THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 19, 2023

Atthaya Thitikul

The Club at Carlton Woods

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcoming Atthaya here to the media center at the Chevron Championship. Welcome to Texas. Getting ready to kick off our first major. How are you feeling? How ready are you for the first major championship of the year?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I feel nice. Chevron, it's the first major of the year every single year, so I think we are ready for a major. I'm trying to go out there and appreciate every moment of it.

Q. What do you think of the golf course so far, and what do you think it will take game-wise to win here?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think the golf course, it's kind of -- I think it's totally different than Mission Hills. I think they set it up pretty long, as well, this year, if they just stay at the original what they set up right now. I think the long hitters, it's going to get advantage a little bit.

Also the greens are pretty tricky and slopey, and you have to know where should you landing spot is.

Q. Do you know much about playing off of the type of grass here, Bermudagrass?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think Thailand has Bermudagrass, as well, but I will say I'm not get used to it, but I try my best. Sometimes it's a little grainy out there.

Q. One of the things that has happened in this event in the past is jumping into the pond. We do have a pond here. Do you think you would like to jump?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think the winner would love to, and we all would love to jump in it because it means we win the tournament.

But we'll see how it's different out there compared to the original Poppies Pond.

Q. Getting ready for the first major, it's a big purse and prestigious event. What's it like, what's the feeling when you're like a day away from actually playing in a major?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think totally the vibe is kind of different, but the way I play and the way I think about the course or the way I think about on and off the court, I think I try to keep it the same as usual, trying to do my best out there. Don't think it's a big purse, don't think it's a big event, and I don't want you thinking about the future that oh, I want to win this, I want to win that, what could happen.

I think what I can do, it's just kind of out there, even if it's a major or not.

Q. Steve asked you about the golf course. Is there one or two holes that you really like out here?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, I mean, it's a lot of holes that I like. I think I do like the second hole pretty much because I think it's really challenging when you play with the wind. It's like 439 yards; I remember that.

The first day that I practiced was on Sunday, and it's just so windy, and then it's 430 yards into the wind. I hit like driver and 207 yards to the pin left into the wind. I had my hybrid in my hand, glad that I can reach the green.

Q. What type of player can win this tournament?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, absolutely going to be a long hitter and a good short game. If you're not long but you have a good short game, you might survive on this golf course.

Q. A lot of discussions this week about how long the course is from players. What's your average club into the green on the par-4s out here?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think it depends on the wind, as well. If the wind is not picking up that much, it's not going to be that long. But if the wind is picking up, it's going to be like 7-, 6- or 5-irons.

Q. What do you think would be an ideal average club in at a major championship? What would a proper course setup look like?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Well, I mean, the course setup, it's pretty -- the course is in good shape, and like I said, it's totally different than Mission Hills. I think the greens are pretty tricky and tough. Like other players said, it's kind of hard to read the putts, as well, and I don't know what's going to happen, but let's give it a try.

Q. I know you were mentioning 5-, 6-, 7-irons into greens. What do you think would be an ideal average club into a green at a major championship?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: 7 maybe. 7 or 6 maybe, yeah.

Q. I was just curious how you'd assess your season so far and how you're playing.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: You mean last season?

Q. No, this season.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Oh, this season. Kicking off the season pretty nice with I believe that solo third at the Honda LPGA, but it's kind of like on and off, I guess. Had good day and also had a bad day, but I try to stay in contention every week if I can.

I really want to give it 100 percent every single tournament that I play and try to keep on working what I have to do, because as you can see, all the players out here, it's pretty tough to beat, and also you had to have a good game to be out here on the LPGA Tour.

Q. You had some time off since your last LPGA start. Did you work a little bit with your instructor? What have you been working on in preparation?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I do, I do work a bit with my coach. We had worked with the distance. I have gained a little bit more with the driver --

Q. Hitting it further?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, farther, like five or ten yards farther than last season, but not accurate yet for now. I try to keep it as accurate as possible.

But my game is not 100 percent in my confidence right now. I'm trying to figure it out, but sometimes golf you don't have to be perfect as 100 percent. You practice to make perfect, but you couldn't make it perfect every single shot you be here on the course.

I'm trying to keep my mindset on that and trying to do my best and give it 100 percent out there.

Q. Did you see him in person?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yes, the off-season and then not now, he is in Thailand, but I give him a call now that hey, you should come here now, I have problem. But he said just continue to do your thing. Whatever happens, just let it happen. Just keep it confident, not really technical person.

Q. You don't have a home base here yet, right?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I do. I do. I just about to buy a house in Dallas.

Q. You found one?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I found one, but it's not finished yet. It's in the process.

Q. Do you like Texas golf a lot if you're moving to Texas?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I do. I mean, do like the vibes, the weather. I know it's pretty windy, as always, but I think it's easier than going back to Thailand, and it's also easier to travel in the States because the airport is pretty nice.

Q. You were talking about not feeling 100 percent confident in your game but you've finished inside the top 16 over your last 11 starts. What's allowed you to remain so consistent over this stretch?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, like the past few weeks my game is just not really 100 percent right now. Not talk about the past, but yeah, obviously maybe the last few events that I played, I just try to put the mindset that I can do it, and sometimes it's overthinking things, I guess, and maybe now, as well, I'm trying to focus on what I have to think and I'm not really doing all the thinking things, so I try really hard.

Q. Where do you practice in the Dallas area?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: There's a lot of courses I look at, but now I'm practicing at Dallas Athletic Club. It's downtown Dallas.

Q. Are there other LPGA players there?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Just my friend Pajaree. We're not members yet but we're trying to find some courses that we -- we're trying to get the membership or something like that.

Q. Two wins under your belt on the LPGA. How big of a goal is it to win a major?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, if it happens, I would say it's going to be a really cool experience, and no one can describe if you win the major and then issues. You know it's really picky one, five times in a year.

Everyone keeps their eyes on the majors, I guess.

Yeah, I try to get it anyway because, like Jon Rahm said, if you play, just plan to win; if not, just don't play. I'm just, okay, I try to keep that mindset. If it happens, that's nice, but if not, I just trying to keep working on it.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you so much, Atthaya.