LPGA "The Standard Portland Classic" LPGA "The Standard Portland Classic" Interview with Minami Katsu and 9 other Japanese players (Part 2)

The Standard Portland Classic, a tournament on the LPGA Tour, will kick off on August 15th (Japan time) at Columbia Edgewater CC in Oregon, and will be broadcast and streamed live every day on WOWOW.

Previous victories at this tournament include Ayako Okamoto in 1986, Ai Miyazato in 2010, and Mika Miyazato in 2012. Nine Japanese players will be competing this year, including Minami Katsu, who placed second at this year's AIG Women's British Open, Reo Takeda, who placed fourth, as well as Akemi Iwai and her sister Chirei, and Hinako Shibuno. Ahead of the start of the tournament, they spoke about their enthusiasm in an interview with WOWOW. This will be presented in two parts.

◇Katsu Minami

-How did you spend the week after the AIG Women's British Open?

When I returned to Japan, I met a lot of people, went out to eat, and also went for some maintenance.

--How are you feeling physically this week, including jet lag?

I'm feeling a bit of jet lag. Also, I haven't played golf in a week, so it feels like I haven't touched a club.

--You played this course last year as well. What was your impression?

I don't have a bad impression of the course, so I'd like to aim for a high ranking, but there are many holes where it's a bit difficult to set up for the tee shot. The tee grounds are quite slanted, and there are some holes with jutting trees, so it looks narrow, and there are some places where it's a bit difficult to hit, so I'll have to be careful.

--This match turns into a birdie battle every year, but what do you think are the key points?

I think the key will be to get birdies on the long holes, or rather the par 5s, and there are also many short holes, so how many birdies I can get there will be key.

--The season is coming to an end, what are your goals for the season?

I played well two weeks ago, my seeding was confirmed, and I'm likely to play in the Asia Series (in October) and CME (the final tournament in November), so I think all I have to do now is go all out and aim for the win, and I'll do my best to just aim for that.

◇Yoshida Yuri

--It's been a week since the British Open, how have you been spending it?

When I returned to Japan, I practiced indoors because it was so hot.

-How much preparation have you done in terms of practice?

Since it was indoors, I was able to check the ball's trajectory and the numbers, and then adjust it to my own sense.I also tried out a putter that puts a line, so I think it was a week where I was able to check a lot of things.

-How have your shots felt so far this week?

I feel like I'm getting better day by day, and it's all about score making and management, but I'm getting closer to a much better situation, so I want to start by creating opportunities with my shots and playing smoothly and without stress.

--The season is nearing the end, what are your goals?

I want to play in the Asia Series (in October), so I hope I can move up a little bit in preparation for that.

-Finally, please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.

It feels like it's been a long time since I've been to America, and I'm able to play on such a nice course in such dry weather. My golf is improving, and everything feels positive, so I'm taking that as a positive. I think I've prepared well to play well, so I'll get some good rest and get ready again for tomorrow.

◇ Saki Baba

--You had a week off after the British Open. How did you spend it?

After that, we would come over here and do some shopping, and practice would start on Thursday.

How have you prepared for this week?

I got a new wedge this week, so I practiced my sense of distance with it, and also practiced my shots a little more.

-What are your impressions of this week's course?

It's a little narrow, and since I played in the UK, I had a strong impression of golf courses with lots of trees. Also, the greens seem to be a little harder than when I played my first round, so I feel like I'm still not quite used to it, and I'd like to start adjusting to it from tomorrow.

--This course feels like a birdie battle every year, but what do you think are the key points?

There were holes where about half the green was on a slope, and there weren't many places where the pin could be placed, so I used the slope to get close to the hole in those places. There were also some holes where the long shots were short, so I wanted to get birdies in those places.

--The season is nearing the end, what are your goals for the future?

I do have a goal, but up until now I've felt like if I think about it too much, it's been difficult for me to concentrate on this match or each individual game, so I think it would be best if I could just focus on this week's challenges without thinking about it too much and play the game properly.

◇ Yuna Nishimura

--It's been about a month since you last came back to America. How does it feel to be back here?

I'm really looking forward to it, and I've been able to refresh myself and practice a lot, so I'm happy to be back.

What preparations have you made leading up to this match?

I played one tournament in Japan, and my coach carried me around, and we talked a lot about how I was moving on the golf course and how I was feeling, so I got feedback from him and we practiced again, and that was a cycle. I was a bit worried about my shots, but I think they've improved a lot, and I think my golf level has gone up a notch.

-What is your impression of the course?

It's been two years since my last visit, and my biggest impression is that it's small, but I quite like the atmosphere of the course and the feel of the grass, so I hope I can play in a good atmosphere.

--I think this is a course where students improve each other every year, but what do you think are the key points?

There were a few par 5 holes that I could aim for, so I hope I can make sure I don't miss out on them.

--Please tell us your enthusiasm for this week.

I want to do my best to play my best golf on the course, and although there are important matches coming up from here, I hope to enjoy them as much as possible.

*The Standard Portland Classic will be broadcast live on WOWOW Live and WOWOW On Demand from midnight on the first (August 15th) and second (16th) days, from 7am on the third (17th), and from 5am on the final day (18th). WOWOW On Demand will also have a "Japanese Players Only Camera" that will focus on the play of Japanese players.