THE ANNIKA DRIVEN BY GAINBRIDGE AT PELICAN

November 9, 2023

Patty Tavatanakit

Pelican Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Patty Tavatanakit. Patty, 63 in your opening round here at Pelican Golf Club. What was working so well for you?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think my scoring has been like really good for the past couple tournaments now. I feel like I'm making birdies.

But today like I just didn't make any bogeys, so it turned out great. Overall it was a good flow.

Q. You just mentioned it: Bogey-free in your opening round. What were you seeing out there? How was the course playing to suit your strengthens a little bit?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Honestly, I think it played a little on the short side today. Greens were fast but they were receptive, so there are pins that you can go for it.

But overall like it's still -- it took a lot out of me to shoot 7-under today. It's not playing that easy but playing a bit shorter.

Q. And you had that stretch of three in a row on the front nine. Walk us through that.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I was just in the zone. I feel like I just kept executing each shot and my putter felt really good today, so was able to drop three in a row.

Q. 63, low round the season. Just at this point in the year with what you got to do this week, does it feel good to get a low one, like real low one in the bag?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, for sure. Really like how you put the question there.

Yeah, I've been like preparing for this event. Obviously I knew what I had to do. I'm pretty stressed, but at the same time, I feel like I did everything under my control. I did everything with no regrets.

I'm just going to be out here and know at the back of my mind that I did everything I could. Like there is in regrets there, so it's a little bit of a secure mindset.

Q. I like that. You've had a pretty solid season as a whole.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah.

Q. To be at this point now, what have you been locking in on as far as your game goes? I was talking to your caddie. Didn't seem like there was much to improve on after today, but what have you been working on?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think just be athletic and just bringing back to the flow of playing golf. I feel like that has been the toughest challenge.

But overall, you know, I did really good today and I felt like the past three, couple events I played in Asia I did that really well, too. Just things weren't falling in the right place at the right time.

Q. Walk me through the birdie on 18. That green is insane with the slopes, water short. I mean, what was the mindset there? Hit it close looked like.

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, so I had 3-wood off the tee and it turned out to be a pretty short hole for me. I only had a 50 wedge in.

So if I were to have 7-iron into that pin it would've been really scary, not going to lie. But just a wedge. I feel like the dispersion if I miss a little bit it would still be on the green, so just pick the right number and I ended up hitting it good and made the putt.

Q. Last question from me: I know you played here the last couple years. This golf course typically has a few more teeth in it; like you said, it wasn't easy out there. What do you think about it today that's making it so scorable?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Like I said, it's not playing that long and the greens are receptive, so I feel like you can really get at it. Like you can really go after it if you are feeling good.

Q. Are you typically that aggressive kind of player that if it's a little bit soft you're going at every pin?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Smart but aggressive I would say. Just be on the right side. That's what I try to be. Not every time you hit it where you want to go.