CME GROUP TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

November 23, 2024

Jeeno Thitikul

Tiburon Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Jeeno after the third round. Really great round today. Talk about how it went out there for you.

JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, I think I hit better than the first day. Also yesterday as well. I mean, like I just trying to make it the lowest score that I can.

Today it's my caddie birthday and definitely he going to say, oh, because my birthday why you shoot like a really good score.

Q. Your present to him.

JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, just a present, and hopefully I can get a big check for him tomorrow.

Q. Talk about the last two holes, finishing eagle, birdie to get the lead there. Just what was going through your head?

JEENO THITIKUL: Actually nothing specific or much. Just like we know 17, it's reachable par-5, so I just trying to hit second shot on the green, which is like easy to have like easy birdie.

Hit really good, went to the pin, and then not that far for the eagle. Then the lie was kind of good. I'm the person who like downhill putts more than uphill. I don't know why. It's just weird.

But on 18 nothing. Just trying to make par. I have no idea how I can hole that putt in as well.

Q. Obviously had a really fun pairing today with Ronni, your best friend out here. What does her friendship mean to you on and off the golf course?

JEENO THITIKUL: It's mean a lot us. As you can see, like we are here, especially with Asia and that we really far from home. Being on Tour is tough life and I think having her by my side as a friend, player, as someone who you can talk to everything through your life during the year just mean a lot.

When I have a bad day she's still there and when she have a bad day or like struggling with anything I'm still there for her as well. Which mean, yeah, we compete in the course but we not really -- I just talk with Ronni as well. We not really carry all the things that happen on the course outside to our friendship, kind of thing outside.

So that is like really nice that our chemistry, it's like really suit each other. That's why it's turn out to be really fun.

Q. For you, I know you've come close. Got that win as part of the team Jin & Ronic at the Dow. For you, seems like you've come close a lot this year. How are you looking to get it across the line tomorrow and pick up another trophy?

JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, I know I've been contention for a while. I think since FM until now. I think all that I have done for the past, I think I going to the right direction to one day I can lift the trophy or it's going to be tomorrow or not.

But like I mean, I proud of what I have did. Because like Maybank, I just did the best I can do but Ronni just did really, really good job out there. Tomorrow it's just depend on the -- I just still believe that if like if it's your turn and then it's your turn.

So I just waiting for -- it's just depend on the matter of time and I also like give it all 100% every day being out there on the course. Whatever it's going to happen tomorrow, I take it as learning experience. It's not about life or death. It's just like what we play and then we just trying to improve ourself.

Q. Was there a moment in time when it felt like life or death to you?

JEENO THITIKUL: It has at time felt like life and death, and I just felt like you still going to be in this situation for sure in the future. This is not my only time that I'm be in contention. Definitely in the future I'm going to be in this situation again. But no matter when.

And then you're not going to make it like 100% of every time that you've been in contention or been on the lead. I don't think we going to win it every time. So this is just only one like opportunity that -- yeah, to give you opportunity. Depends on you are going to did it or not.

It's not depends on just you. It's depends on others as well. So on your part, just trying to do my best whatever result going to come. But that's all my best.

Q. You're in position to potentially leave Naples with $5 million. Is that something that is kind of hard to wrap your head around?

JEENO THITIKUL: Actually, $1 million is really good enough for me. If I can get more, it's definitely going to be a nice, because as my team know I spend a lot of money.

That's why I have to, you know, keep playing good golf, like spending on shopping day. Also back five days, I just spend yesterday as well.

Q. What do you like to spend money on?

JEENO THITIKUL: It's a lot of thing I buy. Just silly things, important things. I don't know. Actually, that's nice that I'm here because my parent won't know what I'm spending.

But don't tell my parents that. (Laughter.)

Q. You've done so much in such a shorter season compared to a lot of other players out here.

JEENO THITIKUL: Yeah, yeah.

Q. How would you describe that? It's been really remarkable to watch that. How would you explain the season you had?

JEENO THITIKUL: True. I mean, started kind of late this year. Started the first major of the year, which is really nervous one.

And like I said earlier, every interview that I have, I have my doubt, tell myself that if I recovery am I going to be able to play the same golf that I did like last couple year or not.

A lot of doubts going through my mind, but like I think after injury changed my mind on the course a little bit. That's like I just want to play golf. I don't know what result going to come but I just want to be back like healthy and then play golf. That's all I want.

So it's not about -- we're not talking about result at all. It's kind of changing my mind.

And then I think the best thing in my life that happened this year, it's injured. And also the worst thing.

But it taught me a lot this year.