tour.
KATIE YOO: About me?
Q. Yeah. There has to be something like I'm really good at this or like...
KATIE YOO: I'm really good at staying at home. (Laughter.)
Like...
Q. I love that.
KATIE YOO: I can stay at home for like months. Seriously.
Q. So did COVID bother you?
KATIE YOO: No, not really.
Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports