HONDA LPGA THAILAND

May 9, 2021

Ariya Jutanugarn

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the Honda LPGA Thailand virtual media center. Here with the winner of the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand Ariya Jutanugarn. It's been a few minutes since your win. Just overall how does it feel to lift the trophy once again on the LPGA Tour?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Well, it's feel great to be able to win a tournament again. It's feel even more great to be able to win in Thailand.

So didn't expect to win the tournament at all because I feel I have pretty tough last few days.

Q. What was the mindset for you as you started this final round today?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: You know, before the round I call Pia and Lynn, and today is Pia's birthday, and I talked to them and I'm like, you know, I hit my iron like everywhere. I miss the putt.

I mean, I feel like so tough for me. What should I do? They're just like, How about you just go out, have good commitment, and not thinking about the outcome. So can you do that for my birthday present? Okay, I will try harder.

And you know, I think first round in the last two years I play without thinking about the outcome. All I want to do is have good commitment, making sure I'm proud of shot I hit.

Q. You had a phenomenal front nine, closing out in a 30. When did you finally feel it start picking up for you?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I want to say honestly after first hole, because, you know, like the green is pretty narrow 1st hole, and normally I'm going to be struggle to hit it on the green because I not really have good commit.

I'm thinking about miss the shot, but somehow today I'm not thinking about miss the shot and I hit it so good on the green, two-putt, birdie. And second hole I miss my second shot and make long putt, and third hole I hit it like this close. I'm like, you know what, today is going to be good day because I just have to keep do what I have to do, keep commitment. Keep have good commitment, and it's pretty good.

Q. Shot of day on the 18th hole there.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I miss the putt. (Laughing.)

Q. Take me through that 18th hole.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I will say on 18 hole I have so much thing going on, something like in my head about like 2013 when I made 8, whatever.

Before I hit the shot I told myself, you know what, even when I made bogey, miss the tee shot, whatever, just do your best and whatever happen, I can take it.

So I decide to hit it so hard, 3-wood in the fairway; hit so hard 5-iron and pin high.

Q. Pin high, and afterwards there was quite the delay that we had because of lightning. What did it feel like waiting out there on the putting green?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: It's so tough. You know, I grab my phone and I look at my caddie and I'm like, I shouldn't turn on my phone, right? He's like, No, don't turn on your phone.

So I walk to the range and I just want to sit down and don't want to see anyone much. And Mo, my sister, hanging out with me. I just like listening to music and that's all I did.

Q. When you heard the cheers after what happened on the 18th, it was quite emotional for you on the putting green. I saw you drop down there. What were the emotions that just flooded through you at that moment?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: On the putting green I wanted to watch how they play so bad. I want to know because I feel like I have to go playoff anyway, but my caddie stop me by doing that.

He's like, You watch or you not watching them play the result not going to change. How about you just putt and practice? And I'm like, Okay, I do it. So I putt, keep putt, and he walk to me and give me a hug, so like, oh, I win the tournament.

Q. You have spoken for so long about how important it is to you to be a role model to the kids in Thailand. What does it mean to you to be an inspiration to them, to be the first Thai player to win this tournament?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: It just feels so good, not only for Thai player to win, but I would say I have really tough time last two years. I'm thinking about like, you know, I don't know how many time I told my psychology, like, you know, what I want to rest, no more. I want to stop for a while.

Every time when I look at all the kids and I want them to -- give them inspiration. So I feel like you know what, don't give up. Do your best. Try harder. Keep trying. One day you will get it.

Q. What was the closest point to you walking away?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Oh, I will say last year. You know, but I like to complain a lot so I keep saying, I'm done, I'm done, I want to stop playing, but I'm just saying that.

I feel like I have really good team around me. I mean, they believe in me more than I believe in myself.

Q. What does it mean -- sorry.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: No, nothing.

Q. What does it mean to you to have that team around you and have them continually believe in you?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I would say without them I'm not who I am right now. Because how many time I just want to like stop and I feel like so tough for me, but they -- like Pia and Lynn told me this morning, I want you to believe in yourself at the same level like they believing in me.

So that just mean so much to me. After I talk to them I feel like I just come back and believe in myself, and one day I'm going to get what I want.

Q. You mentioned the last couple days were tough. What in particular was tough?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I would say before the week I was struggle. I feel like I hit my tee shot so good but my iron kind of like go everywhere and I made lots of putt.

So I felt like, you know what, to be able to play well you need to have everything. Like you need to hit good iron, you need to putt well, and that why I'm so stress.

The only thing I can hit is tee shot. How I'm going to play well on this course.

Q. After you won you and Atthaya hugged. What did you tell her?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: To me she's amazing, like the way she played and the way she handle everything. Honestly, I feel like she deserve to win this tournament the way she play and the way she handle all the pressure.

So I just tell her like, Great job, I'm so proud of her, and keep fight; your career is so bright.

Q. I just have to ask, what did it mean to be able to win in front of your sister, in front of Thai fans, in front of your family here in your home country's biggest tournament?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I would say this mean the world to me, because after 2013, one of my biggest dream is to be able to win in Thailand, and I did.

So thank you for all the fans who really give me like full support. It's mean so much to me. I will say this win is for you guys. Thank you.

Q. A win like this definitely is a confidence boost as we head into the remainder of the LPGA Tour season. What does your upcoming schedule look like?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Right now I plan to play everything. Yep.

Q. Everything?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yeah.

Q. Do you think that helps keeping the momentum going?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: You know, soon as next tournament come it's just new week. I just still have to keep working on the same stuff. Of course I feel much better, but I still have so much thing to improve.

Q. You mentioned not giving up and how important it is to you and the kids to not give up. What would you tell the kids who might be thinking about giving up after what you accomplished this week?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Of course when we have a tough time we sometime we thinking about giving up, but at the same time, if your goal is big enough I think you're not going to give up. Just be patient with it and believing in yourself. And the timing of life is different. Just not compare yourself to others. Don't keep telling why they playing so good, why they win a tournament, but like myself I'm still not playing well.

Just do your best, and one day your turn is going to come.