THE CHEVRON CHAMPIONSHIP

April 18, 2024

Atthaya Thitikul

The Club at Carlton Woods

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Atthaya Thitikul after her first round at The Chevron Championship; season debut. Just talk about how it felt to be back out there today.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, it felt pretty good to be back out here stepping on the ground, first round. Also in Texas, also in Chevron, like the first major of the year, which is kind of excited, kind of nerves out there on the first hole because I haven't been here for a long time.

But obviously nice to see like all the people come out and then also nice to see me on the course as well.

Q. Absolutely. You said you had a bogey on the first. Saw you on the first tee. You looked super happy to be there, smiling already. Just first tee jitters you mentioned on the first hole?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah.

Q. Then you seemed to settle in, making a few birdies along the way. How do you feel like your ball striking was out there? I know you said you changed your grip a little bit.

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, today was -- I think off the tee was pretty good out there for me, but just maybe some approaching shot that's just not, you know, in the A-game yet.

But obviously I take it for all. I think off the tee good. Just have to figure it out with my approaching like irons-wise.

So should be better.

Q. You made a couple birdies there down the stretch to heading into tomorrow. What kind of confidence does that give you posting a good score like this plus a few birdies to wrap up, especially in the first tournament back?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, I mean, I have talk to my caddie on the first tee, like oh, first drive of the year went on the fairway. (Smiling.)

Also I think hole No, 4 is a par-5 that I got birdie, and turn around and I saw him and I'm just like, oh, my first birdie of the year. (Smiling.)

And end up with a birdie on the first day as my first round of the year, which is kind of good sign. Then gave me a lot of motivation to have more confident for the rest of the week.

Q. I think you mentioned yesterday about kind of not having a lot of expectations about today's round. Do you think you held on to that while you were playing today, staying positive, not thinking so much ahead?

ATTHAYA THITIKUL: Yeah, of course. I mean, trying to be myself out there, which is kind of fun, and then enjoy it out there, smiling out there no matter what it is.

And also trying to stay on the present, not really upset with things that behind and also not really think or worry about the things that's coming.

So I think I did pretty good job out there to stay positive and stay in the present.