Tavatanakit eager to shine

Patty Tavatanakit cannot wait to tackle Carnoustie after working hard to improve her links game following her AIG Women’s Open debut in 2020.

In her first experience of links 12 months ago, Tavatanakit missed the cut amid brutal conditions at Royal Troon, but the 21-year-old Thai has since gone from strength to strength.

A maiden major title was secured in April at the ANA Inspiration and Tavatanakit was also fifth in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.

After those impressive performances, the world number 13 is eager to experience the challenge of a great links course once again and show how she has improved.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Tavatanakit in a news conference on the eve of the Championship. “I feel like this is the most excited I’ve been to play an event.

“I played in it last year, my first time playing links and just being in Europe. I didn’t do so well and I told my coach, I want to be better hitting these shots and be better around the green.

“I developed a lot in terms of working my game to fit the course conditions, to play in the wind and to control my flight.

“I had a really good practice in the wind last week too (at the Women’s Scottish Open), so coming into this week I feel like I’m a little bit more prepared than last year.”

Elaborating on her experience playing links golf for the first time at Troon, Tavatanakit said: “I feel like I was trying to be perfect too much and, you know, you can't really be like that on a links course.

“You've just got to be yourself and just embrace all chances and play, play like you own the course. Be brave and just no fear, and if you hit one bad shot, you've got to take your medicine and hit the next one good. Keep hitting shot after shot, just basically be present and hope for the best.”

Asked for her impressions of Carnoustie, she added: “It’s pretty narrow. I feel like it's a ball-striking course. If you just keep hitting fairways and greens, you're going to be in a good position.

“It is a pretty historical venue. I mean, I'm proud to be here and just the history of it and having a woman's major championship here, it's just been an honour.”