COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 11, 2023

Atthaya Thitikul

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Atthaya Thitikul after her first round at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Atthaya, coming off a win as a team last week. How different was coming back here and playing stroke play for you? Were you more than prepared for that?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, obviously today I play with Patty as well. I mean, like it's kind of remind me like last week.

And then, yeah, it's kind of totally different than the team or the match play, and then but I trying to focus more. I mean, like I'm so tired. I mean, like this is my four week in a row, and then I last two day when I practice it's like, oh, my God, I'm so tired.

So just I don't want to focus like so much or be (indiscernible) on the course, so just to be like, okay, my last week. Going to try to do my best.

Q. I was going to ask, you must be a little tired. How do you manage your game differently when you're feeling maybe more fatigued or tired?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, it's kind of feels sore, tired at the same time I would say. Last week we play 36 hole on the last day, and then, yeah, it's just -- what I have to do is keep like drink a lot of water, as much as I can, because like it's warm out here.

And then for the game it's not pretty much different. What I trying to do is keep the ball on the fairway this week because it's really ball striking week.

Q. So just wondering, going off last week with Thailand capturing the International Crown, what is your background growing up in Thailand and getting into the sport and who are some of your inspirations?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I started when I was six years old. I think the one introducing me to golf is my grandfather, and I think it's around 13 I got into like Thailand National Golf Team. It's kind of like big change for me and my golf career, because like when I got there in the National Team and kind of like representing the country at the same time, and then it's kind of nice to be there. I've been there for three years.

And then growing up watching all the Thai players here on the LPGA, they kind of like inspiring me to one day I want to be on the LPGA Tour.

Q. Only one bogey on the card today, on the first hole. How do you recover from that and just put together a string of birdies?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I mean, like first hole it's really tight hole on the, you know, on the layout of the fairway. I hit a pretty good one. Hit a pretty good second shot as well but just a bad chip shot, and that's it.

But as I say, I think it's pretty ball striking week. What you have to do is be patient and keep your ball on the fairway. And also green, it's not easy to read the putt as well.

So what I did today, just like, okay, keep be patient and just fine the key and just two-putt -- I think even par should be a good score for this course as well.

Q. You played here last year, right? What do you remember about your performance and the course here last year?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: I think I shot like -- I shoot like 9-under on the last round.

Q. Yeah, I remember that.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, and it's kind of like yes, I do like this course. I pretty like this course. It's in a good shape. I know it's a little narrow, but not as last week that we had.

But like the condition-wise so good. It's in a good shapes. Then I had really good memories here, like shot 9-under last year. Is kind of nice to be out here again.