Read a transcript of the post-Round 1 interview with Ruoning Yin and Nick Taylor.
Read a transcript of the post-Round 1 interview with Ruoning Yin and Nick Taylor.
THE MODERATOR: How was day one playing together?
NICK TAYLOR: It was fun. Ruoning made a bunch of putts just to keep us in it and get us going, so birdieing the last seven holes is always a fun way to finish.
RUONING YIN: Yeah, Nick had a hole-out eagle and a lot of great shots, and I just told him, you’ve got to teach me how to hit a bunker shot.
THE MODERATOR: Playing together, what area and aspect of each other’s game do you admire the most from each other?
RUONING YIN: For Nick, it’s definitely his putting because the first hole I told him, okay, I’ll go first, I’ll show you the line and you make the putt, okay?
NICK TAYLOR: Tee to green, Ruoning is great. She made a bunch of putts today. She’s being nice. I didn’t have to putt a lot of times after she made a bunch of putts there.
She hit a lot of great drives that put us in good spots, so tomorrow’s alternate shot we’ve just got to keep doing the same thing.
THE MODERATOR: Playing with Brooke and Corey, also Canadians with Nick, did you feel some Canadian love with this grouping?
RUONING YIN: Oh, yeah, especially on first tee and last hole. The crowd was amazing.
Q. Nick, for both of you guys a breakthrough season. How special is it to finish it off with a fun event like this?
NICK TAYLOR: Yeah, it’s great that we’ve teamed up with the LPGA after almost 25 years now, so I’m really excited to be a part of this kind of inaugural restart of that, and to have a great year that I had, to cap it off with this is great. It’s awesome to play with Ruoning, who’s second in the world. I just kind of follow her wherever she goes, and today worked out great.
Q. How about for you, Ruoning?
RUONING YIN: This event means a lot just two tours and one competition and just — I think will bring inspiration for next generation, too. Also it’s a fun week. We’re just having fun here.
Q. For you specifically, how different are things now than a year ago at this time? Obviously you’ve had a couple of wins this year. How different is it looking back at this time last year to now see where you are?
RUONING YIN: I mean, last year compared to this year, I think the biggest difference is I’m more open to making friends, to social, and for me every week is like just play golf with friends.
Q. Ruoning, do you play much golf with the guys back in China? Is this a different experience for you?
RUONING YIN: Not really. This week is probably the first week I’ve seen — played with the PGA TOUR players. To be able to see them even just practice on the range, it’s a different feeling.
Q. Can you describe it, what it feels like?
RUONING YIN: Sounds different. Like they hit the ball so far, and it just sounds different, like high-quality shots.
Q. Are your nerves different this week than a typical week, or are you just treating it as fun?
RUONING YIN: We’re just having fun here. Obviously we want to win, but more important is fun.
Q. With one round under your belt, how much fun did you have and would you advocate for more events like this in the future after seeing what it’s like?
NICK TAYLOR: We had a great time today. The format today I think is probably the most stress free we’re going to play this entire week. But yeah, I think this is going to have great reviews, hopefully great viewership. It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s great to see the best on both sides competing together, so it’s been a lot of fun.
Q. Did you guys Google each other by chance?
NICK TAYLOR: I had watched Ruoning come up and win the major she had won earlier in the year, so I had known. David that’s on her bag caddied for me for a little stint a couple years ago, and then same short game coach, so I’ve known about Ruoning for a little bit, and when the opportunity came, I jumped on the opportunity to be able to play with her.
