Volume 1, Number 16 October 22, 2003
 

Minny Yeo: The Seoul Sisters Magazine
Exclusive Interview

 Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Minny Yeo on the practice range on Saturday
SeoulSisters.com photo

 

SS: Was this your first exempt year (on the LPGA)?

MY: Yeah. Uh huh.

SS: So that must have been nice, huh?

MY: But I know the Q-School... When I go to Q-School, I always think... uh, I'm gonna make it. There's something like 60 spots. A couple hundred people out there trying to get a spot. And I can try (not) to think about it, but I truly forget how good I am. So I just go out there and play. That's what I do.

SS: As one of the - don't take offense - as one of the older Korean players out here, do you feel a responsibility to help the younger ones when they come over?

MY: I do. I'm the kind of person who is very responsible. I've been through (something) just like them. When I see them, I can see (myself) when I was that age. I really want to try to help them out; if they ask me for advice or anything, I really help them out. But the problem is... they have really Korean ways. Especially the fathers. And I'm not saying anything bad, but this is the United States, not Korea. So I think they should do better out here. We've had so many problems already this time (she is talking about the Korean "cheating" scandal and the accusations that Korean players do not socialize well in pro-ams), and I noticed that (developing) from the beginning of the year, so I tried to set up a meeting and talk; let's get together. The players (parents) don't want to get together. The first meeting (we did have), two fathers stood up before (the meeting started, and said), 'Who are you (to call this meeting)? We don't care who you are!' They were going off on me.

SS: Wow.

MY: And I was just really trying to help. The Korean players (should) stick together. But (they said), 'Who are you? We don't care about you.' It was just awful.

SS: Oh, that's too bad...

MY: Yeah, it's too bad!

SS: Do you think there's been a little progress now (since the controversies)?

MY: It's going to take time, but I know one thing: all the players support me, support our team. So hopefully the parents... (affecting a jokey tone) step back. (laughs)

SS: (laughs) Yeah! So, how often are you in California? At home?

MY: Well, not often, actually. Sometimes I see my husband's face (once) every two months... sometimes three months.

Minny putts on hole 2 on Friday
SeoulSisters.com photo

Minny on Saturday
SeoulSisters.com photo

SS: Oh, man! Is that tough on you guys?

MY: Well, I'm getting used to it (laughs).

SS: Is he getting used to it?

MY: He's getting used to it, too, yeah. He was a tour player, too.

SS: Oh, he was?

MY: Yeah. So he understands what I'm doing. And especially when I'm struggling, he's the one who's always telling me to hang in there. Just giving me positive energy.

SS: Does he ever come to see you play?

MY: Oh, sometimes he comes out, but I can tell he's going to get a heart attack! (laughs).

SS: He's more nervous than you are?

MY: Oh yeah! I'm OK, but he's just so nervous. Every time I make bogey he leaves. He feels like he brings some pressure (to me) or something. But it's nothing.

 

SS: Right. I can understand that, it must be very hard (for him).... When I was talking to Christina Kim, she said, one of the things that made her nervous, because she wasn't used to it, was when the TV cameras would all of a sudden come and start following her. She tries to get miked for play and whatnot as often as she can so she gets more experience with that. Does it bother you when the TV cameras follow you? Are you used to it now?

MY: Well, actually, I'm working on it with my teacher, a doctor, psychologist, David Light (?), and he's been training me this last year to (tune) it out. Whatever bothers me, try to (tune) it out. So, I'm working on it.
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