NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 25, 2022

Atthaya Thitikul

Pinnacle Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome inside the press room here at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

Here with our 2022 champion, Atthaya Thitikul. What a day. Got yourself into a playoff with Danielle Kang and closed it out on the second hole with a tremendous birdie putt. Walk me through the last few holes there.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I mean, actually today it's just been like a good day for me as well. Just like I said every day, like just made a lot of -- just made the putt, didn't make the putt that much.

But I guess -- on the 18th, I haven't seen the leaderboard before 18. I mean, I'm just -- I think for me par is enough to get the win, and just walk up and saw the leaderboard and we tie, and just like, oh, okay, I have to be tied again to walk to the playoff.

Then actually for the playoff first hole I hit a really good shot as well, but the wind pick it up a little bit; short putt. Just make two-putt, not that much. But on the second hole that we playoff I just had a chance to make a birdie, because like it's not that far.

And then in my mind I just tell myself just do your best, even it's not going in or whatever. Just do the best you can.

Q. It's your second win this season. You are the first rookie since Sung Hyun Park in 2017 to have two wins in your rookie season. The last one was in a playoff. What is it about you and playoffs? Seems like you make it difficult for yourself.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I know. At the first one it's kind of makes sense because I'm not in the leaderboard at all. Just give myself a chance to making it is so special as well. Even though it's here, like I said, I thought I'm not going to be in the playoff again.

But it's just like oh, okay, be in a playoff. And then just my caddie and me just like, it's okay. Just like another chance to get it. If you can get it, it's good. If not, it's fine. It's just another day; you have play really good golf already.

Q. What was going through your mind on the last putt? 15 feet kind od sliding to the left. Walk me through your thoughts on the last putt.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Actually didn't think about like anything at all. Just look at the line, get the speed right, and, yeah, pretty much that's it.

Q. Stout list of names as multiple Thai winners now that you got to -- I mean, you're talking the Jutanugarn sisters and some other big names there. What does that mean to you to put your name with those top Thai players that have been out here for a number of years?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I have to say that I really want to win. I mean, like when I play, go out and play every event, I think every players want to win the tournaments.

I am in there as well. But it's mean a lot to me as well to get my second win, because like it seem like you prove that you can do it, even you're not like three or four group before the final group.

But I'm in the final group, and then just prove myself that, yeah, you can do it. Even you have a pressure on it, you have a pressure on yourself, and I think it's mean a lot to me and to my team as well, because they know that I can do it, like many times.

But I just didn't get the job done. But, yeah, here it's second win. It's really special for me.

Q. I was standing with you. Your coach called and FaceTimed you and Jack. What's it like to have that support all the way back in Thailand?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, he just complain me a lot. I mean, playing out here in states he tell me like you know what? You know I have to like be awake on the night to like see you playing. I was like, yeah, that's your problem. (Laughter.)

Because last year I played in Europe and the time is pretty good. But, yeah, I think it's mean a lot to him as well to prove that what he have teaching me is right. And then not just only him, but like all my team.

Like I say to my caddie, my coach, my family back home as well, they really want to see me getting better.

Q. Today weren't really putting the pedal down like you did yesterday; shot 10-under understand and tied the tournament record. What were you telling yourself as you walked down the fairways? I know somebody asked you on the green what the song was that you had playing in your head. What were you thinking to keep yourself in the moment?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think that -- I mean, like the part that sing a song, it's a part of me already, like when you go out on the course. But in these three days have just think that my mind is -- I said it's really blank. It's really good for golf because it's going to be like getting through.

Just like I said, trying to sing a song a lot and then not thinking of a positive way -- no, no, no, like a negative ways. Just trying to keep myself in a positive way. Yeah, it's came out good this week.

Q. Two wins in a rookie season, not very many months apart. We've talked about your team. We have talked about everybody, but how special is this to you? Obviously had a lot of success on the LET last year. You're no stranger to winning and hoisting trophies. What does it mean to you to be able to accomplish so much in short amount of time in your first year?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I feel -- I think I feel release. I mean, like I know I work really hard to get it, and like I said, I came close couple times, as you can see, but didn't get the job done yet.

When you get the job done and then you feel like release and then it's just like yeah, the whole world that I had carry on my back, it's like done. They're gone. And just know that what you have work is right and then, yeah, the hard work pays off as well.

Q. We saw a couple of your fellow Thai players out here, Pajaree and Pornanong on the final green dumping water on you. Having their support, Pornanong has been out here or a long time. Pajaree has been out here for a couple years now. To have the support -- and I know you're pretty close to the rest of the Thais out here -- to have that support from your fellow Thai players, what does that mean to you?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think it's pretty good that we have like a lot of Thai players out here on the LPGA Tour. Seem like we have a friends to hang out with and then like talk Thai with. It's mean a lot to me to have them like behind my back. Like, I mean, if they have some good day or bad day I am behind their back as well.

We kind of like support each other, and then I think it's pretty special that today we got -- I got to like Pajaree here. I thought she going to left already. I just saw her face and I was like, oh, are you here?

And Pornanong, I have been looking for her as a role model when I was young as well. She is super like good and then super sweet, kind of like a big sister that be nice to every -- and be kind to like all Thai players.

Yeah, so glad that we have them.

Q. All right, just a couple more. Just looking ahead. We don't have that many events left this season. You have two wins. I know you played really good golf this year; been close a few times, and I know you're a person that likes to set lofty goals. What are the goals for the rest of the year now that you have the second win under your belt so quickly?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I just want to rest now. I mean, I just want to be like off-season now. But for me, getting the win, like getting trophy or getting the win, it's my goal to me as well in my rookie years.

But I get it and then just, yeah, it's just actually won. But like I said, you win just today, not tomorrow, so it's great that I had two in my belt, but just trying to catch more that you can and then just -- I think beginning of the year I just think like out here to play some golf with all the, you know, best player in the world out here and get all the experience, as much as I can.

And, yeah, pretty much that is for this year.

Q. Danielle has a reputation as a fierce match play competitor. I wondered how well you know her and when you got to the playoff, did your mentality change or still just golf?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Not really. I mean, it's not really change because like I know that her -- she is pretty great player because she had a lot of trophy and play really good golf out here as well.

But outside the course I know her not pretty well. I mean, like I know her. We had like hang out once in Thailand and then she's pretty good like players as well.

But out there I just -- I think like it's just only -- like in the course like you play against yourself, not other players.

THE MODERATOR: Perfect. Just last one from me. You're now the fourth multiple-time winner this season, joining names like Jennifer Kupcho and Minjee Lee and Brooke Henderson. To have your name in the same breath as those players, major champions, won out here quite a bit, first Augusta National women's champion there, what does that mean to be the fourth multiple-time winner this season and hopefully carry that momentum the rest of the year?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Actually, it's mean -- like I said, it's mean like the world to me to like on rookie year win twice already. And then, yeah, it's kind of like a big achieve as well.

But like I said, when you had like hard work on it, when you put on it, if you get it, it's good. If not, you know you're not going to regret it.

Q. On the putt on No. 17, looked like it might not make it in there. Did you feel nervous that it might not have enough speed to get in there?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: 17, right?

Q. Yeah. Kind of rolled around. Went in and the crowd made a relieved sound.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, yeah. When it's getting closer to the hole I thought it's going to go center of the hole. It tad bit to the left. I think I didn't saw that because I just saw like going in.

I don't know as well like how the leaderboard is. I just know that I had like 16-under. I didn't know the rest because I haven't saw the leaderboard like in the middle of the day at all.

Q. Just curious, you said you didn't know until 18, so when you're on that tee shot or when you pulled your tee shot into the left rough, you didn't know where you stood at that point; is that correct?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I didn't -- I mean, I just know that I had 16, but I don't know -- no, 17 -- but I just came up to the green and just saw the leaderboard. I just know that like before I going to putt.

Q. Was there any discussion in the rough on 18 about possibly going for the green from there?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, we had a really hard decision to made on second. I mean, it's on the rough but it's seem like it didn't have like a great line and it's -- I have to go like over the tree in front of me as well. And it's kind of far as well.

I mean, like it's a long irons or maybe a utilities, and I just think like if you laid it up you had a chance to make a birdie as well. Even though if you go for it, it's not reach the green, then you have to come down. And I think it's same like three shot and then going for the green.

I mean, I think it's the same way. But if you hit it pretty good, I know it's going to be like on the green. But, yeah, just give myself a lot of chances better I guess.

Q. Last one from me. When you were on 16 when Danielle chipped in for eagle on 18, did you hear that roar and did you have any idea what it meant?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I just hear like -- but I didn't know who did it or I don't know anything at all.

THE MODERATOR: I think we'll wrap it up there. Thank you so much and congratulations.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Thank you.