LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

February 3, 2022

Patty Tavatanakit

Crown Colony Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. A 66 in the afternoon. How would you describe the conditions out there this afternoon?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It got really windy, firm, and the greens were fast, so got to be aware of where you are on the greens, putting into or downwind, same with slopes.

So feel like everything was just solid. It's playing tough, yeah.

Q. You've been playing great in your first two starts of the season. Tied for 13th in those two events. How would you assess your start to the season?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I feel like the first two events were just kind of testing out with where I'm at for the year. Did a lot of great work during the off-season, but still couldn't really convert them the last two weeks.

But this week I approached my practice a little bit differently because just want to focus on scoring and stuff. It's been working.

Q. Speaking of focusing on scoring, with this being a 54-hole event how will that impact your strategy tomorrow?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Just the same thing. Just trying to be as solid as I can. Not trying to replicate the round today because obviously not every day is going to be the same.

But stay patient, stay in the present, and we'll see how it goes.

Q. One of the lowest rounds of the afternoon and almost of the day so far. Just take me through what the conditions were like out there this afternoon.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It was playing tough, you know, windy, firm, and fast. Really where you are on the green or positioning yourself was really important in the afternoon. I felt like I was solid enough to get myself good looks.

Q. Three birdies in the first six holes. What was working so well at the start?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Just solid overall. Like everything feels good. Swing was good. Started where I wanted to start. Everything is just working so well.

I mean, just can't really -- I don't know how to describe that any better, apart from being solid.

Q. You just mentioned to the Golf Channel how you're focusing on scoring and how you kind of approached practice a little differently this week. What is that difference?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think on the range I kind of let go of the technique a little bit and starting to combine the feel and a little bit of technique and try to like obviously hit it to the target a little bit better.

It's just more mental and just being focused in every shot.

Q. What made you want to make that kind of practice change?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Because I think like positioning and everything was good, but lock practice doesn't really help you kind of step into the playing mentality.

Q. Lock practice? Is that what you call it?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah.

Q. Interesting. I like that.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It's just ball after ball after ball in the same position, same target, not shifting your aim and stuff.

Q. How much do you think that really helped as you carried on to today?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: For sure I feel like my aim for each shot has been better. That's why I hit it more solid.

Q. Closing off with a birdie finish there, take me through the 18th hole.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Hit a really solid drive, good drive, and then another good shot onto the green with a 5-iron.

Then my putting has been good all day. I see the speed and the line really well today, so, yeah.

Q. We've seen some impressive play from you over the last couple weeks. How satisfied or comfortable have you been in your game as of late?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I've always been comfortable starting off the season, but just at the same time, couldn't really convert that into obviously better results last two weeks.

But today has showed, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to play good for the rest of the week. I still have two more rounds to play. This round doesn't justify that I will play well the next two days.

But I feel good about everything.

Q. Does anything go through your mind when you see the leaderboard from the morning wave and there is a lot of 7s and stuff up there? Well, I need to get up there or that the score is out there for me?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Not really. I don't really care at that point. I mean, you go out -- I mean, like every week you go out and you try to chase the leaderboard. That's a really tiring thing to do.

So you go out and play your game and see where it takes you.