Q. Welcome back to the interview area. We're here with Yealimi Noh. 4-under 68. Can you talk us through your round?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, it was a very solid day. Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. My putting was good around the greens. Yeah, didn't chip around too much, so that made it more simple.
Q. What were some of your initial expectations of the course out here this week, and how do you feel about it after one round?
YEALIMI NOH: U.S. Opens are always very grand, and coming in, Erin Hills definitely lived up to the expectations. Everything's big -- the fairways, the walks, need big drives, but it's an incredible golf course.
Q. I'm sure it was stressful out there at times, but a 68, how much fun did you have?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, it was nice. It's stress free for now, but it was a really solid day. The weather was really nice. It was really cool this morning, and then when the sun came up, it was just a lot smoother and nice.
Q. Could you talk us through the eagle chip-in that kind of got you around buoyed there.
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, it's funny. I actually had the same exact chip during one of my practice rounds, same spot, same pin. I made it in the practice round, and my caddie and I were joking that I used it up, but apparently not. So that was nice.
Q. You became a Rolex first-time winner earlier in the season on the LPGA Tour. How much more confidence have you been playing with the last few months just having that win finally off your back?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, so much more confidence. I think it takes a lot of pressure off my back and a lot of -- yeah, just confidence and assurance and more belief in myself and my shots and what I can do even if I don't have a great start or a great round.
Q. I know getting off to a really strong start is always important, but to do it here, to do it in a U.S. Open, does it kind of let you settle in and get ready for the next 54 holes that you have got this round under your belt?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, I think it's a great start, but for the next few days, do the same thing. Focus on hitting a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and keeping it going.
Q. Your first Women's Open experience was unique during COVID. What do you remember about it, and what makes this championship different than all the rest?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, the U.S. Open is one of -- I think it's the best championship in golf. I think my first U.S. Open during COVID I had a pretty good start. The weekend wasn't -- actually, just the final round wasn't as great, and I just remember thinking like this is the U.S. Open.
Even though I had a good start, a couple days into the weekend, like the last final round, I was like, wow, things can change so fast. So I definitely need to keep my guard up and be steady.
Q. Are you a player that enjoys the grind?
YEALIMI NOH: For sure. I mean, golf is a grind.
Q. You have a successful connection to this state having Monday qualified for the event in Green Bay, Wisconsin, when you were 17.
YEALIMI NOH: That's right, yeah.
Q. What did doing that do for your career, and how did that kind of launch you to get to where you are today?
YEALIMI NOH: For sure. I don't think I could have started my career any better. That was my first LPGA tournament, and finishing top 10 was awesome. All the hard work leading up to that moment paid off and just was a great start to my golfing career.
Q. I think your only bogey was at 9 today. Is that right?
YEALIMI NOH: Yes.
Q. Can you talk about that hole, and when you guys are getting to the 9th tee, is it still that, how am I going to play this today? Or what's the mindset there?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, for sure. In my practice round going into 9 the pin was in the middle and I hit a great shot and it rolled all the way off the green. It definitely is a little nerve-racking. It's not very long, it's a short hole, but you have to place it perfectly.
I had 130 or so into the green, and I hit a pitching wedge. I thought I hit it perfect. Actually, it was just left of the pin. It just hit the top of the hill, and it came all the way back into the rough. Not in the bunker, so I was in a really bad lie. I just wanted to go away with bogey on that hole.
Q. Did you think these 2-, 3-, 4-unders would be available today?
YEALIMI NOH: I think so, for sure. There are some tees out that are pulled up, and a lot of the par-5s are -- I think all of them are reachable. Some par-3s were shorter than normal. So I think for sure. With the minimal wind today, it was definitely a good scoring day.
Q. You got off to a good start obviously. How do you get into a comfort zone when you pull into Wisconsin this week, you do the practice rounds, and the crowd, interacting with them, that whole thing? How does that work for you, and how has it been this week?
YEALIMI NOH: It's been really great. I really enjoyed my time in Wisconsin. I've been eating a lot of cheese.
I try to take this week -- from past experience, try to take it like any other tournament. I feel like, when we get to the U.S. Open, we always try a little bit harder and do a little bit more, but it's just another golf tournament. So I try to just keep it to my routine and my same schedule.
Q. 28 putts today. The switch to the L.A.B putter has really helped in many ways. How confident are you on some of the longer putts you're seeing out here with the size of the greens?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, my speed was really good today, and I worked a lot on that leading up to today. The L.A.B. putter has been so much for me, not only the long putts, but the short putts. Really solid with those.
My speed honestly has gotten a lot better with the long putter. Yeah, way better than when I had a standard length putter. So it's been really good.
Q. Obviously you're an LPGA USGA Girls' Golf alum, and you do a great job of representing that and your family, being a great athlete out there to root for. Can you speak to what that means to be a role model for young girls that are trying to get into the game?
YEALIMI NOH: Sure. I grew up playing U.S. juniors, U.S. Ams. I grew up playing six or seven U.S. juniors, and it was the best event of the year. USGA does an amazing job, not only the U.S. Open, but the junior events and the amateur events. I think it's incredible what they do and what they're continuing to do for us and for the game of golf.
Q. Follow up to that Green Bay question, where did you see yourself in golf at age 17? More importantly, where do you see yourself in golf right now?
YEALIMI NOH: When I was 17, I guess I was very fearless. I was very confident. Then went through some years as a pro not so confident, but that all led to me being right here. So very thankful for all those experiences.
Q. We talked earlier this year about people asking you to try the long putter, asking you about it. Was there an uptick in that after you won?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, for sure. I mean, L.A.B in general has been so popular these days. I've seen a lot of girls out there not only using a L.A.B putter, but the broomstick or the sweeper, whatever it's called now. A lot of girls trying it out, which is great. It's really, really good.
Q. Do you field questions on a weekly basis about it?
YEALIMI NOH: Yeah, some players have already asked me about it, can I try it again? I'm like you asked me this a couple months ago. Now they're like, oh, can I like try it, try it? I'm like, okay.
Q. Just as a follow-up to that, could you walk us through the process of where you were at in putting before the switch and then the effects afterward?
YEALIMI NOH: I was not in a good spot with my putting before the L.A.B. To be honest, I was having the yips, and it was really difficult. I didn't know what to do, and I just needed something completely different. My coach introduced me to a long putter, and then I moved on to the L.A.B. I think the L.A.B. makes the best broomstick putter. It's just been good from there.
Q. Golfers are prideful. Was that difficult to admit that I'm going to try something different now, or was that pretty seamless?
YEALIMI NOH: At first it was a little weird just because I didn't know how to use it at all. It probably doesn't matter when you're struggling. You will do anything you can to get better. I don't think that was in the picture.
Q. One last question. When did you make that switch?
YEALIMI NOH: I think it's been two years now.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports