Christina Kim: The Seoul Sisters Magazine
Exclusive Interview (continued)

SS: Would you ever think of doing that as a career? Maybe being a commentator or something after your golf career is over?

CK: You know, first of all, I don't know if I'll ever be done golfing.

SS: That's the spirit!

CK: And secondly, I was in the production booth for one tournament a couple of weeks ago...

SS: I remember that.

CK: Yeah, my God, it's like looking into that wall right there with all those screens. There are just dozens of screens that you have to look at. You got one guy yelling in your ear, 'Who's hitting now? What shot is she hitting? What club?' It was like, Oh My God! You gotta talk to the scorers, you gotta talk to the guys who are actually commentating, and then you gotta switch back and forth... I'm just happy hitting balls! (laughs) It's a little too much for me I think.

SS: Would you ever consider doing something like 'Playing Lessons With the Pros' or 'Golf Talk Live'?

CK: Well... 'Golf Talk Live' I would do. Things like 'Playing Lessons With the Pros'... I have no idea how I hit the ball! It's more my dad, you know? He taught me in such a way that it's more muscle memory, it's more instinctive, automatic... Oh, I know the shot, OK, hit it. I don't... I try not to complicate things. 'Golf Talk Live': that would be fun, to be honest with you. I would love to do one of those things, but (I'm the) one person they don't want to do that with! If it's live, we have no idea what's coming out of her mouth!

CK: I speak un poquito Korean.

SS: That doesn't sound like Korean! (laughs)

CK: (laughs) I speak more Spanish than Korean... But I know more French than Spanish. I can understand Korean, it's just that I have a hard time getting the words out of me. I mean, I know the words, I do know how to say them, I guess there's just the fear of me messing up because I'm somewhat of a perfectionist, I guess you could say. It's hard for me to learn to speak Korean, because sometimes I don't know if I'm saying it right, and they are people of my homeland, they'll be like, 'Oh! You're not Korean!' But I haven't talked to many of the Korean media (members) lately; I haven't talked to any media lately, actually. To be honest with you, it's sort of hard to say (how popular I am), because in Korea most people know me by my Korean name, which is Kim Cho Rong, while most Americans know me by 'Christina'... I really don't think I'm that popular out there, just because they're like, 'Kim Cho Rong, an American'... I don't know, I really don't know how popular I am out there.

CK: I know, I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it! Yow!

SS: (laughs) So when you were watching that, were you just constantly thinking, 'Yeah, I could do that...', or were you thinking, 'Oh my God, that's so much pressure!'

CK: Oh no! I would kill to get a chance like that! I would... kill...(laughs) I was watching the (Solheim) points the whole season, and I'm like, 'Ach! I've got only enough points because I only have one top ten', and they go by top ten points...

Christina practices her putting on Saturday
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SS: They (the other players) also had the last two seasons (to accumulate points)...

CK: The last two seasons...

SS: You only played one season, so you're really at a disadvantage there.

CK: Yeah. So this (time) I get all next year, so it will prep me for the one in 2005. And plus it's in America at Crooked Stick, so you can get all the Americans rallying behind you... The Solheim Cup is very special, and it's something I would definitely look forward to playing in.

SS: Was there ever a consideration of (your) going to college? Perhaps trying to get a scholarship?

CK: Oh yeah! Oh yeah! I was actually thinking about that. You know, people always thought that it was rather sudden for me to say, 'Oh, I want to turn pro when I turn 18! See ya! Not going to college!' But I had actually been thinking about that, because like I said before I knew what the LPGA was pretty well when I was 16, and then going into it more when I was getting closer and closer to the age of where schools are scouting you and this and that...

CK: I got lots of letters, and got some offers, but... by the time all the good schools had sent out all their letters, I pretty much knew that I wasn't going to go. I spent a good seven months thinking about it on my own; I didn't tell anybody, because I didn't want them to say, 'What are you thinking (that) you're going to go straight to the pros? You're not good enough!' or something like that.

SS: What did your father say about it?

CK: My dad was... He thinks it's his idea! (laughs) He's backed me up the whole way. He thought, 'this is the right chance for you'. Because I went from being 73, 74 when I was 15, to under par at 16, and better at 17. So I was going at a fast pace, and my dad was like, 'I have no idea when she's going to stop'... But anyway, he thought this was the right time for me. And partly, it's like, I can go to school any time. There are actually a couple of girls I've talked to that went back to school, and they're out on tour right now.

SS: Grace (Park) just got a degree through correspondence...

CK: All right!

CK: Neato!

SS: So it's doable.

CK: Without a doubt. So, I've thought about it, but in the end, I'm not really one to take risks like that. You never know what'll happen in the next couple of years. It was just the right time for me to go now.

SS: Plus, the way all these younger kids are coming out, you'd be 22 and they'll all be 16 to 18...

CK: I know!

She's not sure why that putt didn't go in!
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