BANK OF HOPE LPGA MATCH-PLAY

May 28, 2023

Pajaree Anannarukarn

Shadow Creek

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here inside the media center for the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards, and I am honored to be joined by this year's champion, Pajaree Anannarukarn.

You said it on the green, I want to start out. You have talked about the journey to get to this moment over the last two years. How does it feel to see all that work worth it?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Yeah, it's a good feeling to finally see that after all the hard work it's finally paying off. And I just looking back I'm really glad that I didn't give up and just, you know, just kept myself -- just keep pushing myself and trying to work it back up and trying to, you know, improve on every little thing that I have to.

It just seems to be working well.

Q. We saw you win in 2021 in Northern Ireland and here we are two years later. What has this journey been like for you?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: After that win I played some decent golf afterwards, and things started not going well probably mid of 2022, last year. I tried to stay positive and tried to figure out what it's going on with my game, because sometimes you never know like how you start losing a little bit of things about your golf.

I'm really glad that I was able to, you know, have a lot of good people around me that helped me along the way, and my dad, my coach, everyone, just they are always there and they want me to get better and they believe in me.

I'm really glad that I have them with me, by my side, yeah.

Q. Just reflecting on the match that was, just walk us through what the strategy was for you and the mentality going forward with today.

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I tried to finish the last 18, second 18. I mean, I probably have to start working on my cardio because I wasn't really feeling that much -- I mean, I feel like I need to work on my cardio obviously, just keeping up with that heart rate because it's been pumping so hard on the second 18.

I think when it comes to match play there is a lot of golf for you to play once you get in -- especially when you get into the final 36 holes to play. I just really tried to stay hydrated out there because it's really heating up in the afternoon. Just tried to stay patient and keep eating. (Smiling.)

Q. During the match when she hit it so close on 13, you responded right way on 14 and hit one just as close. Can you talk about how that -- what your mental approach was after 13?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I think I told Jesus, my caddie, I think Ayaka lose this hole. She has been pretty decent, like hit a great shot. I saw her shot on the media the other day on 13, the par-3, right, and it was a great shot; little draw there.

And even today it was the same thing. So it's fun to watch.

Again, I think it's a fun experience to play match play because I think at the end of the day you're just really I think just focusing on your game and seeing another player play, and it was fun to watch I think.

Yeah, especially that shot on 13. I wasn't expecting to hit that close on the 14 though. It was a tough pin location, but I really tried to hit the green and middle of the green and really focus on where I wanted to land the ball. Turned out great. Turned out great.

Q. Did you have any idea a week like this was coming? You haven't had the results this year, but did you feel your game was close and you were ready to win?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: No. Unfortunately. To be honest, I mean, I really believed that I can win, but there is a lot of things going on right now for me that I have to work on, and I think the good thing is I really stayed focused to my process and my -- like what I need to work on.

It seems to be working well though, and I think it's a good thing. But I didn't expect it to be -- to show the result this fast. But if I were to play this week, did I expect to win? I think I'm just out here to play and like obviously to get a win, that's definitely a goal.

But to see what I've been doing and what I've been playing, there is a lot of things I've been working, on and I not trying to get ahead of myself.

So I try to focus on what I'm doing and every single day I try to work on my things to get better, a percent better every day, and that's good enough for me.

Q. So sounds like there was a little doubt in your mind. After a win on such a tough tournament, when you go to New Jersey next week how high is the confidence now?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: It's definitely good. It's a good thing to have a win on the back for sure. I mean, there is a lot of things that I have to focus right now, and I'm really glad I was able to pull it out this week.

I mean, I think it comes to a lot on mentally trusting yourself that you have this and you've got this.

Again, like I said earlier, I didn't think that I would be able to win this week, but I just tried to do my best on every single shot and it work out good. I just tried to hopefully stay mentally strong out here and it just worked.

So I will probably plan on doing that and keep working on what I'm doing right now, and hopefully it will show good results.

Q. You said a number of times that there are a lot of things going on. What are the things going on in particular?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: My golf game. (Laughter.)

So like, again, like since last year there is a lot of things that I wanted to improve on, because, again being you have it -- golf, when you have it, you have it. When you don't, you're just trying to figure out which part of the game, what's going on.

I think there is a lot of things I've been working on right now in like swing change a little bit, and, you know, how I approach the shots and strategy on the course and things like that. That's what I mean by a lot, yeah.

Q. You mentioned that your dad was not able to make to this week. What was the reason for that?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Oh, I think he needs a break from me. (Laughter.)

No, trust me, I really want him to be traveling with me, but then he thinks that it's about time for him to be back home and maybe getting to the retirement age or something.

So I'm really sad he wasn't here, but I'm glad that he is in Thailand right now watching and supporting me. We're actually on a call every day, so it's definitely -- yeah, I still miss him, but it's good that we were able to call and talk to each other every day.

Q. Was there any advice he gave you last night heading into today?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: He asked me what did I do today -- what did I do well today and just keep doing it. (Laughter.)

He said, oh, yeah, yeah. He said, stay hydrated and eat a lot. That's what he been saying. Good rest. Yeah, you've been doing well.

So that's what pretty much he said.

Q. You reflect about last year's challenges. Were there any particular low points that you were thinking about that you rebounded from from that rough stretch from July through October last year?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Again, I think I've been playing some good golf up until European swing, which I really like Evian and the British Open, Scottish Open course. It's just -- it was just not the week or even the defending champion in Northern Ireland. I mean, I like playing link course in Europe, and it wasn't a good event because I started playing not so good. I mean, I missed -- I missed the cut by a stroke at Evian, and then I figured out I wasn't hitting, striking the ball well, and then I started freaking out, talking to my coach.

It's just sometimes it's hard to improve it right away, because when you're on the road, it's just you don't have that much time to work on it and to get back on track.

So I think that's why there is a stretch that I wasn't really there, but it was good that I was able to like have good ranking after playing Asian swing and have maybe a week or so I'll have to get rest and work on back home.

And I played well in Japan and then back in CME. Wasn't doing well at Pelican, but I played some good golf. It was just not my week.

And finish like top 6, I mean, top 10 for the CME, so that really boost my confident up a little.

I think during off season I've been working on couple stuff that I need to work on, and also got some rest because it's been quite a year for me.

But, yeah, again, I'm still having a lot of things that I want to improve on. Golf is never ending, so you have to always like, you know, to figure your game and figure out the courses and every week it's always different.

Q. And with the win you're now exempt into the U.S. Women's Open. What does that mean that you'll tee it up at Pebble?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: To be honest, playing on the weekend, I was like, okay, this is going to be an opportunity for me to practice playing 36 holes before I do the qualifying for U.S. Open. I mean, I thought about it like if I really going to win this week I wouldn't probably have to do the qualifying.

But, you know, golf is golf, and not until 18 you win know if you're going to be a winner. So just try to stay focused, like bring myself back.

THE MODERATOR: We saw Team Thailand take home the Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crown, and now you, the first Thai winner of 2023. What does is say for the evolution of Thai golf in the past year and the past couple months?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: I think we got lucky to have such an inspiring golfers out here. Moriya and Ariya been a big -- and everyone in the past been a big role model for us, and I think we just have a lot of good support back home. Like the parents and everyone and the courses, and I think the future is bright.

It's great to see how the new generation is starting to play a lot more golf and golf more -- like seems to be more like a sport where everyone can get to play. It's good to see that.

And obviously Hanwha was fun. I was watching, so it was great to be rooting back home. You know, it's just great. Yeah.

THE MODERATOR: And you have a birthday in two days. Making your way after this to Mizuho. Are you going to celebrate this win in New York City along with your birthday?

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: We'll be on the course on Tuesday, so you'll see me there. We'll definitely go play a nine holer and then practice, and we'll see what we're going to do for dinner and have some maybe nice dinner for birthday.

Yeah, looking forward to that.

THE MODERATOR: Well, thank you and congratulations once again.

PAJAREE ANANNARUKARN: Thank you.