LPGA MEDIHEAL CHAMPIONSHIP

October 5, 2022

Atthaya Thitikul

The Saticoy Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome back inside the virtual media center here at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship.

I am pleased to be joined by Atthaya Thitikul. Atthaya, I'll kick things off with this is the first time I think we've really truly heard from you since the your win in Walmart, and I just wanted to ask what your last couple weeks have been like since that win.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: It's been feel really good, I mean, like after I get my second one. So it's more confidence getting on me. I mean, all the game is a getting -- I think it's getting better, but like we win just like yesterday, not today or tomorrow at all, so we just keep trying and keep momentum going and then, you know, like keep the hard work, keep the good work on it.

THE MODERATOR: Some people say the first win is hard but sometimes the second win feels harder. Do you agree with that or would you disagree?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I agree with that.

THE MODERATOR: Okay. Why?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I don't know. I mean, like both are hard. First one is hard. I know how it's feel because like, you know, like when you play good but some other play better than you, so you have to wait until your time.

And you play against all the best player in the world. I mean, like every players can play really low score and then you have to beat them.

So I know it's really hard, but for me second one is hard, yeah, like they said. I just feel it's hard because when you get the first one and then you have to, you know, like get it better, like work it more to put more effort, and then to put everything on it to get better and get your second win.

LPGA Tour is not that easy, guys.

THE MODERATOR: How much did that win prove to you that everything that you're doing is the right thing?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, I put really hard on it. I be out here alone. I mean, my coach wasn't here. He back in Thailand. He was here sometime when I need him, so he come over here sometime, but he was back in Thailand.

And then I think couple times that my swing got like a bit off or something is off, so I have to put more work on it and then I have to, you know, like online, like doing online with him.

And then, yeah, I put really hard work. He knows. Like on the night, like Thailand it's midnight, I call him, like could you give me a drills or something. Could we figure it out my swing, my short game, or something that I have to work.

THE MODERATOR: And you went from that win in Arkansas to again an impressive week in Texas to be able to have a Top 5 performance there as well. Being in contention can take a toll on people mentally and physically. What does it mean to you to be able to see yourself in contention week after week out here, especially in those certain circumstances?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, you know, like just playing consistently is pretty hard. I mean, like with different courses every week, so you have to be like find the key on the course. I mean, like which courses -- some course you don't have to hit driver. Like Walmart we don't have to hit driver that much.

Then back to Texas, it's run-out a lot so we don't have to hit driver again. I think like if we can find the key in every course should be really good for yourself to adjust to the course every single week.

And be in contention is pretty hard, because like you're like, oh, you're not Top 5, and you have to focus on your game to get it better, to hit it pretty good, like had a good solid week every week.

So you mentally have to be strong as well.

THE MODERATOR: Yeah. Before I open it up, because of the play that you've had over this entire season, you're in a tight race with Hye-Jin Choi for Rolex Rookie of the Year.

Is that something you've been keeping track of or is that a goal you had set once coming out to the LPGA Tour?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Not at all. I mean, like if I can get it, it's just the outcome that I couldn't expect anything with it. Like I couldn't, you know, like control anything with it, because like if her -- not just Hye-Jin, I mean, beginning of the year before we started, if her or all the rookies or all the players have been rookie this year, they better than me, so I couldn't control anything.

So just keep focus on myself pretty much, not the trophy, not the award. Just keep myself to getting better every single day.

THE MODERATOR: Understandably.

Q. Not only are you playing consistently, but playing on these courses for the first time compared to your peers who have seen them. What advantages are there to seeing a course multiple times?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I think it's pretty hard. I mean, like I heard from other players that been on tour for a while that say the rookie year is the hardest year ever because like first year you haven't seen all the courses before and then you have to adjust it.

And then first year on the tour traveling and then have to make the schedule to suit yourself as well.

And then sometime rookies to have play all the events of the year because like you don't know your ranking, you have to keep your ranking better to keep your card.

So I think it's pretty hard to, you know, like play like first time on every course and then have to adjust yourself pretty quickly to get on it.

So I think should be better next year because I'll play this year already. (Smiling.)

Q. That strong play this year has you No. 2 in the world rankings, very close to No. 1. How much is that on your mind and has that been a goal for you?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: One thing that I have, like I really want to do, it's like no matter where I am, like No. 1 in the world, No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 100, 1000, I want to be same -- like I want to be same as like before, not like changing myself. Want to be like having fun on it, not really taking serious. I don't want to think that I be like a superstar or act like you're No. 1 in the world.

Yeah, it's No. 1 that I think I really want to do, just keep being me. I don't really think about the ranking that much.

I mean, like I said, it's the outcome that we couldn't control anything with it.

Q. When you were at Walmart, how many times would you hit driver a day there?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Wow. Not many. Like three, four. Because, I mean, it's not the long course, and then the fairway, it's pretty narrow as well on the Walmart.

I mean, it's no point to hit a driver on it, so that's why I'll take a hybrid and 3-woods on the tee pretty much.

Q. When you are able to use your driver, is that a particular club you like to take out of the bag and watch it soar?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Actually, I like to hit driver. I really like to hit driver. I think the key for me at Walmart, it's pretty much -- because like I keep my ball in the fairway like pretty much, so I can go to the pin like easy. I can go like aggressive to the pin pretty easy because like you are in the fairway and like a good position.

So, yeah. But I love driver anyway.

Q. You talked a little bit about consistency earlier. We'll see you in most of the events coming up towards the end of the year. What are some of the goals that you have put in place for yourself, or are there any goals that you have put in place for yourself for the rest of the season?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Actually, I think for this year I think I achieve really much, like a lot of my goal already, so I think tough work for me as well.

So just enjoy the rest of the season is the most important. I am pretty grateful that we going back to like Asia, Korea and Japan. It's pretty grateful and then I'm looking forward to playing Asia.

Q. When you talk about a busy off season, is that the work that you want to put into your game, or is that more what you have planned to go back home?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, the work I have to put in my games, because if I -- I mean, as you guys know, I'm nineteen years old. First year on the tour, so I don't have that much experience as other players that been on tour for a while.

So I know what I have to improve on my game, what my game like have to improve. And then I have a lot of mistake as well, too. You know, like figure it out, trying to getting better.

So, yeah. That's what I have to do on the off-season.

Q. Do you feel as if you've changed as a player from when you started this seen as a rookie to now as the season is coming to an end?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: No. (Laughter.)

Q. Still same (indiscernible.)?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Still same, yeah. Still making the same like mistake on the course. I mean on the course.

Yeah, but we try because I know golf is the game of mistake. No one wouldn't take a mistake on the golf course because like golf is a game of mistakes. So less mistake that you did, so the better result you get. So you have to figure it out all the mistake on the course.

And then, like I said, my experience is not that much as theirs because nineteen years old, first year on the tour, guys. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: With that, I think we're all good. Thank you so much, Atthaya.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Thank you.