BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 27, 2023

Pajaree Anannarukarn

Shadow Creek

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, we're here with Pajaree, our first semifinalist. How do you feel?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Tired. (Laughter.)

I mean, it was a great round on the second 18. It was obviously very tiring for me because I didn't really get to play 36 hole this much, so it was a great learning experience as well.

I feel like my body started to feel a little numb on the 5th and 6th, so glad I was able to follow it all the way to the 16.

Q. What did you do in between the rounds? We didn't get to talk to you after the round of 16 match. What did you do in between to refocus to go out again?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I mean, just try to -- we got about two hours' rest after the first round, so I had some really good lunch and then just laid back a little for a couple -- like 30 minutes, and I think just tried to tell myself to focus on every single shot that I can and that is just what I've been doing well the last 18 holes.

Q. Held the lead for a lot of the front, most of the front. Carlota started to come back a little bit. What was it in your mind that you were like, all right, time to focus, let's finish out this round?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I think she played great after that eagle on the 9th, so it was a very close match. I think I just tried to really focus on my game, again, just trying to play one shot at a time and not trying to get myself ahead of myself too much.

So just try to stay in the present moment and, again, that's what I've been doing well and I'm glad that I was able to focus on that.

Q. I was going to ask similar. When she holed out on 9 and then almost holed out on 11, did you feel the momentum swinging and you just had to refocus at that point?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Not really. I mean, I was really happy that she made that because it's really -- it was a great shot coming from at that bunker shot. It was a tough pin location and she hit it out great.

She hit a great shot on 10 as well, as well as 11. I was a little disappointed for myself on that 11th hole, but it's match play so we still got couple holes to go and try not to get myself discouraged.

Just try to focus back on track again.

Q. So you were down this morning to Cheyenne and you were down to Carlota on the back nine. Is there something about your mental approach that just allows to you keep pushing ahead?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Yeah, just to be honest, I wasn't really playing well on the back nine the first three rounds to be honest.

I have that record for myself, and I just really set my goal trying to make a lot of pars on the back nine and that's good enough for me.

Yeah, I was happy that I was able to play some good back nines today.

Q. Do you have any -- did you think at all yesterday about having to be in a playoff and here you are in the semifinals now and in the playoff your drive ends up in a divot? Does just it just seem like destiny maybe that you're here?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Yes, I mean, after that shot, hitting good off the tee and out of the divot, I mean, I just really tried to stay patient and positive.

I think that just really help a lot. To be honest, I wasn't really expect that I would be in this far, and, you know, I'm really just really happy.

Q. And looks like you're probably going to play Linn Grant. Have you ever played with her before?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: No. We actually never played together.

Q. Do you know anything about her game?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I mean, I heard many good things about her, especially she winning that men and woman event. I think that was really very inspiring.

I think it's good that I will be playing with her tomorrow and getting to know her. Looking forward to it.

Q. One last one from me. You talk about your body starting to shut down around 5 or 6. What was the motivation to combat just being like, all right, I played enough golf, I'm over this?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I mean, to be honest, like I hit it way off with the 8 -- like almost out of bounds with the 8-iron.

Again, I really stay patience out there and I think it worked out for me. I had a really good focus on that chip and I had a good chip out from there. I just kind of kept telling myself to stay patience again because it's hot out here and every one is going to be tired, everyone is going to feel the same.

So that's what I do and I try to stay positive as much as I can.