Q. Having not seen much of this golf course like most of the players heading into the week, was it a course that fits your eye pretty well, a course that you like?
YUKA SASO: I'm not really sure. I actually thought it would be is different difficult course. The greens also, but (indiscernible).
Q. What made it not difficult for you? How were you lucky?
YUKA SASO: I made some good putts, had good up and downs, my driving was very consistent today.
I think, yeah, that made me lucky.
Q. When you're playing on a sponsor's exemption and there is a lot to gain if you happen to have a really successful week, how do id you keep that in the back of your mind and focus on the golf?
YUKA SASO: How do I keep the...
Q. The reward of winning here out of your mind and focus on the job at hand?
YUKA SASO: I don't really think about winning starting the week. I just want to focus on myself and focus on the process. That's what I do, yeah.
Q. Being able to go low pretty early on in this day, what are your thoughts after round one here?
YUKA SASO: My thoughts are just nothing really. I feel like I want to rest and get ready for tomorrow.
Q. What are some of the things that really played to your advantage at Kapolei Golf Club?
YUKA SASO: I think I really hit a good drives today and made good up and downs. So, yeah, like I said earlier, like I think I got lucky today.
But just, you know, just get ready for tomorrow.
Q. I was going to say, you did have a string of birdies there. Seemed that you were going low on a day when the winds aren't picking up as much. How will you prepare for tomorrow when you're playing more in the afternoon when some of those gustier conditions will be there?
YUKA SASO: Yeah, back nine the wind did get stronger than this morning. I think I just have to be careful with my drives, keep it in the fairway as much as possible, and trust the process.
Q. Trust the process. I love that.
YUKA SASO: Yeah.
Q. How did you feel about your irons today? Hit some good irons there.
YUKA SASO: Yeah, it was pretty good. I was able to hit where I wanted to hit and, yeah, I think it's really good.
Q. Is that particularly important on this course where people have said it's a second-shot course?
YUKA SASO: Not only on this course, right? Your irons has to be good to be able to shoot under par.
So, yeah, I'm happy my iron shot was good today. Yeah.
Q. What club did you hit on No. 8?
YUKA SASO: No. 8, 8-iron. Yeah.
Q. We saw you at the ANA Inspiration. You finished T50 and now you're here leading so far through the morning wave. What did you learn about your game at the ANA Inspiration that you have worked on coming into Hawaii this week?
YUKA SASO: I didn't really work on my game. I've just stayed on my routine every week. But, yeah, I did learn a lot in ANA. It's a really tough golf course, but I don't think I -- I don't think I have to work on that this week. It's a different course. So I'll work on that in had the off-season. Yeah.
Q. Is this one of your first times in Hawaii?
YUKA SASO: Yes, this is my first time in Hawaii.
Q. What do you think of it so far?
YUKA SASO: It's like Philippines but colder than Philippines and windier than Philippines, yeah.
Q. When you got out here, did you feel comfortable on this course right away in the practice rounds?
YUKA SASO: To be honest, okay, I don't really like the wind, but I'm working on it. Like I'm working on my ball to be able to play good in windy conditions.
So I'm happy I was able to play good, but I wasn't really expecting anything. Like I said, I don't really like windy conditions.
Q. When you're playing on a sponsor's invitation, how much does that opportunity mean to you?
YUKA SASO: Yeah, I'm really thankful that they gave me a sponsor's exemption for this week. It's really a good opportunity for me to learn and also learn from other golfers that here.
So, yeah I'm really thankful.
Q. Is it your goal to be on the LPGA Tour?
YUKA SASO: Yeah, of course. I think that's everyone's dream. Yeah, I hope someday I'll come here and play.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports