Hillsdale Golf & Country Club
Mirabel, Quebec
August 25, 2011
First-round notes and interviews
Ai Miyazato -7, Rolex Rankings No. 7
Pernilla Lindberg -7, Rolex Rankings No. 195
Samantha Richdale -6, Rolex Rankings No. 341
Michelle Wie -5, Rolex Rankings No. 14
Angela Stanford -5, Rolex Rankings No. 20
Mi Hyun Kim -5, Rolex Rankings No. 204
I.K. Kim -4, Rolex Rankings No. 8
Rolex Rankings No. 7 Ai Miyazato and Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg each shot a 7-under 65 in the first round of the CN Canadian Women’s Open at Hillsdale Golf & Country Club outside Montreal on Thursday. The two players hold a one-shot lead heading into Friday’s second round over Canadian Samantha Richdale, who birdied her final hole to shoot 66.
Miyazato recorded three birdies on her front nine and then four birdies on the back nine, which included her sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole . Coming off an eighth place finish at the Safeway Classic in Portland – her fourth top-10 finish of the season – Miyazato appears to be getting her game back into form.
“I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today, so I kept it all the 18 holes today,” Miyazato said. “That's why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there. My iron distance control was really good, and I had a really good feeling with my putting as well. So that's why I think I shot 7 under today.”
Lindberg’s 65, which included eight birdies and one bogey, was her career-low round on the LPGA Tour. Her previous low round was a 68 which she shot in the second round of the 2010 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger. Lindberg, who was a rookie on the LPGA Tour in 2010, has played in just eight events so far this season and has made just two cuts – her last coming at the Kia Classic in March. Like many other second-year LPGA Tour players, Lindberg is focused on trying to find a way to put herself in a good position for next season and a strong finish this week would provide a big boost for that.
“I came out as a rookie last year, and I had to go back to Q school because I didn't play as good as I would have liked and know that I can,” Lindberg said. “I started off good the first couple of tournaments this year, but then I've been struggling. Lately it's felt like I've been close, but I still haven't really gotten it together.
“So of course I've been putting some pressure on myself to move up the money list. Today I was just patient, and finally all the good things that I know I have came together.”
Watch out behind you! There are a number of players chasing right behind the leaders after the first day of play. A large contingent of players sits two shots back of Miyazato and Lindberg including defending champion Michelle Wie, Angela Stanford, Song-Hee Kim, Jenny Shin and Mi Hyun Kim who all shot 5-under 67s in the first round. There are also 10 players who sit at 4-under after 18 holes of play.
A blunder-free day: Ai Miyazato said she had a few nerves at the end of her round but it had nothing to do with her own score. Instead, she was waiting to see if anyone would end what seemed to be an unusual streak.
Not a single person in Miyazato’s group – which included her, Stacy Lewis and Maria Hjorth – recorded a bogey during their rounds on Thursday. Lewis shot 69 and Hjorth fired a 68 as the group combined to go an impressive 14-under par for the day.
“That was amazing,” Miyazato said of the bogey-free streak. “I’ve never seen this before so I was kind of nervous at the end because no one's making a bogey. But it was really enjoyable to play with Stacy and Maria today. It was really fun.
Part of the trend: It’s been just a little over a month since Michelle Wie made the switch to a custom-made Nike long putter at the Evian Masters and on Thursday, the change certainly appeared to be working. Wie needed just 27 putts while shooting a first-round 67 and made at least two long birdie putts, a 45-footer on No. 9 and a 60-footer.
“I like my putter,” Wie said. “I think there's been quite some talk about it. Over the last couple of weeks I've been toying around with different grips and different ways to do it. But I think it's been feeling pretty good, and I've just got to keep working on it because obviously putting is something that I always need to work on and it's a very important part of the game.”
Wie was asked again about what caused her to change to a long putter. There certainly has been a trend among professional players to make the switch and it has gained notoriety thanks to players such as PGA Tour professionals Adam Scott and Keegan Bradley winning tournaments while using a long putter. For Wie, the decision to start using a long putter wasn’t a long process.
“Before I never even thought about using a long putter,” Wie said. “It just wasn't in my thoughts. And all of a sudden I just kind of I don't know. I guess I was just kind of practicing my strokes with my driver, which is about the same length as it. So I was like I might as well try it. It can't hurt.”
Changing things up: It has been more than two years since Mi Hyun Kim last recorded a top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour. After shooting a 67 on Thursday to put herself in a tie for fourth, Kim acknowledged that she has struggled to regain her form since having a baby at the end of 2009. But this winter, Kim dedicated herself to building up her strength and a few changes that she made last week heading into the CN Canadian Women’s Open have seemed to click.
“I changed the putter last week, and I'm trying to do a lot with this new putter and it is working good,” Kim said. “Then I had a swing coach [Ian Triggs], he teaches me and Karrie Webb and Maria Hjorth and a few other LPGA players. He gives a little tip for my swing, so I'm just trying to change a little bit of the swing, and it is working good. I hit it a little farther than before and a little straighter than before.”
Kim had six birdies and one bogey en route to her round of 67 on Thursday.
Weather watch: Rain was predicted for most of Thursday’s round but the bad weather was limited to just a short burst of rain showers in the mid-afternoon. The course did play a little longer due to the rain that fell overnight, which resulted in the field playing preferred lies, but players were able to capitalize on soft greens. A total of 88 rounds of par-or-better were shot in the first round, yet the scoring conditions could change as the weather forecast is for drier conditions on Friday and into Saturday as well.
“I think the course may get tougher as it dries out,” Angela Stanford said. “Obviously the greens were soft, but the fairways were also soft. When a fairway is soft, if you hit it off line, the soft ground catches it. You lose the last couple of bounces.
“So there are some areas out here that the fairways are a lot wider when it's soft. I think if it does dry out, those fairways get tighter because there are some run out spots. You have to control your ball off the tee, but with wet fairways, not as much though.”
Who’s Who of past champions: They include Michelle Wie (2010), Suzann Pettersen (2009), Katherine Hull (2008), Lorena Ochoa (2007), Cristie Kerr (2006), Meena Lee (2005), Meg Mallon (2002, 2004), Beth Daniel (2003) and Annika Sorenstam (2001).
Of Note…M.J. Hur withdrew after 13 holes on Thursday…The low score by a Canadian in the first round belonged to Samantha Richdale, who is in third place along after shooting 66. She’s trying to become the first Canadian to win an LPGA Tour event on home soil since Jocelyne Bourassa did it in 1973.
AI MIYAZATO, Rolex Rankings No. 7
THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome our current leader, Ai Miyazato, into the interview room. Thank you for joining us today. Congratulations on your round 7 under, 7 birdies, no bogeys. Can you take me through your day and what was working well for you out there on the course?
AI MIYAZATO: Well, I had a really good feeling with my swing tempo today, so I kept it all the 18 holes today. That's why I really had so many birdie opportunities out there.
So my iron distance control was really good, and I had a really good feeling with my putting as well. So that's why I think I shot 7 under today.
THE MODERATOR: I know we were talking on the ride over about how no one in your group had a bogey today?
AI MIYAZATO: That was amazing.
THE MODERATOR: Is that something you've ever seen before in a round?
AI MIYAZATO: No, I've never had this before, so I was kind of nervous at the end because no one's making a bogey. But it was really enjoyable to play with Stacy and Maria today. It was really fun.
Q. We talked to some other players today that shot pretty well, like Michelle and Angela. They were saying they were trying to be patient because of the different conditions and the long irons into the greens. Did you feel that's what you did when you started to attack or did you feel pretty good from the start?
AI MIYAZATO: I don't think Michelle and Angela had long irons on the second shot today because they're long hitters. No, just kidding. I'm not a long hitter, but my long irons and my hybrid distance control was really good today. Because the greens are so big out here, so I thought I just need to be careful with the distance, and it seemed to really work today. But that's it. I just kept the rounds going today, so, yeah. It was really fun to play.
Q. I just wondered, how would you after being world number one last year, what is your opinion of the season you've had this year and how much are you really looking for a win?
AI MIYAZATO: Well, I did have expectations coming into this year since I had a great season last year. But there was the earthquake earlier this year, so that had a bit of an effect on me, both on and off the golf course. But since the round in June, I started feeling very good about my game, and I was able to win at Evian. So right now I feel very relaxed.
Q. I believe you were out there and got one if not two sudden bursts of rain that came down. Did you think, oh, no, here goes the round? It's going to be a long afternoon and not many birdie opportunity when's all that rain came down?
AI MIYAZATO: Well, I thought if it starts raining, I can accept it, but it only lasted when I was on the 10th hole, luckily. So I did feel very lucky about the weather today.
Q. I know you've been playing well of late and you had another Top 10 finish in Portland. Do you feel pretty good about where the swing is and kind of getting that tempo going again?
AI MIYAZATO: Yeah, I'm pretty much comfortable with my swing right now. I found out that my grip tension was too tight last week, and I'm trying to get a loose tension with that, and it seems to be really working. So I just want to keep it until this weekend.
PERNILLA LINDBERG, Rolex Rankings No. 195
THE MODERATOR: Pernilla, 7 under par 65 today, tied for the lead in the second to last group of the day. Tell us what went right for you today to shoot such a nice score?
PERNILLA LINDBERG: I guess everything, pretty much. I was driving it great, barely missed a fairway and felt easy with my irons. If I was off, it wasn't by much. Then it was one of those days where you're not really in between clubs. I guess it's okay, this is a 7 iron, this is an 8 iron.
Then I think the best part was my putting, absolutely. I saw the lines good and they dropped.
THE MODERATOR: On the way over you mentioned that you kind of feel a
little bit at home here. It feels kind of European, and you ski, and
you like hockey. Just talk about being here in Montreal? T
PERNILLA LINDBERG: Yeah, I love being in Canada. When I was here for the CN Open last year in Winnipeg, that was the first time I was in Canada. But Montreal has even a little bit more European feel to it, which makes me feel like home, and all the players are pretty much in the same hotel, and I like that feeling because that's what I'm more used to on the European Tour.
Yeah, like you said, I grew up skiing so I guess I'm used to I mean, this kind of grass and everything that comes with it up north. So, yeah, it makes it feel a little bit more like home, for sure.
Q. I've asked the other players that have come in with the good scores and just the way that some players all talked about the putter. But just the way of attacking this course because I think a lot of players had mentioned they were trying to be patient. When they had a chance, they jumped on it. But with these low scores, was that something you planned off the start that you were feeling good that you knew you could be aggressive and try to get a low round?
PERNILLA LINDBERG: I felt that the greens were pretty soft out there. I guess you had a lot of rain on Sunday before we came in, and then a little more rain this morning, so the greens were holding good. Then with me hitting a lot of fairways, then that makes you have a chance to be more aggressive I would say, especially when I felt good with my irons too. I could be aggressive.
Sure there were a few holes where you just need to be patient and stay below the hole. But besides that, I felt I could go for most of it.
THE MODERATOR: Can you talk about this year, how you've been playing, what your goals were, and what they are now?
PERNILLA LINDBERG: I came out as a rookie last year, and I had to go back to Q school because I didn't play as good as I would have liked and know that I can. Started off good the first couple of tournaments this year, but then I've been struggling. Lately it's felt like I've been close, but I still haven't really gotten it together.
So of course I've been putting some pressure on myself to move up the money list. Today I was just patient, and finally all the good things that I know I have came together.
SAMANTHA RICHDALE, Rolex Rankings No. 341
Q. Wonderful round of golf out there. Where did it come from?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: I don't know. My caddie and I have been talking earlier, and working really hard and haven't seen the results. So I think it all came together today.
Q. Six birdies on the round out there. Flawless round of golf. Was there a moment you got out there and felt very, very comfortable?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, No, not really. But I just kept kind of plugging away and had some good shots, and my caddie read some really good putts.
Q. It's tough when you can't get some momentum going and playing a few weeks in a row. Have you found that difficult this summer?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, it's been difficult, but I've also enjoyed the time off with my family.
Q. But can you get in a groove and hone your game while you're at home?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: You can enjoy life while you're at home. So I guess it kind of I don't know. It equals out.
Q. How comfortable are you seeing your name on the top of that leaderboard or right up near the top?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, it's pretty nice. It's been a while, so first time on the LPGA, so it's pretty exciting.
Q. And to do it in front of the home country fans at least anyway?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, this is the place to do it.
Q. (Indiscernible) is going to be proud of you?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, I just saw her. I gave her a hug. It was nice to see her.
Q. Are you a little surprised what happened today?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, I haven't played that well, but like I said, I've been working really hard, but I haven't seen the results.
Q. What have you worked hard on mostly, your putting?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, about a month ago or just over a month ago I went and saw Dave Stockton, and we've been working really hard with my putting. You know, like I said, today my caddie and I read some really good putts and we made them.
Q. What does it mean to you to be so high up the leaderboard at the Canadian Open?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, it's pretty special. I had my brother in the crowd, which is really nice. We had great weather this afternoon, and it's kind of a nice ending to the day.
Q. What is your brother's name?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Josh.
Q. The rain didn't bother you at all?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: It was pretty quick. Kind of came in. I thought we were going to get pulled off the course for a bit, and we didn't end up. Yeah, it wasn't that bad.
Q. When was the last time you were in this kind of position being so close to the lead in such a big event?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: You know, I really haven't been this high on the LPGA yet. I won last year in Taiwan in a smaller tournament, but that's kind of about it, I guess.
Q. Do you have ways of dealing with pressure and that sort of thing overnight to come back tomorrow and put in another good round?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: You know what, I haven't been in the position for so long I haven't thought about it. I'll just go have a nice dinner tonight and keep the same routine as I did today.
Q. What worked well for you today?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: We had a really good pace out there. Like I said, my caddie and I read some really good putts and they went in today.
Q. Can you tell us about your caddie? He's one of the older guys on Tour?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Yeah, we started working together a year ago last tournament. He's great for me. He's very calm, very collected. I love being out there with him. We have a lot of great conversation, and he knows when to calm me down. It's very comfortable. We read putts well together, pick out targets well together.
Q. What is his name?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Tom Konopacki.
Q. Do you know how old he is by chance?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: I don't know if he wants me to give that. Let's just say his birthday is coming up next week, I you believe. But I won't give away those details.
Q. (Inaudible)?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: Oh, yeah, that's right. We had a stacked Pro Am too this week. We didn't really use my shots. I mean, some of the ladies we had a young girl Maria Theres who hits farther than I do off the front tees so I was just there cheerleading. I think I rolled in a couple of putts and that's it.
Q. You won the Pro Am?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: My group won the Pro Am, yes.
Q. How many times have you played the Canadian Open?
SAMANTHA RICHDALE: This is my third time.
MICHELLE WIE, Rolex Rankings No. 14
THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome defending CN Canadian Women's Open champion, Michelle Wie, to the interview room. 5 under par today, with a nice long birdie on the 9th hole, which was your last hole of the day. If you would, just take us through the round and how it felt to be back out here with the Canadian fans supporting you?
MICHELLE WIE: It was fun. It was pretty cool on the first tee. They kind of announce you as the reigning champion, and that has a very nice ring to it. But it was a good day. The weather looked like it was going to be bad, but fortunately it never rained on us, maybe for like five minutes. But I was trying to keep patient throughout the round. Didn't really get things going for a while. I just tried to stay patient, which I felt really good about.
THE MODERATOR: Can you take us through some of your key holes, anything that might have stood out to you?
MICHELLE WIE: I made two very long putts today. The other one was over 60 feet, which is pretty good.
Q. Which one was that?
MICHELLE WIE: The par 5, the fifth hole, I think it was. But other than that the thing that stood out for me the most was I was patient and I felt relaxed. Kind of had fun with Angela and Catriona, so it was a good day to day.
Q. How long was the putt on 9 for birdie?
MICHELLE WIE: Felt like 45 feet.
Q. Last year at this tournament you got off to a very good start. Does it feel the same as a year ago?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, other I'm missing the hole in one, but I think it's a long way to Sunday, three more rounds, and I've just got to keep patient like I did today. Some shots might not turn out the way I want to, but I've just got to keep moving along. I think that is the key for me this week is to just keep patient.
Q. Because the course played long and probably favors someone like you and quite obvious at minus 5, but did you feel comfortable enough that you knew that you were going to attack today as on posed to trying to manage it on the first day?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, I think with the rain last night everything was pretty soft, so even with the longer club, you still could be very aggressive at the flag.
It's a difficult golf course. It's a challenging golf course, and like I said, you've just got to keep patient on it. You've got to be in the right areas.
Q. To hit two long putts like that, how much of that is the new putter and how much of that is just the aggressive approach? You looked like you took a pretty good round at the last one on nine?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I like my putter. I think there's been quite some talk about it. Over the last couple of weeks I've been toying around with different grips and different ways to do it. But I think it's been feeling pretty good, and I've just got to keep working on it because obviously putting is something that I always need to work on and it's a very important part of the game.
Obviously, making two long putts does help the score. So for the next couple of days hopefully I can make a couple more of those.
Q. You missed a short putt on 16 that you never seemed to feel comfortable over, but then you made one on 17 that was a similar length. Talk about those both putts. Was the one on 17 important to get you feeling good about your putter again?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, 16 I hit a good putt. It was just one of those things where I was right on the crown and I just couldn't read it. It was one of those putts where it's not like you can hit it through the break because it's a very fast putt. And I hit it the way I wanted to, it just didn't break the way I wanted it to.
Q. Can you just talk about your decision to go to the long putter? Where were you in terms of how you felt about the standard length putter?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, before I never even thought about using a long putter. It just wasn't in my thoughts. And all of a sudden I just kind of I don't know. I guess I was just kind of practicing my strokes with my driver, which is about the same length as it. So I was like I might as well try it. It can't hurt.
So I had Nike make me a couple of putters and I've just been toying around with the grip. Sometimes change is good, so I felt good about it.
Q. I saw your parents out there. They seemed just as focused as you were sometimes. Does having them out there, do you draw encouragement from that?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, for sure. I love having my parents out there. They're really fun to watch as the gallery watch my dad's reactions and my parent's reactions. They really do entertain me out there.
But it's nice having a good support group, a solid support group out there that cheers for you even when you're not playing so well. It's nice.
ANGELA STANFORD, Rolex Rankings No. 20
THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Angela Stanford into the interview room. Congratulations on your round of 67 today. Can you tell me just a little bit about how it went out there and what was working well for you?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, my putter finally decided to show up to a golf tournament, so that was nice. Just nice to see the ball go in the hole. I've had a lot of opportunities this year, and it was just nice to be out there and just felt really relaxed, just rolling the ball, and it was going in. It makes for a better day.
THE MODERATOR: You and Michelle were playing together and both of you had great days. Do you feed off each other when you're having that type of day, and you're seeing her make long putts and you're making long putts?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, I think any time you're in a group with somebody who is playing well, you kind of feed off that energy. It's always good to play with somebody who is making putts because it seems to be contagious.
THE MODERATOR: I saw the shot in on your 18th and a great putt to finish off with a birdie. Can you just take me through were there any other great birdies that you had during the day?
ANGELA STANFORD: Probably number 2. I think I made like a 25, 30 footer. I kind of missed my drive out to the left and just came off of birdying 18 and 1, hit my drive on the left rough. Hit a decent shot up there and made that putt. I think that's a moment in the round it either kills your momentum or it really gives you another boost. So that was probably the best birdie of the day.
Q. The weather didn't turn out as expected with the rain staying away. How did that change your game today?
ANGELA STANFORD: It's always a nice surprise when it doesn't rain. But when they say it's not going to and then it does, you know I was mentally prepared for the rain today. I actually showed up with my rain pants on, and it never really he owe on owe I mean, it sprinkled on us a little bit. But I think when you're mentally prepared for it, it's nice when it doesn't rain. It makes it better.
Q. Obviously, conditions were suitable to low scoring today. Do you see those holding up or do you think it will be tougher as the course dries out?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think it may get tougher as it dries out. Obviously the greens were soft, but the fairways were also soft. When a fairway is soft, if you hit it off line, the soft ground catches it. You lose the last couple of bounces.
So there are some areas out here that the fairways are a lot wider when it's soft. I think if it does dry out, those fairways get tighter because there are some run out spots. You have to control your ball off the tee, but with wet fairways, not as much though.
Q. You were talking about the different courses every year that you play in this tournament. What is it about this course that you feel suits your game?
ANGELA STANFORD: You know, it's funny. Every time I come to Canada, I love these golf courses. I love that they're tree lined. I love the grass. The fans are always here in large numbers. I don't know. I always had a good feel in Canada, and I've just really enjoyed the golf courses. I love tree lined golf courses. So I just love being here. I would just like to take the trophy with me one of these times.
MI HYUN KIM, Rolex Rankings No. 204
THE MODERATOR: We’d like to welcome Mi Hyun Kim to the interview room. Congratulations on your round of 5-under-67 today. Can you tell me what was working well for you and take me through the round?
MI HYUN KIM: Actually, I had baby in 2009 winter, and after that I didn't play much so I lost a lot of power, and then I'm losing little feel of the golf. But I'm just trying to work out hard since last winter. I had a little problem with my swing, but I changed it. I had a lesson last week and it's working a little bit.
Q. So the swing felt good today?
MI HYUN KIM: Yeah, I hit almost every fairway and tee shot.
Q. When you look at the round otherwise, was your putting on today, what else was working really well for you?
MI HYUN KIM: Actually I hit good tee shot and actually, I hit not many mistakes, and putting was good, and short game was good. Mentally more confidence with my swing and short game is back.
Q. I know there were a lot of predictions for rain today and the weather stayed nice. Did that help with the scoring conditions?
MI HYUN KIM: Actually, I thought rain was coming after 2 o'clock or 3:00 o'clock. So I was just trying to have my rain pants on the 18th hole. So it was so hot, you know, but it is better than rain coming. But the wind was a little bit more than normal too. It is a little bit hard, but better than rain coming.
THE MODERATOR: A few low scores out there today. How is this course playing, and can you shoot some low numbers out here?
MI HYUN KIM: Yeah, actually I just worry in the practice round, I just worry about the ball on the fairways is very muddy, so I just worried about that. But when people start after we'll see. We have prepare, so it helped me (Inaudible) a lot because I'm not a long hitter, but I'm trying to keep to the fairway a lot, and try to get a better lie.
Q. Were there any turning points for you or something that got you going through your round today?
MI HYUN KIM: I don't know. I changed the putter last week, and I'm trying to do a lot with this new putter and it is working good. Then I had a swing coach, he teaches me and Karrie Webb and Maria Hjorth and a few other LPGA players. He gives a little tip for my swing, so I'm just trying to change a little bit of the swing, and it is working good. It hits a little farther than before and a little straighter than before.
Q. Is there one hole that really stuck out for you today? Did you make a really good birdie on one hole?
MI HYUN KIM: Actually, the long par three. I don't know what number it is. It's on the front nine. It was like 195 or something and into the wind. I hit a really good 5 wood, but I made the wind was gusting and I tried to I just hit the middle of the green, but I made like a 30 foot putt, yeah.
I.K. KIM, Rolex Rankings No. 8
THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome I.K. Kim to the interview room. A nice round today that was mostly nice on the back nine for you. You made the turn at even, and then you holed out for eagle on the 10th hole. Was that the turning point of your round, do you think?
I.K. KIM: It was. Well, on the front nine I was a little struggling with iron shots. But the back nine, after that three on 10 1 actually was the turning point. Then I had kind of better you know, everything was kind of clicking after that.
Q. Can you just talk about being here in Montreal, the CN sponsorship. Have you seen anything you want to do in the city? Have you experienced anything here?
I.K. KIM: This is my first time being here in Quebec, and the whole experience has been awesome. The volunteers are super nice. Yeah, I love to go to the city. I've seen the pictures and it looks really classic and kind of European style. I'm not sure. I can practice on my French and watch a Broadway show.
Q. You speak any French?
I.K. KIM: I try a little bit, but I don't know. It's very, yeah, difficult to learn.
Q. Can you just tell us, you're allowed to lift, clean and place today, your lies, was that an advantage? Did you see areas where there were problems with mud getting on the ball in the fairway today?
I.K. KIM: I think it was a good call because you never know what the weather is going to be and it was kind of wet even before we started, and yesterday was a little muddy.
But I think it's in good shape, but definitely there are a few holes that we really needed to clean the ball because we're not hitting wedge out there. We're hitting hybrid and longer clubs. So, yeah, it would have been very difficult without doing it.
Q. What was the goal you set for yourself before the tournament started? Did you want to make the cut? What was your main goal coming in?
I.K. KIM: My main goal was to kind of work on my game this week. You know, there are times that you have A game in the tournament. But there are a few things I'm working on, so I just wanted to see and experiment what's going on the golf course.
I had my short game coach came the last few days, so we worked on a few little things. I was just focused on little things, kind of aiming and you know starting online. So I definitely was working on my you know, that was my game plan.
Q. You said you struggled on the front nine starting on 10?
I.K. KIM: It wasn't a bad struggle, just, you know, I just said it, so I was working on a few things. It was hard to have confidence at first. But I think everything kind of built up, and I had a really good up and down on the front nine. So I think that kind of saved me, and I got some momentum going to the back nine.
Q. If this course dries out a little bit over the weekend, do we see fewer red numbers on the board? Today is your first day, but being soft it was scoreable, right?
I.K. KIM: Well, yes and no, because it plays definitely longer for me. I hit a lot of hybrids and long irons into the green. So I think you've got to take advantage on the par 5s. Then on the weekend I'm sure it's going to be the firmer, and you've got to be below the hole and there are the holes you can attack. So you've got to play smart.
If you play smart and you make some putts, I think you can have a good score, but it can be a difficult course.
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