Q. Obviously not the way you wanted to end, but what was it like to be back home and play this course and play in this tournament?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, no, it was a real treat to be able to come back home. Obviously playing in front of some family and friends it's always a special feeling. Like I said, I missed the food out here a lot. I probably gained about five pounds this week. Probably didn't help my golf game, to be honest.
Yeah, no, I enjoyed every second of it. Hopefully next time around I'm do a little bit better.
Q. How much, how nice was it to get hot on the back end of your round, to end with some good positive vibes?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, you know, the last couple holes, I mean, I basically had tap-ins for birdie. Didn't really need to read much into it.
Just took me a while to get used to reading the green again and how it affects putts. Thought I had it down in the practice round, but apparently not. Yeah, just got to keep working on that and I think I'll be good.
Q. What's next for you as far as this season goes?
CHAN KIM: I've got American Express next week and I'll have a week off. Hopefully not a week off if I finish top 10, and then AT&T. Just looking for a good week and get some momentum going.
Q. Do you have this year as a whole circled as a big one to take some steps forward?
CHAN KIM: Yes, absolutely. Obviously couple starts here in the States, that's always big, so I would like to capitalize on that and see where it takes me.
Q. You mentioned just being back home and the food. What does it mean to you to represent Hawaii in its hometown PGA event?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, right, this has always been a dream growing up. I used to come out here when I was a junior golfer and watch the Sony Open, and always dreamed about playing in it. To be able to finally do it, you know, it's better late than never.
Yeah, I would like a couple more shots at Waialae and see how I can get on, yeah.
Q. You mentioned better late than never. Did you think that ship had sailed?
CHAN KIM: No. I mean, I think I'm just kind of reaching my prime, so I think I'll have a couple more cracks at it. My game has matured a lot. Like even this week, I mean, I don't think a lot went my way, but I just hung in there.
So just staying patient, and I think I'll have a couple more opportunities.
Q. Just to pick up what Kyle said, what does it mean to you to represent Hawaii wherever you are in the world in whatever golf you're playing?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, I'm proud to be from here. I've got a lot of local support, and obviously I get news articles once in a while that my friends send me.
Yeah, no, it means a lot to me to be able to represent Hawaii, and I hope I can get that continued support and everybody will be watching out for me.
Q. I don't know if you ever noticed a writer trying to Google you before he asked a question so he doesn't sound like a complete, idiot, but is your main membership Japan?
CHAN KIM: Yes, it is.
Q. You won the Order of Merit last year. How big -- because the season doesn't start until pretty much after the Masters.
CHAN KIM: Yeah, yeah.
Q. How important is this kind of stretch you're on through Pebble in terms of making sure you're in match play, a shot at the Masters?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, obviously being 62 in the world rankings now, I only need to jump up 12 spots to get a spot in the Masters. So that's just been the main goal.
So to be able to get into these PGA Tour events early on in the year gives me a great opportunity, and if I end up playing well, then I might just stay here and see how long I can play. I'm hoping it's going to be for the rest of the year; see how it plays out.
Q. What does the Order of Merit, does it do anything for you except name recognition for sponsor's exemptions?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, I mean, it will make it a lot easier for sponsor's exemptions for sure. I think the Masters committee kind of decides if the Order of Merit gets a Masters spot or not. Every once in a while.
But, yeah, I would like to earn that spot. I'm close enough to where I can get there, so it would mean a lot more to me to be able to earn that spot.
Q. Have you been in touch with them at all? Kind of a weird question.
CHAN KIM: I think my managers have. I think they're just kind of trying to see where we are with that.
But, yeah, it's still under discussion.
Q. There is a history of -- I mean, the fact that you did not play the PGA Tour next year makes your chances go way up on the exemption side.
CHAN KIM: Yeah.
Q. Does this -- oh, shoot, this would've put into WGC, except they don't have --
CHAN KIM: Yeah, it would have. Yeah, I probably would've been into every WGC event. It did get me into the Open, so I'll be going to St. Andrews, which is nice.
Yeah, I'm missing out on a couple events just because they're gone, but I just got make the best of what I have in front of me.
Q. So American Express and Pebble. Do you have anything else lined up?
CHAN KIM: If I don't get into Waste Management through next week, then I'll probably go back home and do the Monday. Course is only about 20 minutes from my house. That's kind of the plan for now.
Q. They know you're a Sun Devil, right?
CHAN KIM: Yeah.
Q. They know that though, right?
CHAN KIM: Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, I'm just trying to set some short-term goals, so AT&T is about as far as I'm looking right now. As far as bigger goals, stay on the PGA Tour.
Yeah, as of right now the short-term goals are just up until AT&T, just try and get some good rounds in.
Q. We just mentioned ASU. Reflect on your collegiate career.
CHAN KIM: Yeah, obviously there have been a lot of great golfers to come out of that program, Phil and Paul and all those guys. No, it's an honor to be able to represent them as well in every tournament that I play.
Coach Matt Thurman right now, he posts about every tournament I play in. Even when I'm playing in Japan he keeps up. He posts when I win and stuff like that.
So, yeah, it's very special. To say that I played for a program like that, you know, I'm very proud of it. Hopefully I can make them proud as well.
Q. How often do you see any former teammates of yours?
CHAN KIM: Former teammates, not as much. Just all kind of playing worldwide, so kind of hard to see them. I did go back and visit some of the guys that are coming in, playing right now.
So I still hang out with some of the guys that just graduated. One of them from Hawaii as well. Play golf with him ever day. Yeah, it's been pretty good.
Q. Who is that?
CHAN KIM: Jino Sohn. Yeah, so...
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