HONDA LPGA THAILAND

May 5, 2021

Patty Tavatanakit

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the virtual media center for the last press conference of the day with Patty Tavatanakit.

Welcome back to Thailand, Patty, how are you feeling?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I'm good. It's a little bit hot, if anything. A little bit different from last week as we're kind of in the hills, a little bit more muggy.

But it's nice to be back home. It's nice to eat like authentic Thai food.

Q. What is a food that you've been waiting to eat when you come back here?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Well, I'm waiting. I don't know if like they would be able to get it for me, but it's something that you don't usually find in menus in restaurants. It's called (indiscernible).

Q. Okay.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: We been eating a lot. Just had green curry today. It's amazing.

Q. I know the mango sticky rice is a favorite of a lot of people that visit this tournament. Is it a favorite of yours?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I'm just trying to cut on sugar.

Q. That does it.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: But I do love mango.

Q. I feel like you had this event circled on your calendar for quite sometime; would you agree?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Looking forward to?

Q. Yes.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: You know, just looking forward to have fun out there. I'm really glad to be back here again. Got 18 holes in within the two days, and everything just -- I mean, the course fits my eyes a little differently.

Last time I was here I was young and obviously have a different game now. I really like the course. It's in great conditions and just good vibes going on with people around me and the whole crew.

Q. When is the last time that you were able to participate here at Siam Country Club. I think it was 2015, 2016.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think, yeah, '16.

Q. 2014 or -- it was a couple years ago I would say, five, six years ago. What do you remember most about the way you played then and how you were an amateur facing other LPGA Tour professionals?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: You know, looking back my game was a lot different. Like I was walking down the course and I was just looking back and like, man, that was in play but now it's just like it's not even like -- you know, that doesn't bother me anymore.

Like a lot of stuff, bunkers, a lot of clubs, a lot of the holes, I just feel like I play a little differently now or I see the course differently.

I just feel like I matured in the game of, you know, golf a little bit more, and then since I just looked at everything differently.

Q. This tournament has been around for quite sometime here in Thailand. As a young up-and-coming player yourself, how much do you think this tournament has had an impact on Thai golf?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think it's huge. You know, I grew up watching this event, grew up coming here and watching way back when Suzann won, when Lorena Ochoa won. Just I was inspired here at this tournament and grew up watching golf and looked up to a lot of the pros out here at this event. Everything started right here, so it means a lot to me to come back and play as a professional.

Q. We talked about it last week, that it just probably means more coming back as a major champion yourself. How much does that feel on you being able to return to your home country now is a major champion?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Well, it's an honor to have that title after my name, a major champion. A lot of people strive and dream of that, and I feel like it is a dream come true to be one.

But, again, like I don't want to label that or just kind of make it who I am because it's just a title. I feel like golf itself, it's a lot of ups and downs and you're not going to play well every single week, you're not going to play bad every single week.

I'm just going to take it week by week and day by day.

Q. You've had some great spurts since your win, but also last week at Singapore your T2nd finish after a crazy final day. What did you take away from that final round and also your play in Singapore in general?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I feel like last week I was just so happy to be back in Asia. Like even though we can't really explore, I still enjoy just being around like Asian people and just the course is in amazing shape.

It was just good vibes going on and took care of us really good, so I was just like really happy. And each day I wake up feeling better from the jet lag, so I guess the last round was the best I felt.

Q. How much do you think it prepared you for this week with the conditions that we have coming through?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Definitely the heat, you know, it's been really hot, and I just feel like last week prepared me to come this week. The course obviously played differently. Like you're going to have to treat it one week at a time like you always do.

And then just focus on my process goal.

Q. And your goal for this week? What do you think it would be?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I just want to have fun. I want to play well here, and I feel like I know the course pretty well because I played here so many times.

But I'm not trying to like put a lot of pressure on myself because I know that will sabotages a lot of things mentally and physically, too. You get tired just being so mentally drained and like wanting to do so well.

I'm not going to force birdies. Just going to play my own game and hopefully putts drop.

Q. One of the things you told me last week was that ever since ANA you've felt very confident in your game. The way you played in Singapore, did that reinforce the confidence in your ability at this point?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Definitely. I feel like every course I go to now I see it differently and I see my way around it. I play -- if anything, I play smarter and not like conservative. You know, if I need to go for it, I'll go for it, but I feel like my confidence level just go up after ANA, and I feel like I just got to keep on pedaling. It's still a long year, a long season ahead, and I really want to do well.

I want to finish the year really strong.

Q. You mentioned being a young girl watching this tournament growing up. Now coming back here as a major champion, what does it mean to be a role model to young girls like you used to be watching this tournament?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think it means a lot just because I was in their footsteps just trying to make it out here. You know, I'll try to be the best role model I can be, and just, it means a lot to be able to walk up from down there to up here.

It takes a lot, but it's a great feeling.

Q. Is there any added stress being the top Thai player in the world for you, at this tournament in particular?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: A little bit, but I kind of put that aside when I'm on the golf course. I'm not trying to make that who I am. Not trying to make that my identity.

Just, I mean, it's golf. Like life, there is ups and downs and you're not always going to be perfect.

Q. Two more English questions for you. How disappointed are you that we can't go out and see some of the friends? I know you were talking with me earlier that some have already texted you.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, that is disappointing. Just like Singapore, you can't really go out and it's such a great place. I want to see my family, I want to see my friends. I haven't seen my best friend for two years. It's just still tough time. I just feel like that, little bit kind of looked at it in different perspective. Like I'm here to work, not here on vacation.

So if anything, I'm more focused on the week more than anything.

Q. That's a good way to put it. In your opinion, after the last 18 holes that you were able to practice over the last two days, what hole do you think will help decide the tournament? Is there a hole in particular you think you'll have to strategize more?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I mean, I don't know how to answer that question. You have to kind of have a game plan every single hole. There is nothing specific about each hole where I have to be more careful about it or be more cautious.

I feel like if I stick to my game plan and just keep executing, I'll be fine.

Q. I know Amy Yang was in here earlier and said that it was just a little soft out there maybe from the last couple years. Is that something that goes into the preparation?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I feel like strategy-wise, you got to land it a little further up.