Ji-hee Kim will defend her title at the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour’s Bank of Hope Match Play ($1.5 million purse). Ji-hee emphasizes fearlessness.
“The beauty of match play is that if you play fearlessly, it leads to good results,” said the defending champion at the defending championship press conference at Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, a day before the Bank of Hope Match Play begins on Thursday morning (ET). “Even (last year), if I made a mistake, I knew I could make up for it by being more aggressive. I feel more confident than in stroke play tournaments.”메이저사이트
Ji-hee defeated Ayaka Furue (JPN) in last year’s final to claim her sixth career LPGA Tour victory. Most notably, Ji-hee became the oldest South Korean player to win on the LPGA Tour at 36 years and 17 days old. “I have only good memories. I have high expectations. I still remember winning last year. I hope my luck continues this time and I play a good game,” she said. “I was happy to win, but it was very hard physically,” she said, adding, “You can only win match play if you have the physical strength. She praised herself for playing well. I also qualified for the US Women’s Open. It was rewarding,” she added.
Last year, Ji-hee tied on the 18th hole in the third match of the group stage and was able to reach the round of 16. “I have only good memories after reaching the round of 16, but I’m worried about the third round (of the group stage),” she said. “I think the mindset is different,” said the defending champion, explaining, “You have to think about how your opponent is playing, unlike stroke play, where you have to maintain a good score from the first day to all four days.”
Ji-hee will face Lynn Grant (SWE), Matilda Kastren (FIN), and Maddie Jurick (CAN) in her group, with Kastren coming up against her in the first round.