Yuxin Lin 最終日 ６５ 優勝
]アジア太平洋アマチュア選手権 中国勢 圧巻の一位から３位まで独占
優勝のyuxin lin 選手は、１８番 イーグルで逆転優勝、来年のマスターズ招待、全英オープン招待の切符を手に入れた。アジアンアマの実力は、急速展開で、中国、韓国、オーストラリア、ニュージランドなど欧米に劣らぬ進歩を遂げている。日本勢の実力と相当に差があるのは否めない。アジアン太平洋アマ選手権で、松山英樹が一挙に世界のスターダムに上がったのは、５年前である。ただ、松山に続くアマチュアが日本にはいない。実にゴルフの層が軽すぎるのは、なぜだろう。記者は、日本のゴルフ事情からくる甘さが、ぬるさが、底辺に流れていると考える。日本のゴルフ組織があまりにも、近代的進歩から、取り残されて融通性に欠ける凝固がみられ、アジア他、世界に差をつけられたのだ。一度、すべて解散をして、新しく出直すだけの器量が日本にあるか、どうかだ。このままでは、オリンピックを控えているにも関わらづ、日本のゴルフは、マイナーのサークルから抜け出せるだけの柔軟性がない。
以下、インタビュールームにおけるMike Woodcock の挨拶と優勝者のユウシンリンの応答である。
29 October 2017
YUXIN LIN
2017 ASIA-PACIFIC AMATEUR CHAMPION
69-67-69-65 (14-Under Total)
MIKE WOODCOCK: Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship Champion, Yuxin Lin, to the interview room.
Yuxin, that was a tremendous performance today. Can you talk us through what it means to win this championship and secure a place in the Masters and in The Open?
YUXIN LIN: It definitely meant a lot to me, especially to play the Masters and The Open next year. It's definitely a great experience.
MIKE WOODCOCK: And you had a tremendous battle this afternoon with Andy Zhang. Andy played very well, but your great finish obviously took you ahead.
YUXIN LIN: Yeah, Andy played really solid today. Hadn't made like a single mistake before 15. Mainly his iron shots were really good. Made a lot of putts.
I actually felt it might not be my day today, but I was pretty happy with the finish.
MIKE WOODCOCK: How did you manage to stick in and deal with that pressure?
YUXIN LIN: I was just trying to stay aggressive. Hit like as many drivers as I can throughout the round, even though I was not hitting it that well for the first 12 holes, but I still stick with that plan.
Q. Curious about the great shot on 18. How far did you have into the green and what iron did you hit into the green?
YUXIN LIN: Oh, I hit a 5-iron. It's 216 to the pin. I was going to hit like a 4 because I thought it's a bit into the wind, but I felt like it might roll over the green if I hit a 4 -- I just hit a 5. Like a really solid 5.
Q. Did you know how good it was as soon as you hit it?
YUXIN LIN: Yeah.
Q. I heard you sort of saying on TV, mouthing, "Go, go."
YUXIN LIN: Yeah, I thought it was a bit short, but it turns out it's pretty good (laughter).
Q. You were both level at hole 17. Did you make a deliberate attempt to push on and win? That was an amazing drive at 17?
YUXIN LIN: Yeah, I was definitely trying to drive it on the green on 17 to put some pressure on Andy. Hit a really good drive. Hit it to like pin-high. So, I was pretty satisfied.
Q. At which stage did you think you had won the tournament? Were you happy once you hit the fairway on 18? Were you confident?
YUXIN LIN: No. I was feeling that I might win it on 14, the drivable par 4. When I hit that shot from the bunker. It was actually a pretty tough bunker shot, but I hit it to like a foot or something.
After that shot, I thought I might actually win this tournament.
Q. Similar question to the previous gentleman. Had you used driver on 17 on the previous three days, and if not, why did you take driver today on the 17th?
YUXIN LIN: Yeah, I hit driver for all four days, and also practice rounds because I knew I can actually reach that green. It's only like 335 to the front.
If I make like a decent contact, it will definitely go on the green.
Q. So you didn't do it to put pressure on Andy?
YUXIN LIN: No, not to put pressure. I was just trying to stick to my plan.
Q. You didn't have a very good start, especially you couldn't hit many fairways. At one point you were two strokes behind. Is there anything changing your mind, and what did you think about it?
YUXIN LIN: I was just trying to play the best golf that I can and stay patient. Try not to leave like any regrets after the tournament, even if I lost.
Q. You got that birdie on the 17th, and then the 18th, the par 5, you have a lot of advantage on that long hole. Is that the point where you think you're going to win this tournament?
YUXIN LIN: I hit that shot on 18 and I felt it's really good and I think I'm definitely going to win the tournament after that tee shot.
Q. You didn't look very excited even after winning.
YUXIN LIN: Yeah, I feel good, but like -- no, it's okay.
Q. Andy Zhang did very well today and put pressure on you. You were two strokes back at some point, but you finished very well with two birdies and one eagle, and even broke the course record. How did you manage to do it?
YUXIN LIN: Right from the beginning, Andy was on fire. I knew he was going to play very well today. He's not an aggressive player but he is very steady and consistent, so I got a lot of birdie chances with his own plan.
Me, like I have to stay aggressive so I can get more chances to make more birdies.
Q. You are going to be able to have invitations to play at the Masters and also go play at The Open Championship. So, now, think about that, the rewards that you're going to have. What's going through in your mind right now?
YUXIN LIN: I'm very, very, very happy about I can get a chance to play these two majors. I'm actually very proud of myself to be able to do it.
For next year, I think I will just try to enjoy as much as possible.
Q. I'm curious where you learned your English and learned to speak it so well, living up in Beijing and growing up in Beijing and not like Andy playing and living in the States for so long.
YUXIN LIN: So, I actually went to an American school when I was in fourth grade. So, I studied basically just all English for like five years. I think that's probably the reason why I'm speaking fluent English.
Q. You told us the other day about your albatross in Macau. Which is better: The albatross in Macau or the eagle here?
YUXIN LIN: Of course, being the Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion is way better than the albatross. The albatross doesn't mean anything.
Q. Have you spoken to Jin or to Guan about driving down Magnolia Lane, and also, Carnoustie, what do you know about Carnoustie?
YUXIN LIN: No, I haven't talked to them, but I'll probably have a conversation tonight about it.
Q. And what do you know about Carnoustie?
YUXIN LIN: I think it's pretty windy. I'll practice some stingers with my 2-iron, driver.
MIKE WOODCOCK: Have you played links golf before at all?
YUXIN LIN: No.
Q. I take it this was your first time in New Zealand. How did you enjoy the whole experience and the course?
YUXIN LIN: It's actually my second time. I was here when I was pretty little just for vacation, holiday. I actually like it very much over here. New Zealand has lots of beautiful views.
Also, the course, it's in really good shape. The greens are pretty firm and the fairways are pretty good, as well.
Q. I'm hearing you may receive an invitation to the New Zealand Open, which is in March. Would you consider coming back?
YUXIN LIN: I will definitely come back for the New Zealand Open next year. It's a really good experience and practice for me to play like big events, like big, professional events.
Q. Just curious about the relationship with your coach in America, Boyd Summerhays. How does that work? You do stuff by video?
YUXIN LIN: So we do like lots of online, so like video, video lessons. I'll go to the States in the summer and winter for like a month or so, just for coaching. So, I'm just working with Boyd for two months and all the others are just online.
Q. So how many years have you been working with him?
YUXIN LIN: This is actually the first year.
Q. So you've seen him for two months?
YUXIN LIN: Yeah.
Q. And just a little bit about your family history. Your father, what does he do for work?
YUXIN LIN: He actually owns a clothing company.
Q. And what type of clothing?
YUXIN LIN: Just fashion. Not sure.
Q. Just tell us a little bit about your background. How long have you been playing this game?
YUXIN LIN: I've been playing golf since I was six, so 11 years.
Q. Were your parents golfers?
YUXIN LIN: My dad, he plays a lot of golf, even though he's not a good player. But yeah, he took me to the range when I was like six.
MIKE WOODCOCK: Yuxin Lin, congratulations again on your win. We all enjoyed watching you this week, and I'm sure we'll look forward to
