Minny Yeo: The Seoul Sisters Magazine
Exclusive Interview

SeoulSisters.com photo

SS: OK, I'll ask you just one more question. Do you have the goal of winning out here? Winning a lot? Or do you have the more immediate goal of getting some top tens first? Like, do you see it as sort of working your way up to a victory, or do you think you could go out there this week and win?

MY: OK, this is what I think. I know I can win. I'm good enough to be out here. And I want to win. And I will. I will; it's just a matter of time. And I'm going to win as many as I can. I'm not the kind of person (who thinks), 'yeah, this year I'm going to get a top 50, top 30, no I'm not. I know... how good I am. So I'm working on it mentally, trying to get relaxed and focused. So we'll see.

SS: It sure looks like you're going in the right direction. This has been your best season yet.

MY: So far! Let me put it this way. My parents, when I talk to them, they always say, 'Minny! Why do you play so bad?' You've been struggling the last three years, what's happened to you?' And I know I'm struggling, but I'm still playing this tour, LPGA, the biggest tour in the world. I'm still good enough to be out here. And I'm still struggling, so that's how good I am. So when I feel better, confident, good condition, you know? I'm going to... kill the field! (laughs).

SS: That's great! Thanks very much!

As it turned out, though, Minny wanted to talk a little more, so we did! We walked over to the putting green, where I intended to get a few photos of her. While we walked, the tape machine was off for much of the time. However, we still talked about several topics. One of our conversations was about Christina Kim. Minny told me that at an earlier tournament this year, there was a big photo montage of all the Korean players on tour in one of the hospitality tents. Christina was included, but she asked to be taken out, because she is American, not Korean. I thought that was wonderful on Christina's part; so many people in this country seem not to realize that people with Asian ancestry can be full blooded Americans. And with all the Korean players on tour, it can get a bit confusing at times who is from where.

We also talked briefly about the accusations that Korean players were not 'fan friendly' enough. I told her that I felt she was very friendly; she said that she makes a real effort to be so, because she would rather be a 'happy face' than a 'grumpy face'. I asked her if she felt if some Korean players were intimidated by speaking English, for fear of making mistakes. She replied that she felt there were some shy players who had that problem, but that she never did, because she feels that people understand she is 'still learning' and will thus cut her some slack.

Lastly, she told me the whereabouts of a couple of players I was curious about:

SS: Do you know what happened to Soo Young Kim? I haven't seen her in months.

MY: She got a knee injury. So she got a medical exemption for this season. And Ara went back to Korea, too.

SS: Ara Koh? Has she got an injury, too?

MY: She's got an injury right here (points to head). She lost so much confidence.

SS: Ah, yeah. She was a top player in Korea, wasn't she?

MY: Everybody here was a top player. I was the best amateur in Korea, too.

At this point we reached Minny's bag, and I went to take a few pictures of her. I thanked her for her time, and wished her the best of luck for the season. Unfortunately, she missed the cut in Portland, but she did have a good tournament the next week in Sacramento at the Longs Drugs Challenge. I hope she enjoys her time off this and learns to make some killer sushi!

Mi Hyun Kim and Ara Koh at the 2002 Canadian
Open