GAINBRIDGE LPGA

February 25, 2021

Patty Tavatanakit

Lake Nona Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Patty Tavatanakit. Again, just under par is kind of rare this morning. We've got the lowest is 4; you end at 3. What was working so well for you out there today?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I just been hitting consistently good ever since the past three, four weeks during the off-season. Just been doing that, and I think go to the wider side of the green and hopefully the putt goes in.

Fortunately it dropped here and there this morning, so it was really good, yeah.

Q. I know you're a member of a sister club, but have you ever played here before this tournament?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yes, I have. Oh, this tournament? Last year, yes. I played down in Boca.

Q. Have you played at Lake Nona before this tournament?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yes, I have played at Lake Nona before. I played probably three times prior to this tournament. It's a great course. Isleworth is kind of similar, but we do have more sloping greens out there and a little bit longer course, so I been getting a lot of the practice there.

Q. What have you noticed about Lake Nona that suits well for your game? I know you threw in a couple birdies there today.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It's a long hitter's course I think. I mean, if you hit it long anywhere you have an advantage, but the fairways are kind of wide and it's forgivable, like not too narrow.

I would say positioning is really important, and I feel like I played here enough to know where to go or not to go.

Q. It's interesting, because you just recently moved to this Orlando area from where you were in California. What was that move like for you?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah. It was -- well, it was tough like moving kind of further away from home, Thailand, where I was from.

But, you know, it's for golf. It's for my career. It's for the better. There is a lot of good resources around here. I've been getting a lot good help from my coach. He's over at Isleworth as well.

I've been physically working out and trying to get ready for the season with Dr. Brendan McLaughlin and (indiscernible - wind) and it's been really good. There is a lot of really nice people around here and good resources. I'm just really thankful to be around them this off-season.

Q. It's interesting also, because of COVID you are still technically a rookie here on the LPGA Tour. But we were just talking. You don't feel like a rookie anymore.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: No, I don't. I feel like I took it really hard on me last year. Just traveling and doing everything alone during the pandemic really, really hit me hard and brings me to somewhat not good places and good places. I learned from that and I feel like that made me a lot stronger, and I don't feel like a rookie at all.

I feel like I've been out here and I know what can I do out here and what to do to try to be the best player I can be.

Q. I feel like 2020 was nothing like anyone expected, especially with the COVID curve balls. I know you just said you had to dive deep at some places and get through some of the obstacles mentally as well. How are you feeling mentally, physically as you start a brand new season here at Gainbridge?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It's been light. I would say it's been really light ever since off-season. I took my time off from golf pretty good, got away, you know, find my passion again.

Just have a stronger mindset for this year and just make sure and keep telling myself that everything will be okay.

Q. And before we end today, I know Annika in the field is one of the biggest storylines of this week. Have you been able to catch her on the range, on the course? Have you talked to her at all? I know you have been through her ANNIKA Foundation events as well.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yes, I talked to her. I won her college event up in Minnesota, and that was probably the most memorable event for me. I played my first college event there as well. I finished second, and then coming out the second year I won it and it was memorable. She always is a good role model in the game of golf, and I'm really glad she's in the field playing with all of us. Feels like a Tiger feeling a little bit. But, you know.