DOW GREAT LAKES BAY INVITATIONAL

July 15, 2021

Ariya Jutanugarn

Moriya Jutanugarn

Midland Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome inside the virtual media center here at the Dow GLBI. I want to start with you, May. Just how exciting was it to prepare for this event? I know how much you love playing with your sister, but how much do you look forward to this event?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: You know, really after two years ago, I'm always looking forward to playing this one because one of my favorite tournaments, and the format is just like make it more fun.

Q. Mo, I've got to ask, how do you guys feel so comfortable on this course? You went out there today, grabbed the clubhouse lead at the moment. How comfortable are you feeling?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: I think just playing together with my sister makes it more comfortable because we can support each other, and also like today it seems like we really can support each other.

Like when I had trouble or like hit a bad shot she'd cover it, or when she doesn't hit a good shot I'm just trying to cover it.

It seems like that's how you should play the best ball format.

Q. A lot of birdies across the board. May, what do you think is the biggest strength in your sister's game when you're playing in this format?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: She's really solid, really consistent. Every time she hits the ball I feel like I have no worry, so I know where the ball is going to go. Even if she misses, it's going to be fine.

When you have partners, you have really solid golf, you kind of just go for it, go for the pin and hit it hard, so you have no fear.

Q. What do you think is the biggest strength in your sister's game in this kind of format?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: She said everything. For me, just like just what I said, it's very comfortable, and we have really different golf games, but that kind of fits in real good because she's like a lot longer, and it's like we can decide like some par-5s or different holes how we can play with it.

I mean, I got to trust my partner for sure. It seems like out there on the back nine we just like tried to beat each other pretty much.

Q. Looking at your scorecard, it didn't look like there was really much stress or much trouble or anything like that watching the both of you play. It didn't really look like there was really much stress to make par. You talk a lot about trusting your partner and having your partner's back. How important is it knowing that you have your partner there to back you up to alleviate stress of making par?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: For me it just is very important that you have to trust your partner, that she's going to be able to cover it or like whatever she want to do, and you have to cover for her. Kind of like that. I think because we know each other really well, too, so I think I can trust her sometimes.

Because like we know -- like I know her game very well and she knows my game very well, too. That's how we can get along pretty good on the golf course and we trust each other.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Especially when I play with her, I kind of like -- some tee shots I just hit it first so put all the pressure to her so it's easy for me. So when I have that feeling, I just go first.

Q. Mo, stuffing that shot on 18 and making the putt for 59, how special was that moment? It seems cliche that you got to share that moment with your sister, but how special was that moment for you making the birdie to seal 59?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: To be honest, I don't know how many birdies we're making today or like we're going to make -- we're going to shoot 59, like make that putt.

But just what she said, like when she feels uncomfortable and she want to just take the tee shot first, so I do the same thing on the last hole because I don't really feel comfortable with the pin tucked on the left side.

I'm like, can I go first, and it kind of makes her a little nervous because I take a little longer time, and after I hit the shot, she's like, I'm a little nervous because it seems like you take a little longer time.

But it comes out good, and just like momentum, I guess. It's not like I feel really comfortable with that shot, but I know she will get my back.

Q. You were both so incredible today; was there something about how you woke up this morning, what you ate, what you did? When you got on the golf course, did you just start feeling it and get into a locked-in zone mentally?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: For me, I'm guessing because you know that you're going to have to trust your partner and you have someone that's like -- basically like for me, if I missed a shot, I know I'm going to have another chance from her. I think that kind of makes it easier for you to like really commit and trust what you want to do, and then when it gets to a moment of making birdies, then it's a lot more fun.

Q. Did you guys realize how close you guys were to breaking 60 as you kept going on through the day? Did you realize?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: To be honest, I not realize.

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: She said she not count the birdies but I'm counting because I had one birdie more than you, just so you know.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: We were trying to beat each other, like who make more birdies, and she made the long putts on -- was that 15? And I hit it a lot closer and I was like, just had to pick the mark up. I was just like, I want to make it.

Q. I was going to ask about the comment earlier that you made that you want to beat each other. Does one of you get to make the other one dinner or something based on who makes the most birdies? Do you have a bet within yourself?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: No.

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: No, we didn't have a bet, because we stay in the hotel room this week, so no one making dinners really. And also like my sister, she doesn't cook anyway. It's better she don't get really close to kitchen.

Q. Mo, what did you hit on 18?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: She hit 8-iron, I hit pitching wedge.

Q. The long putt that you made on 15, how long was that, May?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: You mean my putt, 15? 25 feet, I think. Yeah.

Q. And how long was your birdie putt on that hole, Mo?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: Mine is like about no more than 10 feet. No more than 10-footer putt. But I don't have a chance.

Q. I know watching each other when you've both been very emotional watching each other succeed individually, what would it be like to win together?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: I think that would be cool. It's going to mean a lot for us.

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: Yeah, it's going to be really special, but a lot of golf to go. Halfway to go.

Q. You guys both have been really getting better in your game this season. You had a win back in Thailand, as well. May, how comfortable are you feeling in your game, and what have you two been working on gearing up for this event?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I would say especially this event I'm really comfortable because I have my partner, I have my sister. She's always got my back. But of course with my game I still have to work on a lot of things, with my commitment. That's the main thing I've been working on.

I just want to play golf without fear because I feel like every time when I'm scared or have fear, it's kind of like not the way I want to play.

Q. Mo, what have you been working on getting ready for this event?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: For me, just same thing. It's like so many parts of my golf game that I'm working on, you know, just kind of take time and just keep doing it.

I feel like this tournament is perfectly like good for us to practice that because you are not going to have a lot of fear because you know your partner is going to try and cover that, or it just kind of -- like it's easier for us to work on that thing and able to be a better commitment.

Q. Mo, how long was your putt on 18 there?

MORIYA JUTANUGARN: Five? Four? Five-foot.

Q. As we get ready for tomorrow, what will be the game plan as we switch back to that alternate-shot format?

ARIYA JUTANUGARN: I think the main thing, we have to play without feeling sorry to each other because of course we're going to miss some. What I always told her, just have good commit, and if you miss it, you miss it. I'm going to try to do the same thing.