HONDA LPGA THAILAND

February 21, 2024

Patty Tavatanakit

Siam Country Club Pattaya, Old Course

Press Conference

Q. All right, Patty, welcome back to the Honda LPGA Thailand. Overall, coming off last week, as you have been able to reflect over the last couple days, how gratifying was it to get back in the winner's circle?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, it almost like changes a lot of perspective that I have like about myself and my game. In a good way. So I'm just here this week to try to have fun and play in front of Thai fans and my parents.

Q. I know it was emotional, first professional win since 2021, and you've talked about the journey to get there. Over the last couple years since Chevron you've talked about the highs and lows. What were some of those highs and what were some of those lows that you feel like you've been able to reflect on?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I've had a really good finish, two good finishes last year that I can remember off the top of my head, at PV and at Scottish. I was in contention at Scottish and I didn't have a good finish. I learned a lot from that. Had a lot to reflect on. I feel like I played solid, 65, 67 holes, and just didn't finish great.

Instead of looking at it the way where it's detrimental, if anything, I learned so much. There was 60-something holes that I had a really good result, so instead of just focusing on the bad, I could have just built on that.

Overall, I feel like I'm in a much better place this year in terms of practice, preparation, my team too. So I'm really grateful to have all the people I listed on my Instagram post to be on my team, and they've been a tremendous help.

Q. The win last week, in the context of your pro golf journey, where does that rank for you?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Honestly, that was like, if anything, it ranked like a little bit higher than my major win just because the first one is -- like they say the first someone kind of the easiest, like easy come.

The second, I feel like that was really, really hard. It took a long time for me to get the second one. It's a lot more energy consuming because I have more scars than the first time. To overcome those little blemishes I had in the past is a really like proud moment.

Q. What does a win on the LET, in an event like last week, do for your confidence now that the LPGA season is about to go full swing?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, I feel like my game is in a good place. Still a lot to work on and learn and to grow as well. Just going to take it shot by shot, week by week, and see. I still have a lot of things I want to accomplish, and I feel like that was just the beginning.

Q. What is it like returning back to your home country, playing in front of hometown fans? You have had some good success and good memories here. What to like it come off a win to playing in your hometown?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah, if anything I feel like my game is at a good place. I feel like I'm going to have way more fun this year than last year to play in front of the fans and my family. I feel like I'm here and I can play and be myself. Like I just want to have fun playing in front of all the fans and my parents.

Q. How has the win shifted your mindset as a whole? I know you're reflective any time you play, but does it readjust anything in the mindset or prove to you what you've known all along?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: A little bit of both. I feel like what I'm doing, what I adjusted in my off-season is on the right path. If anything, there is definitely more confidence, just more athletic, and I just want to keep being those two for the rest of the season.

Q. What are some of the things you worked on in the off-season and what was the biggest factor that helped gain that momentum to the win?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I think communication with like my team, where like I give everyone -- I'm driver of the bus and they let me drive my own bus, which I'm so grateful for. No one is trying to take over me. Everyone basically has an input. They have their own assigned like kind of job. This person takes care of this part, this person -- it's like I'm building that whole -- I'm a CEO of my company and this person works on different jobs.

I feel like that was really well organized. Prioritized my life pretty well over the off-season. If anything, practice has a lot to come into play with that as well with the prioritization.

Q. And how do you feel kind of as a different player? You talked about ranking the win a little bit above Mission Hills. How do you feel as a player difference-wise than when you were winning at Mission Hills?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: I have a lot more information in me. I'm older. I've been through a lot more than when I won at Mission Hills, so there is a lot more thoughts because I'm older, too.

So I think that's the difference.

But then I also have a really solid team now who can help guide me through those obstacles where it would peek in. I think I have more tools to be able to manage it.

Q. And one last one from me. I know that a lot of golfers don't necessarily check the rankings every single week. This year being an Olympic year, with that win you've really been able to rise up the rankings. When you started this year, were the Olympics, getting back to the Olympics a goal for you?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: Yeah.

Q. After that win, has it become more of a goal and priority for you?

PATTY TAVATANAKIT: It is at the back of my mind for sure. I really want to make Olympics just because like it's the Olympics. I want to represent my country and play.

But I can't really control that outcome. The system is the system. No one can really beat it. The only way to really beat it is play good golf. That's also out of my control. The rest of the field, like it's depending how everyone is playing.

All I got to do is stick to what I have planned for and just focus on myself, and I know I'll give it my best. Even though if I don't get in, knowing at the back of my mind and heart that I gave it my best will not disappoint me.