Read a transcript of the post-Round 2 interview with Tom Kim and Jenno Thitikul.
Read a transcript of the post-Round 2 interview with Tom Kim and Jenno Thitikul.
Q. Here with Tom Kim and Jeeno. I almost called you Jerry, but Team Tom and Jerry according to Jeeno, I know. Just tell us how the day’s been. You guys really hopped yourself up the leaderboard here.
JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, I mean, we really had fun today. I know like Tom just like 4 under should be good for the alternate shot, but I was like I don’t worry about alternate shot because I know that you’re going to hit it good. (Indiscernible) hole the putt, I guess.
But like I said, he hits really good today. He had like a foot putt for me and really short putt for me, easy putt, so that’s it.
TOM KIM: Yeah, obviously played really nicely today. Alternate shot is a very, very tricky format. You can go low as we did today but also can go the other way, too. You just have to you’ve just got to rely on putting your partner in a good spot. It’s just golf. Definitely I think both of us are feeling comfortable with each other. Definitely she’s gonna putt a lot today so I definitely did concentrate a little bit on putting my golf ball where she could make putts and I can only do so much, but she delivered.
Q. I was going to ask, how much does the chemistry that you guys have help with the format like alternate shot, like how much does you being friends help?
JEENO THITIKUL: I think it’s helped a lot. I think when I want to play a team format I really, really like, you know, serious about picking the partner because we know that we going to hit like alternate shot.
Then like Tom said, alternate’s really tricky like formats because you need to have the partner that you really comfortable with. Like today, when we both hit a bad shot, we not say sorry. Just like, your turn. That helps a lot. Then you just like can go aggressive.
Q. How much fun are you two guys having this week? Y’all are laughing, smiling, fist bumping more than seems like any other team out here, so what’s the fun like on the golf course been like?
TOM KIM: I think the big thing is we’ve known each or for such a long time so it’s just kind of normal golf. We’re not feeling any pressure towards one another, we’re just going out there and having fun.
I think the comfortability, it makes especially alternate shot so much easier. You definitely don’t want to feel uncomfortable putting your partner in a spot.
I think just President Cups, Ryder Cups, Solheim Cups, when you pair yourself up, stats play a role, but also just being comfortable with your partner is such a big thing.
Going into this week I now that alternate shot was actually going to be really good for us just because of our chemistry together and how long we’ve known each other.
Q. What were both of your reactions to that bunker shot on 16, probably one of the highlights of the week so far?
JEENO THITIKUL: Tom’s reaction is nice.
TOM KIM: I was like I’ve had enough, she’s done so much the whole day, capping off with a holeout over there. We made a bad decision with the ball flight we chose to put her there.
JEENO THITIKUL: Not we, you.
TOM KIM: I meant me and my caddie. Try to not take all the blame. Putting herself in a tricky spot. I was expecting I had to make a little nice 10footer coming back. When she made it, I told her as soon as she made it, I said I play with Scottie a lot and I don’t think Scottie could do that. No, she played awesome today.
Q. I just overheard your caddie Paul refer to you as Jeeno Woods because your game is so good. What is your reaction to that?
JEENO THITIKUL: Just I don’t think it’s just been like good all the time, they just like overreacting, said it, you know.
TOM KIM: We were deciding Jeeno Scheffler or Jeeno Woods and we decided obviously with 82 wins and 14 majors, she played like Tiger Woods today.
Q. So do you have matching outfits for tomorrow? How does who picks out the coordination?
JEENO THITIKUL: Definitely, definitely. I thought like all the like teams got to have like matchy matchy outfit, but I just found out that we’re the only team that’s matchy matchy out there. I thought like Tom didn’t pick my phone up last week because I think maybe wrong number, too.
TOM KIM: Wrong number.
JEENO THITIKUL: He changed his like phone number all the time. I don’t know why, but yeah. I just told the manager that, like can you call him and just tell him like to call me back, I’m going to start packing my outfit and can we just like matchy matchy? He’s the one who picking tomorrow. I picking yesterday and like today.
Q. Is it Sunday red?
TOM KIM: No, definitely not Sunday Red.
JEENO THITIKUL: Secret.
TOM KIM: I’m sure if you look at past photos, on Sundays I always wear the same color. I told her you can pick any other day, just allow me to wear my Sunday outfit.
