LPGA Q-SERIES

November 30, 2023

Trichat Cheenglab

Magnolia Grove

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, so let's get it started. You just finished your first round at the Q-Series. Just tell me a little bit about yourself, maybe your background in golf and what led you to Q-Series.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: I was just thinking about come to Q-School, two or three, like maybe before COVID, yeah, and then everything shut down, so like I just cancel the plan. Just playing Thai LPGA Tour and I have been on China Tour and Thailand Tour one year and decided to go LET, because like I know that is a good way to pass through to the final stage, so I tried the LET first.

Q. Yeah.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Because I have a little bit injury last year so I'm not ready for LPGA. Yeah, this was a good times for me for like finish LET, and I think (indiscernible - wind) also is bring more confident for me to be here.

Q. And how do you get into golf in the first place? How did you start playing?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Like my dad introduce to me. I'm a tennis player, and, yeah, it's quite hard to like, you know, to be on the tour for the professional.

And my dad find some way for me, and at that time, like Moriya and Ariya a very good player and they got into LPGA Tour. It's quite inspire the golfer for want to play on LPGA Tour, yep.

Q. Like you mentioned, you had a really impressive season on the LET winning Rookie of the Year honors. What does that mean to you? How proud are you of those accomplishments?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: It's mean a lot. Like I didn't expect to be on like number one, and my goal this year just want to be on the -- like want to win Rookie of the Year and it's turn out like a bonus for me to got that prize.

Q. And going into the last tournament, how aware were you of where you were at and that you could win Rookie of the Year? Was it weighing on you?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: It's quite pressure. Like I have to, you know, like -- it just start before the last tournament that I know that I can have a chance to win, and I didn't play as good that I think. My shot is quite bad for the driver and kind of like the golf course is not suit my style and I struggle on my putter a bit.

So like this week I like keep practicing and train a bit on the driver and the golf course is quite suit my draw-style, yeah, so I kind of like it.

Q. Is there anything else about the course that suits your style? This one. Like you mentioned your draw. Is there anything else?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Yeah, and I think like the short game is quite easy for me to like approach. Today my approach shot is very good. Not like in Spain last week. It's like bounce a lot on the green, yeah.

Q. Well, you are on a list of a few LPGA players that have won both the Race to Costa del Sol title and Rookie of the Year honors. What does that mean to be on that list of select players?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Like I saw (indiscernible) and Atthaya like play on LET and they both come here with winning of (indiscernible), and it's quite inspire and it's mean a lot; gain a lot more confident for me to be here, yeah.

Q. And especially Atthaya, how has her recent success inspired you? She had an amazing year and has won.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Yes.

Q. Are there any other Thai players that have inspired you as well?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Yes. Like before like three or four years ago, I'm not that far -- like my driver is not that far to be on tour. I saw Pornanong who keep playing on tour and she did very good, very stable consistency, so she's my idol also.

Q. That's awesome. I was going to ask you, too, have you played professionally in the United States before?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: No, haven't.

Q. Okay.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Haven't try any.

Q. Okay. That's awesome, though. I know you just had a really great first round. You had a double on the first hole. What was going through your head after that hole?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: I don't like cold weather. I keep practicing to wear many shirts and to play with this cold weather in Europe, but like my hand a like very freezing that hole so I didn't drive it well. It went into the penalty area.

But the second shot is quite good. I use 5-wood and it's in front of the green. I think the result is good for that hole.

Q. And you went bogey-free after that.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Yes.

Q. Bunch of birdies out there. What kind of clicked? You mentioned the draw being nice out here; short game. What kind of highlighted your game today?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: I just told myself I have to figure out something on my driver and just believe that, okay, if you draw, just draw it to the pin. That's it what I think.

Q. You mentioned, too, I wanted to ask you a little bit more about tennis. How long did you play tennis before you got into golf?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: I play since eight.

Q. Okay.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Yeah, and I did very good in that time.

Q. Yeah.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: Maybe I don't like landing anymore. I want to like play some sport that play, okay, chill, on the grass, not on the court.

Q. Right. How old were you when you started golf?

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: 12.

Q. Okay, cool. And then just one last time, too, can you speak to again about winning Rookie of the Year honors and Race to Costa del Sol, how important that was for you in your career and carrying into this week.

TRICHAT CHEENGLAB: To winning both Rookie of the Year and Race to Costa del Sol, you know, it's not a lot of golf player who can do that. It's mean a lot for me, for my family and my team who work very hard. We just keep doing our things, and I think my wins gain a lot of like -- bring proud to them and, you know, they like very (indiscernible), so it's kind of like bring the happiness to them also and also to the Thai fans.