KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2021

Patty Tavatanakit

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Here with Patty Tavatanakit, 1-under 71. The question is how's the driver? Did the new one come in?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: The new one actually came in today, but I had someone -- well, they volunteered to drive up from Orlando last night and gave it to me this morning. I put it in the bag just because I didn't want to risk putting it in mid-round and like haven't hit it.

It didn't really work today. I got around the course pretty well. I just tried my best to score, which I did, hit a couple of 3-woods. I decided to hit 3-woods the last two holes because I was just so done with it.

THE MODERATOR: Exactly. You got through. Tell us about the two birdies you had on 2 and 6, if you don't mind.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yes, on 2, again, I didn't put myself in a good position. I actually had to do something a little bit extra to make birdie there on 2 because usually I would just hit my driver and got on the green in two, but today I had to lay up because I was in the woods. I hooked my drive. Obviously, didn't really practice with it. It's not really my driver.

But I made birdie there, I made a really nice putt, and then the next hole it's a reachable par-4, hit it to the right and then made up and down from that spot. Most likely, I was like, okay, I have to get birdie here to be in a good position going into the weekend.

THE MODERATOR: Is it any different to play at a major championship as a major champion? Beyond that announcement on the tee.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Not really. I feel like, if anything, hearing that gives me a little bit more confidence to attack the day. Even though I was like struggling or had a slow start, just keep my head down and keep telling myself that I did it before and I can pull it off again.

Q. So the driver that was driven up for you was your old driver, right?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, the one that I've been using since a little bit of last season until the beginning of the season, I was using that one. The one I have in my bag today was the one I had before I switched. I think the weight is different, but that's okay. I'm just glad I have a driver in my bag. I'll just play with it.

Q. Was it heavier?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think it's lighter. I don't know. I don't really know the number, but it doesn't feel as good.

Q. You hit it on the range, though, right?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I did. I practiced with it. Also, I had the other driver with me, like a different shaft, different length, and a different head just for -- that is actually a British Open driver, more like a link course driver, flight it down, low spin. I hit it this morning, and I was like, yeah, it's not a good fit for this course.

Then I just ended up sticking with the one that I used before. The sound was different, so I was like, okay, I'm making good swings. I can hit anything. I was out there trying to ignore the fact that it's not really working and just finesse something. I feel like I did a good job at that.

Q. What was the first swing with the driver on the course?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: The first hole.

Q. How did it behave?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It went straight. It just ended up in a really weird spot, bad break. I had to stand in a bunker and hit one out and made bogey.

Q. We talked yesterday that the driver was going to arrive mid-morning. Whose idea was it to drive one up?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: So I have a really, really good support system with people in Orlando. I'm really thankful for that. I didn't really ask them to drive up, but they volunteered. They're like, okay, we're so worried about you. We're just going to drive up tonight and give it to you in the morning, and I was like, okay, thank you.

Q. You actually got it in your hands at what time this morning?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: 6:00 a.m. I was in the gym warming up, and he gave it to me.

Q. Did you have the heart to tell him that even though they drove it up, the weight wasn't quite right, or you're going to leave that part out?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I'll leave that part out. I was just telling my caddie I'm just glad I have a driver in my bag and not trying to figure out something on the course when the new head comes and then I put it in the play in the middle of the round. I just don't want to deal with that just because I feel like, if I start with something, I can finesse and go around with that for the rest of the day.

Q. I don't know if it's come up yet or not, but according to Ping, you were the first LPGA player ever to crack the face of a driver. Is that any consolation in that, and will you keep an extra head in your locker from now on?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think so. I told Jason, is it okay if I ask you to travel with an extra head? Yeah, I've never cracked a driver before too and in the middle of a round. I've never experienced anything like that, but I thought, if anything, it taught me to have a strong mentality and just keep staying positive and just tell myself that I can play this course without a driver, which I did on the back nine yesterday.