PORTLAND CLASSIC

July 30, 2024

Chanettee Wannasaen

Columbia Edgewater Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome Chanettee Wannasaen to the media center here at the Portland Classic. First question is just how happy are you to be defending your title this week?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: Like I very happy to be here again because like last year everything is change after I won in Portland. So I'm like really happy to be here again.

Q. What changed for you when you won here?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: Like before I won in here, like my status in LPGA is like -- I'm going to lose the card on LPGA. After I won here I can keep the card like in LPGA this year and next year, so like every pressure is gone after I won here.

So like life after I won is changed because like mindset is change, everything is change. This year I can like play better than last year because I won in here.

So like I can let something I always like get stress, like it's gone after in here.

Q. Let's talk about memories from last year. What do you remember specifically? Any moments or anything that you remember from last year?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: This tournament on last year, I think it's just only one tournament. I feel like really happy and enjoy my golf in the course, because like after Portland I feel always like have a pressure on my mind all the time, but this golf course I don't have any pressure.

Also in last day I had like just like free, feel free, yeah. And also on hole No. 18 I saw my caddie and my manager and also like Thai players cheering for me. It was really great memories.

Q. You mentioned that this year it's been easier for you because your status is secured. How have you seen it be easier for you out on the course?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: So I think because I can play like without the pressure, like I can play, like enjoy the golf game, and so I think I can control my mind, control stress better than last year.

Last year I play like a starter golfer because a lot of the pressure before that. That make me cannot play like my golf game. But right now I can play like just free. I can enjoy my golf, enjoy the golf course, and enjoy when I made some mistake, I still enjoy the golf.

Yep.

Q. Coming into this tournament last year, had you started thinking about Q-Series, plans for 2024, maybe being on another tour outside of the LPGA coming into this event?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: I still the same because I'm going to -- if I cannot keep that on LPGA I'm still back to Q-Series or Q Stage II. I think Stage II at that time, yeah, Stage II.

I'm going to play in Stage II and Q-Series because I have dream in here, so it's like I want to be someone too like play in LPGA and -- I always cry when I talk on the golf course because I have like the great memories in here.

I have a dream I'm going to play in LPGA because LPGA is like the biggest tour in the world, so it's had a lot of like opportunity and also have like people look at me when I play in the golf course on LPGA Tour.

So I really like it, so, yeah, if I cannot keep that I still try to play in LPGA again.

Q. Obviously a lot of emotions coming up with that question. What are those emotions?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: I think about like the memories last year, because like last year I cry pretty much like when I interview in here, yeah, because everything is happen. I feel happy and feel like sometime it's sad, but after I won here, everything is gone. Just feel like nothing in my brain because like I didn't expect I'm going to win.

So last year I can do it, so that make me like unlock everything.

Q. When you won at Dana just two weeks ago - you're now a two-time winner, so I am sure you feel even less pressure - did you think about your win here when you were playing in Dana a few weeks ago?

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: Absolutely, yes. But like it's kind of different because in Portland I feel like really enjoy the golf game. Dana I'm still enjoy but it's not like in Portland.

In Dana I like have a pressure because I think like -- I'm just only think about like I'm going to win. So I don't want to be like playoff anymore because I don't like playoff.

Like it's just only win. Because like last hole, just get in. In Portland I feel like last year is like kind of like play like myself, like my golf game.

Last year I play really well in Portland. Everything is look easy when I play here.

Q. You won by a lot here last year.

CHANETTEE WANNASAEN: Yep.