KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2021

Patty Tavatanakit

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

Q. A very eventful first round for you here at the KPMG. Take us through.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I played really solid on the front nine. I think I didn't miss a single fairway with my driver. And then made the turn, and actually cracked my driver on 10. It sounded weird on 9, which I was like, it's fine, and then I didn't see it until on 10 I hit one and there's a crack on top of the head. But you know, I feel like back nine really fit my 3-woods off the tee, which helped, and I still hit it like 260 off the tee with my 3-wood, which is okay. Like I feel like I don't really have to play this course with a driver. If I have it, great, I have a couple more short irons in, but if anything the course suits my game a lot.

Q. I know you had that bogey on 10 after the crack --

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I cracked it and I pushed it right, so I was like, I don't think it's me, it's the driver.

Q. But after that you were still able to rebound to finish off at 2-under after a day like today. How satisfied are you with the way you were able to ready after 10?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: For sure. I feel like I lost my focus there a little bit, just trying to figure out if I'm going to have a driver at all this week, but if anything, a double on 16 and I guess that woke me up a little bit, and then made two birdies coming in, so it's a good feeling going into tomorrow.

Q. What will you do about the driver situation?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: They'll have it shipped out or it will be here at 10:00 tomorrow and I'm playing at, I don't know, 8:40 something, so I'll be out for a couple holes and then they'll build this, but if I don't have it, I'm fine with it. I'll just hit 3-woods off the tee.

Q. Have you ever gone through a tournament without your driver?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think so, when I was like 10. This is my first experience with cracking a driver. I've never had this experience before. It's an eventful one, like you said?

Q. Did your caddie turn to you and go, uh-oh?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: No, it's okay. It's three more holes anyway. I still hit it somewhat far, still outdrove the two girls.

Q. You prepared with a driver in the bag right now, and now you've had to adjust a little bit of your game plan --

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: A little bit, yeah. I feel like off the tee I have more probability of it being in the fairway, so it's all positives there.

Q. All positive, and at the same time still being able to have a great round like you did today, what will you be looking forward to tomorrow?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Just go out there and try to execute more shots today. I feel like I gave a couple away and just if anything just try to be -- just try to focus every single shot out there. I feel like I gave away a couple just after cracking my driver. But yeah, tomorrow will be a better day.