AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 3, 2022

Atthaya Thitikul

Press Conference

MIKE WOODCOCK: Please to welcome the world No. 6, Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul to the interview room.

I thought I saw, four years ago, I remember sitting during a press conference with you in Singapore when you won the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship, and here we are such a short time later and you're now in the top 10 in the world, you won The Race to Costa del Sol last year. Have you surprised even yourself by how quickly you've got to this level in this game?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I really surprised myself. I think it's been a roller coast as well, like being an amateur, being able to win the Women's Asia Pacific, get a chance, opportunity to compete at like the best tour in the world, against the best players in the world on the LPGA Tour and then be able to come here, be an LPGA member and top 10 in the world, there's no are words to describe.

MIKE WOODCOCK: When you were back at that stage, you obviously had ambitions to turn professional and get into the game. What were your goals you were setting for yourself at the time? Are you ahead of those goals, ahead of those targets?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, when I turned pro, the biggest dream of my life to be a member of the LPGA because I know it's the biggest tour in the world. Maybe just a couple wins, yeah, under my bet. Yeah, I got the member already, and just kept trying to get better and then you know, I just kept trying to improve myself every single day.

MIKE WOODCOCK: I think this is your fifth appearance in the AIG Women's Open. What have you learned so far about this championship, and how will you approach this week here at Muirfield?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I would say AIG, I would say it's the hardest major in the majors, I think because I'm not a big fan of links. I come here in Scotland and England every year and start playing links course, but I would say yeah, it's a bit learning experience, as well, that I have played.

I'm not sure when I played, like when I first came here and played my first British Open, I think that's in Kingsbarns, I guess. It's such a beautiful course, and that's my only like -- that's my first time playing links. And I was like, oh, my gosh, I hate it. I hate it (laughing).

But at the same time, I love it, as well. I love the challenging. I love how you have to have it all, like all the things, all the weather and the wind, how the ball going to react in the course. Yeah, it's kind of like challenging major in my thought, in my opinion, yeah.

Q. You finished low amateur in this event in 2018 and 2019. How important has that been in terms of confidence where you are now in your career?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I would say it's just like another one that you achieve, like be able to win the best major in a major is really amazing for me.

But I would say it's just not -- yeah, you've got the confidence from that, but it's not the last answer that you wanted and then you're going to be like No. 1 in the world, you're not going to be able to do everything you can, that's like not the answer I guess. You have to improve in learning from the best players in the world, learning from yourself, learning from the experience that you get every day.

Q. This event is being played here for the first time. What had you heard about Muirfield but came here?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I haven't heard anything or researched or do anything but my coach told me it's really amazing course, and it's the first time that women came here, I guess.

Yeah, I just know it's an amazing course and challenging course as well. Yeah, that's pretty much it. And links (laughs).

Q. In the few times you've been around the course thus far, what do you see as the most difficult aspect of it, and is there any surprisingly easy aspect to this golf course?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I would say the hazards. Like I said, links, you can't expect anything with the links. Because like everything, it's going to be -- like sometimes it's not fair. Because like you hit it there and it bounces everywhere, so you have to be patient on it this week, as well, with Muirfield. And I think the most important is the wind and how you can handle it.

And then I think it's the commitment that you have to hit the ball, because you have to aim like way right or way left with the wind.

Q. The par 3s on this golf course are very good, all four. Is there one that you find particularly enjoyable, a good challenge, the short holes?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think -- the par 3, right?

Q. Yeah.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Is that 13, uphill, and it's downwind.

Q. What do you like about the 13th?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Because it's downwind, and the slope, the green is like up on top, up, and then if you land it, land it short, it's going to be like lowering down. Like if you land on the green, like it's going to bounce to the back, and then you can't go anywhere left or right because the bunker is around the green. That's why I think it's challenging for the par 3, I guess.

Q. Was there something in particular at Kingsbarns that makes you hate links golf?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Everything. Everything. I mean like in Thailand, we don't have like a links, a real links course like here, the windy condition like this. That's why we are kind of like, oh, my going, this is a new experience, how my ball is going to like -- I hit, example, if I hit like 240, and it's going to go like 300 yards.

And then sometimes your ball is bouncing, like, everywhere, and then the pot bunker as well. That's why, yeah.

Q. You said sometimes you're just going to have bad luck; right?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah. Right.

Q. What do you do in your mind to handle that luck?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, like I said, you can't expect anything and sometimes you have bad luck. Links, sometimes it's not fair sometime, and then it's just like patience for me. It's just like patience is the big key if you want to play on links.

Q. Someone mentioned to me that level par would be winning total this week. Would that surprise you?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: No, not at all.

MIKE WOODCOCK: Thank you for joining us and best of luck this week.