Q. What did you think
about after you came off your final round here today?
SO YEON RYU: Actually I was a little bit disappointed in
myself. I finished double bogey at
18. Actually 18 hole was pretty
inspiring hole for me because of Se Ri, but my makeup is a little bad, so I'm a
little sad now.
But it's pretty good
experience. How can I say? The course shape is beautiful this week and
it's really absolutely tough, though, and especially green is really
tough. But today I hit a lot of great
shots, but I missed a lot of putts, so I have to keep a lot of practice with
the putting. But I learned a lot of
things, and thanks for Kohler and Wisconsin, a lot of Chicago fans.
Q. And if you can't defend your U. S. Open
Championship, is it fitting that another South Korean, two of them right now,
are battling for that title?
SO YEON RYU: Yeah, in 1998 Se Ri won the U. S. Open
here. So I wish another Korean would win
again. And actually, before my goal was
to defend my title, but I couldn't. But
I'm still happy because it feels a little sad.
But still tied 15 is great result for me actually.
This week is pretty tough for me,
pretty ‑‑ a lot of tension for me.
Sometimes I couldn't control myself, but I think I learn a lot of
things.
Q. As a defending champion, is that just a lot
of pressure coming into an event like this?
SO YEON RYU: Yeah, I think always defending champion is
really tough, though. But I think I'm
just rookie on the LPGA Tour, so I think this moment I should learn a lot of
things. So it's just good studying for
me.
Q. If they hold on and win, either Amy or Na
Yeon, this would be four U. S. Opens in the last five years for a South Korean
golfer. But would this one have more
significance because it's here at this course?
SO YEON RYU: Yes.
Absolutely. So that's why I
really want to defend my title again.
Actually, Se Ri is our hero, and even the Korean golf story not started
here, but my generation feels like our golf history started here, especially I
play with Se Ri again 14 years later, and I really, really hope Korean girls
win again.
Q. How is this golf course viewed back
home? Do they see it as kind of a place
that's almost sacred, I guess?
SO YEON RYU: How can I say? Actually the fairways not narrow, were still
pretty wide, but feels like really afraid of it. I don't know why, but especially her 18,
before that's actually almost one month ago I went here. That's when it's just bunker, but now it fill
it up. It feels like a huge difference.
And I think even iron play is really
important this week. Actually my iron
play was pretty great this week, but I was a little bit disappointed in my
putter, putting. But anyway, the sacred
is just hit straight at the second shot.
Q. What about the 18th hole makes it such a
challenge, because I've been hearing players and seeing the numbers, that's one
of the harder holes. What about that
hole makes it so hard?
SO YEON RYU: Actually the hole, the fairway is right‑to‑left,
even the green slope is right‑to‑left, so ball kicks to the left. So left side is water hazard. Even around the green the landing spot is
really narrow. So that's why it's tough.
Q. Do you want to watch the rest of the tournament? What do you do now? Do you want to watch how it ends?
SO YEON RYU: First I should be packing. I'm going to go home and rest, but I want to
keep focusing on resort. It's on mobile
app. Or whatever. I'm pretty sure Korean
win again.