JTBC CLASSIC PRESENTED BY BARBASOL

March 23, 2022

Atthaya Thitikul

Aviara Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are inside the press center with Atthaya Thitikul here at the JTBC Classic Presented by Barbasol.

You've had quite a couple of years playing on the LET, last year Rookie of the Year, Order of the Merit winner, as well as Player of the Year and qualified into the top 45 and ties at Q-Series, and now you're here on the LPGA Tour.

How has your rookie year been so far?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, we'll say it's fun and tough as well. You know, like not many people that I know. I mean, just like couple of Thai people and Asian people that I know.

But it's fun. I trying to enjoy and trying to, you know, like keep learning as much as I can, because like just one year you can be as a rookie.

THE MODERATOR: I guess in addition to all of those awards you won last year on the LET you're already kind of making your mark known out here on the LPGA. You've got a pretty healthy lead in the Rookie of the Year race. Do you take days off? How much does playing well and winning those awards mean to you personally.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think that the most important thing that other people want is consistency every single week that they play, and that's what I trying to do as well.

Like being in here, LPGA play against all the best player in the world, and it's kind of hard and tough as well to keep your maintain every single week that you play.

I just trying to keep consistency as I can do every single week, and then if your time comes, so that's it.

THE MODERATOR: So you've last tee'd it up at home in Thailand. Finished T8. Pretty solid week. What was that experience like playing in front of your home crowd as an LPGA Tour professional?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yes, it's been amazing. It's really amazing. Like I grew up watching the Honda LPGA when I was young, being there when I like was eight, nine, kept walking and watching them play as amateurs, and now playing LPGA like Honda LPGA as LPGA member, it's so cool.

Like no words describe my feeling. And then just get all fans come and watch us, support us, it's really amazing.

THE MODERATOR: There is a pretty good Thai legion on the LPGA Tour. There is a pretty big group of you. How much do you pick the brains of players like the Jutanugarns or have you talked to Patty Tavatanakit at all since you've been out here? What advice do you have for LPGA Tour life?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think when we met, like when we go out for like dinner, we don't really want to talk about golf I guess. All of us have been playing golf every single week, golf every single moment when we here on the golf course.

But we always know each other pretty well, so I think we might eat dinner and then we just hang out together and want to have fun, not pretty in the golf.

THE MODERATOR: Fair enough. Had some pretty good results so far. Just pulled your list up. Played at Gainbridge LPGA, finished, made the cut; T11 at the Drive On Championship at Crown Colony; a T4 at HSBC; and then a T8 at Thailand. What's been working so well in your game that you've been able to have those low finishes?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: At first the first tournament in Gainbridge, Boca, I would say I'm not feel ready to come over here yet because like being back home with new equipment. Being back home I didn't have like practice that much because I have to do some work with my sponsor and like spend some time with my family as well.

But I take it with the made cut with the first as the LPGA member, and just keep like myself in contention to do my thing and keep practicing for the upcoming events.

So it's been great with three tournaments back, and then so for now, just like I said, just keep on what you have, what you are working on right now to make your game like easier as you can.

THE MODERATOR: Did you say you were practicing with some new equipment?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yes, with the Callaway equipment. That's announce today that I will be with the Callaway team. But I change it since December right after the Q-Series, so...

But now I get used to it already, but like the first one I'm not yet.

THE MODERATOR: That's a new partnership. That's a pretty big partnership to come out and nab as a rookie. What does that mean to you?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: It's mean a lot to me. You know, like I couldn't thanks them enough for give me an opportunity, and, you know, just like be excited to be with (indiscernible) in golf. You know, Callaway, it's worldwide. You been here see all the Callaway logo everywhere in the world, so, yeah, it's been amazing to be teamed with them.

THE MODERATOR: Let's talk about this week. We are out here at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad. Have you played a lot of California golf in your time as a pro?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: In the tournaments, no. Just like practice, hang out with friends, something like that.

THE MODERATOR: So how have you found the golf course so far? I know a lot of players talked about the poa greens and how tricky those can be, but how have you have you found the golf course so far?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, I would say condition-wise not that bad. I mean, it's okay. But, yeah, it's true that the green, it's bit tricky, and I think this week the most important key of this week, it's like be patient off the green.

Like when you have a good putt, you have a good stroke but you didn't make it, so it's not your fault. Sometime it have to take times, and maybe sometimes you have to take (indiscernible) as well here.

THE MODERATOR: It's funny, because that is almost exactly what Inbee Park said yesterday, like you can't take it personally out here.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: What work have you been doing to prepare yourself mentally for those tricky six, four, five footers that you have to hit during the round?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, yeah, like I say, I think I just keep on rolling putt, just keep a good stroke out there, and then just told yourself that, Hey, this one, it's your good stroke, but it doesn't go in doesn't mean your fault. Doesn't mean it at all.

Like I said, it's depend on the ball rolling on the green react to your balls as well. So keep be patient is the big key.

THE MODERATOR: We are back to the States with the Asian swing. I know you didn't take a lot of time off, but this is kind of where the season really starts to pick up. What are some of your goals for yourself as a rookie? You came out on the LET last year, had all of this success, and you're going to the LPGA Tour almost immediately. What are some of the things you're really trying to get accomplished this year?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think I just want to keep learning as much that I can because this year is my rookie year, and play against all the players like in the world, like best player in the world isn't easy, as you can see.

And just keep -- yeah, like I said, enjoy and have fun for this year. It's been a rollercoaster as well this year, I guess.

THE MODERATOR: How excited would little Atthaya be that she's on LPGA now?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: It's good, it's good. It's really amazing. Words can't describe how be here living your life, living your dream, do what you love.

THE MODERATOR: And then just last question kind of about this week. What are some your goals, some of your mindset heading into this week at JTBC Classic?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, I think this week I just like be patient as the key for this week, and then, you know, just like keep momentum going for the next week as well, because next week is the biggest week that we are looking forward.

It's the first major of the year, so just keep all the confidence, all the momentum going for next week.

THE MODERATOR: Have you played in Chevron before?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yes, when I was 16, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: How excited are you to go back this time as a member? It is the last time we are going to be at Mission Hills, but how are you feeling about at least having the opportunity to play it once as a professional?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Feel a bit sad that we going to play in Mission Hills, last year we going to play there. It's really -- I mean, I really like the golf course there as well.

It's cool major that I went when I was 16, so looking forward to be there as LPGA member.

THE MODERATOR: From your perspective, having a sponsor like Chevron come up and really try to make that last event, the last year in the desert as special as possible, but also to increase the purse and try to give you all more opportunity going forward. What does that kind of mean to you?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I would say not just Chevron, but I would say all the sponsor in the LPGA. They give us like more opportunity. They give us more chance to see all the girls, all the women here out doing what they love and playing golf.

They give us a chance to like play golf in here, and it's -- I think the women golf is getting better every year, so it's great.