BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 27, 2021

Patty Tavatanakit

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Patty Tavatanakit, 2&1 two with one winner over Mi Hyang Lee. Start on the front nine. You jumped out to an early lead with a par on three and an eagle on four, and then Mi Hyang came back to make it all square when you made the turn. The early lead, was that kind of part of the game plan?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, you know, it's always nice to have that early lead in match play just to put yourself in a really good position and mindset that you still have a couple in store and still play a little bit more freely.

She played really solid. She is really good putter, so it was a really, really good match. I feel like we were always head-to-head with making clutch putts to win the hole or tie the hole, so it was a really good match. It took a lot out of me.

Q. Take us through the eagle on four.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I hit a really good drive and hit a really good 5-iron, too, so I got on the green and I didn't putt because she was already -- she hit one in the water, her first shot, so she conceded the hole.

But overall it was like I had to hit two good shots to be that position.

Q. So you would say that's probably the easiest eagle you've ever made.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Probably. (Laughter.)

Q. Then going to the back nine, kind of jumped off to another -- I guess when you guys reset, made the turn, you jumped out to another quick advantage with a par on 11 and a par on 13, and then just cruise control the rest of the way in. What was the back nine like? I see a couple --

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: -- doubles.

Q. Yeah, on 16 and 17. Obviously it's getting hot out there.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, it is getting hot and playing really tough and firm, so it was a little bit of a guess every time we have, you know, a shot into the hole. Like where do we want to land this? What is the wind doing? It's a tree-lined course. You don't really feel what's around you. The tree could manipulate what the true wind is doing, so you can't really know anything.

But I got a little nervous on 16, so I don't know why, like I rushed through my second shot. I didn't hit a good second shot. Hit it right, but it was straightforward 5-iron down the middle.

But I got the job done even though it was a little bit of a grind the last two holes.

Q. Just couple days into this now, do you feel a little bit more comfortable in a match play setting, or is it not something that you can get comfortable in easy?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I started like -- it's pretty much similar mindset as stroke play. If anything, you know, you don't have to stress about like making putts. Sometimes you just want to lag it up there and not wear yourself out mentally.

But if anything, I just feel like match play is a little different. And I don't know if I'm going to always be comfortable in that mindset, but I do want to win every match.

Q. Your competitor yesterday, Sarah Kemp is 2-up on Stacy Lewis. Looks like she'll go to 1-0-1 just like you. You put yourself in position to where if you play solid tomorrow you can advance to the round of 16, or a chance of a playoff. You do your job tomorrow, there is a good chance of good things to come. How exciting is it when you can put yourself in that position so you can focus on what you need to do and the rest will take care of itself?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, first things first, I need to go back and rest, because like the past two days has been in the heat, and with it course, how tough it is to walk, I feel like it took a lot out of me every single round.

But if anything, I'm really excited moving towards tomorrow. I knew today's match was important and I needed to win to have a chance to advance to round of 16. I got the job done and I'm pretty happy with where I am right now. Just got to keep doing -- pedaling tomorrow, not necessarily try to be anything else. Just play my own game and try to win tomorrow.