Amy Yang: Round 3 Interview

THE MODERATOR: Here with Amy Yang after her third round at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. What went into the day and how were you able to hold the lead that you have?

AMY YANG: I mentioned that I'm hitting balls really well out there last three rounds. Yeah, but most important thing was how committed I was on each shot.

Whenever or whatever I decide to hit, I try to not think about what's going to happen because it's very tight and playing tough out there.

I just when I decide to hit, okay, let's hit this little fade off the tee. There is no doubt anything else than just hit that shot. I think I did that pretty well all through the round.

Q. Is there a difference like maybe in feeling compared to CME versus being in contention for your first major championship?

AMY YANG: It's very -- I think it's pretty same. I get nervous out there as well. All I try to do is just stay in the moment, and it's just same thing every week.

Q. On the broadcast they make a big point of chasing a major is the reason you're still out there. Is that accurate?

AMY YANG: Yes.

Q. What would it mean to you to land a major after all these years on this tour?

AMY YANG: I mean, I grew up watching so many great players in the past, and I saw them winning all the major championships.

I dreamed about playing out here because of them. I work hard for this. It'll mean a lot, but we still got 18 more holes out there and that's a lot of golf left for major championship.

So just going to try to focus on each shot and just be patient, yeah.

Q. Is there one or two you remember, players that really inspired you when you were younger?

AMY YANG: I watched Seri, yeah.

Q. I remember at CME you and Jan had probably 20 people spraying champagne. This week have you all heard from some of those people? You're such a popular pairing on tour. Has it been fun to see some people support you guys?

AMY YANG: I mean, yeah, a lot of players and caddies told me that, you know, just go get it out there. I feel very fortunate and grateful to have all those friends out here.

Q. You talked at CME, you had that injury, thought it might be time to step away.

AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. To be playing this kind of golf, to win CME and playing like this here, did you expect to get a second life like you've had?

AMY YANG: No, no. Not during that injury and not just right after the injury as well.

But also beginning of the season I wasn't really playing well either, so I doubted a little bit.

But I try to just stay positive and keep working.

Q. Did the hard times make these moments mean more?

AMY YANG: Yeah, of course, yeah.

Q. You had a lot of success early in your career as a youngster. How do you deal with expectations differently now as a veteran?

AMY YANG: Yeah, definitely was a lot of pressure, but really nothing you can do other than you just do your best out here.

Yeah.

Q. Do you feel like you fly under the radar a little bit now?

AMY YANG: What's fly under the radar?

Q. You don't have as much attention and spotlight on you these days.

AMY YANG: Yeah. A little bit, yeah.

Q. How is playing in the final group different than just a typical Thursday or Friday round?

AMY YANG: Today?

Q. Yeah. How does it feel different today?

AMY YANG: I try to not think of it, but it does get into my head and I get nervous, really nervous out there, because it's getting closer to final round, yeah.

But just nothing -- it's nothing I can do than just embrace it, embrace the feeling and just being enjoy out there.

Q. How do you think tomorrow will feel?

AMY YANG: Tomorrow? Probably same, but just going to do the same things and see what's going to happen.

Q. I think you mentioned yesterday that your back was a little bit of an issue. How did you manage that today? Was it still a problem you had to deal with or get a little bit easier for you today?

AMY YANG: I still have a little bit of pain and tightness in there. I took some medicine and physio worked on, and it felt much better out there, yeah.

Q. You had the second place finishes in the U.S. Women's Open. What do you try to draw from that prior experience to take into tomorrow about being at the top of the leaderboard on a Sunday at a major?

AMY YANG: My mindset for tomorrow is just like today. Like I've been really -- I did really well. Just follow my decision, and be really disciplined about it.

And I'm not going to -- I'm just going to embrace the moment and not going to expect the result. Just see what's going to happen.

Q. How were the greens compared to yesterday afternoon? About the same? Softer?

AMY YANG: They were pretty similar. I felt a little softer than yesterday afternoon because I played quite late yesterday.

Related News