BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 29, 2021

Ariya Jutanugarn

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. Ariya, you gutted through today. Looked like you were really struggling out there physically. What was going on with your body?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Actually I was just role model tired. Didn't sleep well last night, so well tired right now.

Q. Were you drinking enough water? Is it dehydration?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I enthusiasm I drink lots of water. Yeah.

Q. What are your thoughts on match play in general and why do you think you have been able to get this far?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I will say match play is like you never know. Sometime you have your best round and you lost the match, you know. Or sometime you play okay and you win the match.

So I think I'm really patient and, you know, like try it think about like hole by hole.

Q. Well you did it very well today. Congratulations on two wins. Go get some rest and get ready for tomorrow. Another big day.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Thank you.

Q. Here with Ariya Jutanugarn who just took a 4&3 victory over Minjee Lee at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match Play. First off, it's hot out there. You've done two matches today. This is a hilly, long, beast of a course. How are you feeling right now?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Really tired. You know, like maybe I haven't played 36 hole for so long.

Q. And 36 holes in this heat.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yeah.

Q. Most importantly, you're done for the day and I'm what's standing between and you a nap. Let's start talking. You won with a birdie on the first hole, and overall it looked pretty easy for you out there, at least that's how you make it look.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: It's not easy at all, and especially the course and play against Minjee Lee. She is one of the best player on tour. It's match play. Sometime you have really good day and you lost the match, or sometime you play okay and you win the match.

So it's match play, so we never know.

Q. You had a birdie on the first hole; couple others coming in. I think certainly Minjee had struggles, which you were able to capitalize on. What were some of the highlight moments on the course for you this afternoon?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I will say for me is like starting on No. 7, par-5, so I make birdie and also make birdie on No. 8 and No. 9.

So like I have three birdies in a row.

Q. You certainly played against Minjee a lot, and especially in match play. You guys were still kids, but back when you were kids. What's it like being out there with Minjee in match play, with a friend and someone you've played against in this format for so long?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: It's so much fun. It's bring back all the memories we had like when we was younger playing match play, play against each other, but still friend.

And, you know, like wish the best thing for each other, so that how much fun it is.

Q. Pulling up some results from this morning as well. In your win you had a hole-out eagle, in the match this morning.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yeah.

Q. Can you tell us about that one? That was a pretty cool moment. We got it on TV so it looked good.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: No. 14?

Q. Yes.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yeah, 14, so I had like 142 to the pin so I hit pitching wedge, so I hit pretty good shot and then I thought it's going to be close but, yeah, I make it.

Q. That has to be a lot of fun. Did you get to see it go in?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I saw it all the way because like soon as I hit the ball I feel like this one going to be good.

Q. Good. So you have 2-4-3 victories, so you don't have to at least play all 18. Tell us about this golf course. You said it's tough. How is it tough? What is this course like for you?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I will say every round you have to think, you have to plan, because every round is different. Like today I hit only one 3-wood because getting more firm, and I don't want to go close to the pin, like close to the green, so I have to hit like 2-iron and 3-iron off the tee.

And when you have even short irons you can't stop the ball, so that how hard it is. And you have to think and plan all the time about like... (Machinery passing by.)

Q. Thinking around the golf course. Your thinking around the golf course in match play, or we can just stop the question.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: This course, actually it's really tough because I feel like you have to think. Like you have to plan every holes, and every round you play here is kind of like different game plan.

So like today I -- like in the afternoon I hit only one time with my 3-wood, and even you have short iron you still can't stop the ball, so it's really tough.

Q. You mentioned how tired you were today. How much sleep did you get last night?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I sleep only two hour last night.

Q. What happened?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: You know, like after the round -- after my second round yesterday -- we play...

Q. One round yesterday.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Okay.

Q. Did you have a playoff?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yes.

Q. Okay.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: So after I finish yesterday, you know, like my sister ride back with me. Oh, Mo, I'm going to stop and get some tea. I like to drink tea like every day, but I forgot it's like 7:00. I shouldn't drink it.

So I drink it. I stay up until 12:00 and then I sleep, I woke up at 2:30, so that why I'm so tired now.

Q. Too much caffeine. What kind of tea?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I like to drink green tea, yeah.

Q. How does being so tired affect you on the golf course?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I mean, I'm just like -- after front nine I feel like it's going to be so tough for me to finish my round today, but I'm pretty lucky be able to walk five or six more holes.

Q. Heading into tomorrow, you're one of the final four. What lessons do you take away from the 2017 Lorena where you finished runner-up to Sei Young and apply that to tomorrow?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: '17?

Q. Yes.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I play with Sei Young?

Q. Yes. You were the runner-up, Mexico City. Do you even remember?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: That time I'm so fit. I'm not feel tired at all. I will say match play you got to be patient. You just -- like when you miss the shot it's just one hole. You know, just have to keep do your thing and only focus on the thing under your control, especially when you play against only one player.

So you have two be really patient, and just that I can miss so other player can miss, so we just have to do our best.

Q. Tomorrow you'll play Ally Ewing or Danielle Kang. Thoughts on both of their games and the challenge you face with them?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I will say both of them, you know, they been playing so well, and of course both of them really good at match play. Tomorrow going to be so much fun for me, and don't expect anything. Just go out and have fun and do like -- work on what I been working on, and right now I don't know who I'm going to play with anyway.

Q. What have you been working on?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I been working on so much actually. With my tee shot a bit and I think especially with my commitment, because like especially after you won the tournament you start to thinking about the outcome. You want to keep playing well, but sometimes I forgot my process. Like to play well I have to come back and be present and really focus on the thing under my control.