MODERATOR:  Happy to be joined in the media center by 2016 Volvik Championship winner, Ariya Jutanugarn.  Third in a row, how does it feel?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Feel good.  Get a little bit excited before this round but that’s getting better and after that I feel great.
Q.  Michael said you were going to take a break this week?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Next week.
Q.  This next week to take a break and get ready for the next major?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yes, and I just really want to rest right now because I feel like I play four week in a row but I play like only two weeks because after (inaudible) I went back to Thailand so like few day and so I get really tired right now so I need rest.
Q.  What do you think’s been the difference for you this year compared to last year in your game and just your ability out here on the tour?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  I think last year I have chance to win like few tournament last year but I didn’t learn like how to play with pressure, like I didn’t know how to play golf.  But this year, like especially last few week so I learn and I know how to play under pressure.
Q.  How good can you be?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  How good can I be?  I really want to be top five in the world, that my goal.
Q.  You’re almost there already. You’re going to have a reassess your goals, right?  
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yes, but after I reach my goal first.
Q.  Can you go back to this first major this year when you were in position to win and you finished with the three bogeys, what did that do for you? Did that help you learn how to win in a big situation even though it didn’t go well then?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Of course, I bring up ANA like I don’t know how to play with pressure, I don’t know how to control when I got really nervous.  So after that actually I get a lot more confident after ANA because I feel like I’m good enough to win, so after that is just getting more and more confident.
Q.  Do you feel like you needed something like that to happen to get to this point now?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yeah, I mean, after ANA I really want to win so I just work hard and try to do everything to make me win the LPGA.
Q.  We’re going to make a big deal about your third straight win, it’s going to get a lot of headlines, a lot of attention, but how big of a deal ‑‑ do you think it’s a bigger deal to win three straight or to win the first time? How do you compare the two?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  I think first on LPGA is harder.
MODERATOR:  You mentioned earlier after you won that first time, you went back to Thailand.  What was the reception like for you when you got back there as the first Thai winner?  How were you greeted by anyone?  Were there any celebrations?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yeah, a lot actually.  I went back for like four day and I have all the media every day so they really excited and really happy about it.
Q.  What do you think you could have done at this course if you had been able to hit your driver? Do you think you would have scored better or played better if you weren’t restricted by not being able to hit driver?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yeah, not hit drive, I think I’m not going to win.  This course too narrow to hit driver and I don’t need to hit driver because I can hit 3‑wood, like I can have second shot pretty short with my 3‑wood.
Q.  Did you feel restricted by not being able to hit ‑‑ did you feel less comfortable?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  No, I feel more comfortable with no driver.
MODERATOR:  When do you make that decision that you’re not going to use a driver during a week?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  I didn’t know until my caddie walked the course on Monday and he come talk to me and he’s like, You don’t need driver this course.  I’m like okay, so I’m not going to bring my driver out.  And after I play 18 holes, I know I don’t need driver.
Q.  Are there other tournaments you’ve played without using driver before?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yeah, I did ANA no driver.  And Singapore this year, no driver.
Q.  What was the longest 3‑wood you hit this week, do you know the yardage?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  Yeah, maybe 270.
Q.  I thought it was more.
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  I hope so.
Q.  Where do you feel you took control of the tournament today? Was it on the 13th hole or where do you feel you were starting to pull away?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  After front nine, I mean front nine I really excited and nervous and I don’t even think like what I have to do, I just feel like I don’t want to have bogey, I don’t want to miss left or miss right.  And back nine I just feel like okay, I just have to do what is under my control and it just give me a lot better.
Q.  You talked about learning to deal with the pressure in helping you win. When you’re trying to survive the cut, too, there’s pressure there.  Is there a different sensation to the pressure when you’re poised to win compared to when you’re just trying to make the cut and get the weekend?
MODERATOR:  Do you feel a different kind of pressure trying to make the cut versus trying to win, to finish off a win?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  I mean, it different because like when I try to make the cut, I want to make the cut.  And the other thing is I can’t even hit the ball because I’m scared, because I worry only I want to make the cut and I’m scared to miss the cut.
But win, I mean, after first tournament, so last few holes in my first tournament win I didn’t feel like I’m want to ‑‑ sorry, I didn’t feel like I’m scared like at all this week, but like first tournament win I really scared and I didn’t ‑‑ sorry.  I don’t even know what I’m saying.  (Laughs.)  Ask me again, that one not good.  Sorry.  Say again.  Easier.
Q.  Is there a difference to the pressure when you’re out here just trying to make cuts and survive on the tour compared to now when you’re battling for victories and pulling them off?
ARIYA JUTANUGARN:  So I got really stress like last year I really want to make the cut and I missed like every single cut.  But right now when I tried to win, I didn’t feel that much anymore.  So I feel okay, especially this week because like five‑shot lead before last hole, so feel better.  Is that good?
MODERATOR:  Yes.  Anything else for Ariya?  Well, great playing this week, congratulations on three in a row.

Photo: LPGA

Author: MI Asian Staff