^
THE MODERATOR: Happy now to be joined by Sei Young Kim at the Mexico Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba. The last time you played in Mexico it was a Match Play format and you won, the Lorena Ochoa Match Play. How great is it for you to be back? I guess you're our defending champion in Mexico this week.
SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, it's a long time ago. It's about 2017. Yeah, I had a great memories. It's different format. We play in Mexico City. When I get there I have good memories because it's amazing hotel and that golf course is really cool for the Match Play.
And, yeah, I'm happy to be back in this different location but in the Mexico. Yeah, it's amazing, yeah.
Q. What did it mean when you saw the LPGA was returning to Mexico? You, who have won in Mexico, how excited were you to hear this the LPGA would be coming back?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, it's Cancun, nearby the ocean. When you stay the hotel you can see the beautiful view. I played 18 today, so, yeah, it's amazing view. Yeah, little hot out there, but, yeah, it's good for the good testing golf.
Q. What are some of the main things you remember from the last time you were in Mexico?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Final round I played with Ariya, the Match Play. I was starting really strong and last couple holes I lose three in a row. Then last hole we almost tie, so we almost going to the playoff, but I made a good birdie.
So that was amazing memories.
But, yeah, I travel with my brother and then my mom at that tournament, so, yeah, it's long time ago. It's tough to remember, but, yeah, it's kind of.
Q. What do you think are your expectations for this tournament? This has been a difficult season.
SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, depend how strong the wind, because oceanside, all the wind come from the ocean. So I told my caddie which side is the ocean; just net let me know. That's the biggest information.
And then if you play the late afternoon it's going to be higher temperature. It's going to be a lot of -- we need a lot of energy. Yeah, I think depend how much is strong wind. Yeah, it's going to be tough.
Q. You had a complicated season. You haven't achieved already top 20. What do you need to improve to do it, to top 20 or higher?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Putting green, it's different grasses. It's kind of tough aggressive, so I focus on the -- my short putt because the ball start line really important. So working on short putt especially this week, yeah.
Q. Welcome to Mexico again.
SEI YOUNG KIM: Thank you.
Q. So you were a winner in Lorena Ochoa Invitational. This question goes more as what do you think of Lorena Ochoa, our greatest golfer?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, she's a legend. When I grew up I watched her play and I -- when I played her tournament I saw her. I met her. I was like so nervous. I feel like I meet the superstar.
Yeah, it's honor to meet her. I just followed, watched her, yeah. There is a couple more legends like Seri Pak, Annika Sorenstam. They were there. To me feel like a dream stay with them, yeah.
Q. I wanted to ask you what do you think about the importance of the LPGA returning to Mexico and being the only tournament in Latin America?
SEI YOUNG KIM: I like the Mexico location. The people are amazing, very kind. They are very nice to all the LPGA players, so it's very comfortable when I come back here.
So, yeah, I'm very looking forward next couple days for the tournament. So hopefully people come the tournament and they're watching nice view and the good player playing, yeah.
Q. Did you play the front nine yesterday?
SEI YOUNG KIM: I played nine hole yesterday and then today I played 18.
Q. Curious about No. 7 with the big hole in the fairway.
SEI YOUNG KIM: 7? Oh, yeah, yeah.
Q. What did you think of that and how do you think that will affect strategy?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Yeah, when play yesterday I was like -- well, I surprise. It's a big hole. It's not going to reach from the tee shot. It's 290, which is mean like 310 yards, so it's not going to reach.
What if I in there no chance. We have to move back to teeing ground.
Q. Is this course similar to ones you played in Mexico before?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Not really. So when we played the Mexico City, the last one, highest elevation so we have to add 10% or 7% add distance.
Here I checked elevation. It's zero, on the ground. It's more the wind, oceanside. Total different golf course.
Q. You are coming to Mexico as one of the winners. Do you feel among the favorites to win?
SEI YOUNG KIM: Hopefully, yeah. I do my best. I practice hard this week, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Sei Young.
SEI YOUNG KIM: Thank you.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports