THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be joined by 2023 winner of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G Haeran Ryu. What's it like to be back here in North West Arkansas and Pinnacle Country Club?
HAERAN RYU: Yeah, I'm always looking forward I come back to Arkansas, so I was so excited. Yeah, I got a great experience in my rookie year and good memories, and this year my golf is not good, so -- but I got a win, but it's not good now, so I just, yeah, I want to make some turning point for end of this year.
Q. You've now won three times on the LPGA Tour and got to play at FM a few weeks ago. How special is it to come back to this tournament knowing it was your first-ever win?
HAERAN RYU: Yeah, I try the second time to go to again for that golf course for to the defending champion for next year. So always I thinking I'm so proud of the last year Haeran, (smiling) because I think I felt 2023, here is not too hard for me, but after next year I felt it's so hard.
So that's why golf is so hard and enjoy can play. So, yeah, every year I kind of learn for the golf and so proud of the last year Haeran, yeah.
Q. You said your golf is not the best right now. What are some of the things that are challenging you and what are some of the things you're working on?
HAERAN RYU: Yeah, I got a lot coaches, and I have Korean coach and I'm always try to call and fix it my swing, but just on the chat and videos. But that's have to limit to go saw my ball and really my swings, so that's why my ball is little different as last year and the beginning of this year.
So but now is not bad; it's little changing and changing for the good. Yeah, I just enjoying and I want to enjoy for this week.
Q. What is it about Pinnacle Country Club that maybe you're able to take advantage of and brings out some of your strengths?
HAERAN RYU: This course -- I think two years ago Haeran is pretty good. (Laughter.)
Yeah, but I like this course shape because it's little narrow, and this year the grass condition is pretty good. So that's why I'm play well to the Pinnacle golf course.
Q. So we have this event, Hawai'i. How excited are you to get back over to Asia, back home to Korea and play over there?
HAERAN RYU: Yeah, but this year I played a lot tournament so I'm skip the Hawai'i and China and I go back to Korea earlier. I can meet my Korean coach a long time and stay in Korea. I'm so excited to go there.
Yeah, and I want to finish good for this week and change the mind, more refreshing, and hopefully playing well the BMW and International Crown in Asia.
Q. That was my next question. How excited are you to showcase your country to a whole host of different players? I know we've been asking players what they're looking forward to most about going back to or back to Korea; all of them said the Korean barbecue. What else should they be excited or looking forward to?
HAERAN RYU: Yeah, I'm so exciting because the International Crown, the hotel is like the city center in Seoul so I'm so exciting because I'm living nearby the Seoul, but it's too hard to hang out there because I'm stay here and lots of events in Korea.
But I can stay a week in the city and a lot of good food at there. And my friends wants to come at the golf course in the gallery. I'm so exciting. I can't wait there.
Q. What is one non-Korean barbecue food that all the players should try?
HAERAN RYU: I recommend some like spicy food, like it's kind of another Asian players. I recommend topokki, the spicy rice cake. But normally the America don't like spicy food, so I recommend, Kimbap.
Q. Okay, like sushi.
HAERAN RYU: Sushi roll, but that's it's Korean one. It's seaweed and with vegetable and kind of tuna and mayo inside. Yeah, my favorite one, too. I recommend that.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much.
HAERAN RYU: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports