Jeong Jang Interview

SS: Is the Pinx Cup in Japan this year?
JJ: Yeah, this year it's in Japan.
SS: Is it harder to play in Japan, or is it more fun?
JJ: Actually, I like to be in Korea because we have a lot of galleries. Better galleries. But in Japan, not really.
SS: Not many people watch (when it's in Japan)?
JJ: Not really, but everybody's cheering for Japan, not Korea! (laughs)
SS: Oh, I see…
JJ: <inaudible> or something.
SS: It also tends to be really cold during Pinx Cup, right?
JJ: It was really cold two years ago in Japan.
SS: Do you sometimes wonder if they should change the time, maybe… I guess that's the only time they can do it.
JJ: No, it's hard to do it during the season (?). <inaudible> You don't want to go there and play a two day tournament… I don't think that's a good idea. Better it be in the Winter.
SS: And you also went to the Women's World Cup of Golf.
JJ: Two years ago, yeah.
SS: In Africa.
JJ: In South Africa.
SS: With Meena again…
JJ: No, Bo Bae.
SS: Yes, Bo Bae (Song). Meena did it this year with Bo Bae.
JJ: Yes, Bo Bae. It was the first time, yeah.
SS: Did you know her at all before? She plays in Korea.
JJ: Yeah, she was at the Pinx Cup one time, and she was number one in Korea, so I know her, like… more than her. I had a good time. Kind of far. I decided that I don't want to go there (again), because I have to be in Winter training. That's in the middle of January. I don't want to go there when I'm doing Winter training. I went there the year before (in 2005), so maybe this time somebody (else) wants to go (laughs). Lot of players, not just me, I think, lot of players need to have a chance (to play). Lot of people (rather) than me can go; I'm not ready for that tournament.
SS: In January.
JJ: Right.
SS: So when you won the Korean Open, was that the point where you became famous or well known in Korea?
JJ: No… I think so, that tournament made everybody know me in Korea. But before that, many Korean tournaments, like when I was 15, I won three times, (including) the most important junior tournament in Korea. And I was on the National team already (by the time I won the Korean Open).
SS: Oh, and you were on the National team… OK. So the amateur golfers… are they somewhat well known in Korea?
JJ: Mm hmm!
SS: Cause in America, unless they are Michelle Wie, you don't really know the amateurs here.
JJ: You know, when I played junior tournaments in Korea, if I'd known they had amateur tournaments here, I would have wanted to play here, but I didn't know. I didn't know they had tournaments here. I didn't really know about the US when I was sixteen! (laughs)
SS: So you didn't come to the US until you went to (LPGA) Q-School?
JJ: Uh uh, not until I turned eighteen.
SS: Interesting…
JJ: I didn't even think about it when I was sixteen! (laughs)
SS: So, early in your (LPGA) career, you lost a playoff here (in Portland), to Mi Hyun Kim.
JJ: First year…
SS: Did you learn anything from that?
JJ: You know, simple thing: newspaper only think about winner! (laughs)
I think I really had a good time, my first year (on the LPGA tour). I (thought) that I need to be better, I need to have more strong mind.
SS: You think that was the difference? You weren't as mentally focused?
JJ: Yeah, the first time here, when I played the playoff, I was thinking, like, 'whatever'.
SS: Oh, really?
JJ: I'm just happy I'm here! (laughs) I don't care if I'm going to win, I'm going to be second, whatever. Because I Monday qualified at that tournament.
SS: Oh you did?
JJ: Yeah.
SS: So were you non-exempt in your rookie year?
JJ: Yeah, my first year. So I was real happy to be in the playoff. And, after the playoff, I was really disappointed I lost it. A couple hours later… I didn't really feel like I lost it right after the playoff, but a couple hours later, a couple days later, everyone (was) talking about me. And then I was like… (laughs)
SS: 'Darn! What happened?' (laughs)
JJ: So… the newspaper only thinks about winners, and so, I want to win! (laughs)

SS: Well, it took you a few more years to win, but then, at the British Open last year, you led that tournament start to finish. A lot of people win their first tournament when they come from behind, because they don't have as much pressure.
JJ: Right.
SS: Did you feel like you had a lot of pressure on you the whole week, or did you feel, boy, I'm playing great?
JJ: A lot of media guys asked me on Sunday, or on Saturday when I was done and had an interview, they asked me, are you really nervous playing with Annika (tomorrow)? And I said, no, I'm really nervous I'm leading the tournament, and I'm in the last group! I'm not really nervous playing with Annika because I played with her a couple times. So I was really, really nervous on Sunday. And I couldn't even sleep. I only slept I think maybe one or two hours. I was with my mom and dad that time, and I'm like, 'Mom! Knock me out or something!' (laughs) 'Do something! I'm so nervous!'
SS: 'Hit me on the head!' (laughs)
JJ: I made birdie on the first hole Sunday, and after that I forgot everything. I kept thinking about my (next) hole, and next hole.
SS: There was a real long putt you made…
JJ: First hole.
SS: No, I think it was the ninth hole or something.
JJ: Ninth hole.
SS: Did that make a big difference?
JJ: Ummmm, not really. It wasn't that time. I think 13 or 14 Sophie (Gustafson) started to catch up; I was nervous. (laughs) Wasn't really nervous before.
SS: You watched the leaderboard?
JJ: Uh huh.
SS: When I talked to Seon Hwa Lee she said, when she won at ShopRite, she didn't know she was in the lead until the last putt.
JJ: I can't do that. I can't do that. I really want to watch… if I didn't watch (the leaderboard), I couldn't play golf. (laughs) Because I really want… my mind's out there. I can't focus (on) my golf, because I really want to look! (laughs)

SS: (laughs) So, right after that, you went back to Korea, and it seems like you made about twenty public appearances… You were throwing baseballs out (at baseball games), you met a boxer…
JJ: I was kinda a movie star out there! (laughs)
SS: Yeah! All of a sudden, you were big news in Korea!
JJ: A lot of people asked me, did your life change after you (won)? I say, I think so! (laughs)
SS: (laughs)
JJ: 'Cause I think I know more (than I did) before. I think certainly my golf changed; I have a lot of confidence after that. I feel like I knew, I can do it now. So, a lot of things changed after winning.
SS: Was your favorite part of that (trip home) when you went to your high school? It seemed like you were having a great time!
JJ: I was surprised!
SS: Were you?
JJ: When I went to my high school, I was kind of… people were crazy, crazy, crazy! I don't even know them, but they know (me). And, like, really big cheering for me. So, it was really, really nice. That's like what I said, (their reaction was really) big Happy, that's why (I was happy). I was crying.
SS: Yeah, that was really sweet. And ever since then, you've played really well, pretty much most of the time, right? You almost won here (at Safeway) last year…
JJ: Yeah.
SS: I actually followed your group last year.
JJ: Really?
SS: Soo-Yun (Kang) didn't really give you much of a chance, but you played pretty well.
JJ: I think I played good first round, but I played bad(ly on) 18 (in the) first round. I was disappointed. I had a four putt.
SS: Oh, that's right! You had that really short four putt… Oh yeah!
JJ: Yeah, I was really disappointed about my first round last year.
SS: Well, I remember that on the 12th hole (in the final round), Kang's drive hit a tree and bounced back into the fairway. You must have thought, 'it's not my day'…
JJ: (laughs)