ARAMCO TEAM SERIES - BANGKOK ROUND ONE

May 10, 2022

Patty Tavatanakit

Charley Hull

Kelly Whaley

Thai Country Club

Press Conference

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THE MODERATOR: We have Patty, playing for the first time in Aramco Team Series along with Charley Hull, who has been very successful on Aramco Team Series in 2021, and they were be joining us today.

Patty and Charley will be the captain of the team; they will be picking up the player by choice and another player by chance right after this.

Patty, this is your debut at Aramco Team Series event. What have you heard and what are you looking forward to?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I'm actually really excited to play this week. It's a team event, something that I've missed since I left college, and so to be able to do it here, to make my debut at home in Thailand, is very exciting.

Q. What do you expect from the team format playing the best two like this? Any pressure or exactly what you expected?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: A little bit of everything. If anything, I feel like more fun. Just kind of cheer other people on and just be there to support people is something that we don't normally do that.

Q. Coming back to Thailand, playing in your home country, any pressure?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Not really. If anything, comfortable.

Q. How has your year been so far?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It's been solid. I feel like I improved a lot last year, but just the results aren't there yet. So I'm just trying to put everything together on the right week.

Q. Charley, welcome to Bangkok.

CHARLEY HULL: Thanks.

Q. In Ladies European Tour and Aramco Pro Series, three Top 10 and a solo winner in New York. What is the secret of playing in this unique format?

CHARLEY HULL: I think it's quite relaxed format because you're out there having fun. Just enjoy it. It's is a fun week.

Q. What is your assessment of your team so far?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I have quite a good team so far. I think I had like (indiscernible) in America. But, yeah, just feels pretty good.

Q. Any expectation for your personal goal in the rest of the year?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, just keep on getting results and having fun is the main thing.

Q. Kelly, you are the history maker. You made eight birdie in a row. This is a new record on the LET in Aramco Team Series.

KELLY WHALEY: Thank you.

Q. You've been playing so well. What do you expect around Aramco Team Series?

ALEXANDRA ARMAS: Yeah, it's my first team series event. I played in the Aramco in Saudi, which was just an individual event, and had a great event, as you said. I'm just really excited for this week and hope to bring eight birdies to the team.

Q. (Regarding expectations with this type of format.)

KELLY WHALEY: I think it's cool because golf is normally known as an individual sport and you're out there by yourself. All the pressure is on you.

I think this week is more about having fun and it brings the camaraderie of the female game, and we'll be cheering each other on. It's just really fun. We keep it light and just be a fun week.

Q. My question is to Charley and Patty. Since you are captains, you're to be picking up one player in the draw. What is it that you're going to consider? Have you given it any thought? Is it friendship? Is it how comfortable are you with the player? Is it form? What kind of things are you -- if you both can answer -- what kind of things are going to consider?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Am I picking last? Do you know?

Q. Yes.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: So I think what's left, I don't really have a choice. But if anything, (indiscernible) consideration, but at the same time, I just want to be able to enjoy two rounds of golf.

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, I usually just pick on friendship because I'm out there to have fun and have a laugh, yeah.

Q. (Regarding Thailand food.)

KELLY WHALEY: I went last night. In America I think we try to do some Thai food. I don't know if it's as good as here. But some pad Thai and just I definitely want to try it here. I think that's part of the experience.

Q. You will try the dessert mango sticky rice or...

KELLY WHALEY: Yeah.

Q. Kelly, can I ask you how is the feeling when you have eight birdies in a row? And also, when you par'd the 9th hole in this series, how disappointing was that?

KELLY WHALEY: So having eight birdies in a row is always incredible for anyone. You kind of feel like you can't miss. Like you said, I did end up making a par so it wasn't perfect. Par'd my 12th hole.

It wasn't -- I still wasn't disappointed. I knew there was more opportunities. I was a little bummed that it had to end, but in my mind I was just trying to keep it steady, and if didn't make one, making a nice par was the next bets thing. It was more like, Okay, I have more chances, and we'll start a new streak.

Q. Follow-up question. What's going through your mind? Do you think about the fact that you're playing so well or is there some kind of a B plan in your mind when you're playing a round like that, or just a freedom and it happens?

KELLY WHALEY: It's more a state of mind, I would say. You're in such a flow and ease and you're not really thinking. People keep asking me what was going through your mind, and you honestly don't remember sometimes because you're just so, okay, I know I'm going to hit it within ten feet, so it's almost like you're not even questioning yourself.

So it's hard to explain, because you really get into that flow state. I think probably all of us have been there at one point. That's what you really strive for every time you tee it up. You try to get that in state and I'll try to do it this week, but it's definitely been fun to look back on to try to do again.

Q. Depending on the order, if you can have anyone on your team, is there one name in mind, like I definitely want her on my team?

CHARLEY HULL: Yeah, just one of my friends, Lauren Taylor. She's just a friend from when I was like ten, so...

THE MODERATOR: Patty?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It's tough to pick because, you know, I would like to play with both of the sisters, but I can only pick one, so I will have them do rock, paper, scissors.

Q. Kelly?

KELLY WHALEY: I think I'd pick Chloe Williams. She's becomes a very good friend and she's also a very good player.

THE MODERATOR: I guess we will conclude with the question and answer.

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