Minny Yeo: The Seoul Sisters Magazine
Exclusive Interview

Minny Yeo out on the course on Friday
SeoulSisters.com photo

SS: You went to a Professional Golfer's College. At that point, were you doing that because you knew you wanted to come out to the LPGA, or did you think maybe...?

MY: I wanted to play the LPGA tour, but before that I wanted to learn something about golf. So I decided to go to school. So I could learn about golf, plus I can learn English and I can go to college.

SS: You didn't speak English really well when you got over here?

MY: No, not really. (laughs)

SS: You speak it really well now!

MY: Well, I got better!

SS: Do you speak English at home (with your husband)?

MY: Well, he's very Americanized. He was here (in the States) when he was one year old. When I first met him he could not speak Korean.

SS: Really?

MY: And I treated him pretty bad. So he speaks full Korean now. But we speak English and Korean both, but when we fight... I speak Korean (laughs).

SS: (laughs) I'm sure you don't fight that much...

MY: Uh... Quite a lot (laughs).

SS: How do you make ends meet as a pro out here? Do you have sponsors? Do you play a lot of pro-ams?

MY: I have a clothing sponsor(ship) by Como, and I have a shoe (sponsorship) by Nike, and I can get balls from Callaway, but I don't have any major sponsorships.

SS: Do you have a (full time) coach? A caddie? Do you just get a caddie when you arrive at a tournament, or do you have a caddie you work with all the time?

MY: Well... actually I have Dennis, but I don't change caddies often. I get one caddie and keep working with him. He is my third caddie this year (however).

SS: I guess my question is.. do you find it hard to stay out here? Or do you have no problem making enough money to keep your career going?

Minny and her caddie
SeoulSisters.com photo

Minny belts one off the tee
SeoulSisters.com photo

MY: Well, this is my fourth year. I've been really struggling the last three years and even in the beginning of this season. And I know my game is there, but I couldn't figure out what's wrong with me. And I just couldn't support myself; I couldn't make enough money. And I just kept thinking, 'what am I missing?' What I was missing was confidence. And I know I'm good enough to be out here, but I was just so... afraid. Afraid of everything. Afraid of... am I going to make Q-School? What am I going to do (when I) miss Ted... all negative things.

SS: Right...

MY: You know, I'm sure a lot of players feel the same way. But if they can get through that they can be out here a long time. But I figured it out... finally!

SS: Yeah, the last few weeks you've done really well! (she came into the Safeway tournament off of two consecutive top 40 finishes).

MY: Getting better, because I've figured it out!

SS: You did have a couple of tournaments where you did really well (in the first round)...

MY: First place? (laughs)

SS: Yeah!

MY: And then the second round was not so good...

SS: I was especially amazed at the Sybase, I think it was.

MY: Last year. And then I played really well in Youngstown (at the Giant Eagle).

SS: Yes, I think you were in the lead after one round.

MY: Yeah.

SS: What do you do when you're in that situation to try to keep your focus?

MY: You know what, actually, I just go out there and play golf. And I don't realize I'm leading the tournament. And the next day I had so much pressure. It's just a learning process. I have to keep (encountering) the same situations so I can get over it. Last year, I missed the cut at the Sybase. The first day I played (really well). Then the second day I had so much pressure, and people following me... I've played long enough to get through it, but I didn't have that kind of situation before in this country, and I missed the cut. I called my husband and I cried so bad. Like a baby. I felt like I was wasting my time here. I felt like I was messing up, just mentally. And... this year I made the cut, actually. I finished like 30th or something, but I'm learning. I learned a lot from last year, it was so much pain... but I know how to make it through. So everything takes time. So it's painful, but (just) a matter of time.