2015 Honda LPGA Thailand Round 3 Notes and Interviews

Siam Country Club, Pattaya Old Course - Chonburi, Thailand

Players battled through a hot, humid day in Thailand to finish strong during the third round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. In what looks to be an exciting final round, Stacy Lewis takes a one stroke lead into Sunday and is seeking her 12th career LPGA win and first since the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Lewis struggled on the front nine today with four bogeys and couldn’t get much of anything going. Thanks to an eagle on 15, she escaped today with a +1 over 73 and feels fortunate to be in this position.
“That (being in the lead) is pretty much the only good thing that came out of today,” Lewis admitted after her round. “I was a bit all over the place today. I played six really bad holes to start the day but then got things going.”

Leaderboard

GAL IS READY

Sandra Gal’s only win on the LPGA Tour came back in 2011 at the Kia Classic. With a 4-under 68 today, tied for low round of the day, Gal has put herself in position to once again find herself back in the winner’s circle. It’s a position she is not unfamiliar with. She entered the final round at the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic within five of the lead and is ready to finally break through.

“That was the goal at the beginning of the season, to be in contention and have a chance to win on Sunday,” Gal said. “I just need to relax and kind of do the same thing I did the last few days. I think the more chances I’ll have the better I’ll do. Tomorrow I just have to go out, and, like I said, just be relaxed and enjoy the moment.”

HOT WEATHER, LONG BALL

In the offseason, the golf ball Stacy Lewis had to find a golf ball after the ball she was playing, Titelist 09X, had come off the conforming list as of January 7. At her pre-tournament press conference at the seaosn-opening Coates Golf Championship, Lewis said she tested ever ball on the market during the month of December and was down to the Bridgestone.

Today, after a frustrating round of golf, Lewis talked about her plan for the night and mentioned her adjustment with the new ball.

“I‘ll be around the putting and chipping green,” Lewis said. “The ball striking really was not that bad. Just got short sided in some bad situations. Hit some good shots, hit some shots too far actually. This new golf ball in the heat is going a bit.”

FINISHING STRONG

Amy Yang has finished in the top-5 in three of the last four tournaments she has played in dating back to the 2014 Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship. Yang had five top-10 and three top-5 finishes all year in 2014, and is looking for her second career win with her only win coming at the 2013 LPGA KEB HanaBank Championship.

She has a simple approach heading into tomorrow.

“I’ll just do my best one shot at a time,” Yang said. “I won’t think about too much. I am going to go to the range and work on some of my swing right now and putting a little bit and get ready to go. “

Yang’s finishes in her last four events

• 2014 Fubon LPGA Taiwan – 5
• 2015 Coates Golf Championship – 5
• 2015 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic – T19
• 2015 Handa Australian Open – 2

Amy Yang has been within 5 of the lead entering the final round in each of her last five tournaments played, including all four tournaments in 2015.

ROLEX PROJECTIONS

Regardless of what happens this week, Lydia Ko is projected to remain the No. 1 player in the Rolex Rankings. Current No. 3 ranked Stacy Lewis could move up a spot, past Inbee Park, into second with a win this week. Lewis is currently leading the Honda LPGA Thailand by a stroke over Amy Yang. Inbee Park is T21 heading into the final round.

SOLID SHIN

Coming off her best year on Tour, Jenny Shin has started 2015 right where she left off in 2014. Last year, Shin had six top-10 finishes, including a season-best third place finish at Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Last week, Shin finished tied for fourth at the Handa Women’s Australian Open and enters the final round tomorrow just three strokes behind leader Stacy Lewis.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

0 - Number of times a player from Thailand has won an LPGA event
6 - Number of different countries represented within the top 10 of the Rolex Rankings
9 - This is the ninth edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand, which began in 2006
16 - This week, 16 of the top 20 in the Rolex Rankings will play at the Honda LPGA Thailand
22 - The average age of the three LPGA winners (Na Yeon Choi, Sei Young Kim and Lydia Ko) in 2015
33 - Number of official events in 2015, up from 23 in 2011
62 million (USD) - The total purse money in 2015, up from $41.4M in 2011
290.8 - Yani Tseng’s average dricing distance through Rd. 3 of the Honda LPGA Thailand
410 - Number of live televised hours in 2015, the most in LPGA history

TV TIMES THIS WEEK

Golf Channel air times of the Honda LPGA Thailand are as follows: (All times listed are United States ET)

Sunday 3/1
1:00am-5:00am ET - Final Round

Monday 3/2
11:00am-1:00pm ET - Final Round (re-air)

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I do you have a new trainer, David Donatucci. He works with Michelle, Stacy, and, I mean, I feel great. I been work with him couple months now and I feel my body, the way I swing, it matches my body and just get my body and my core stronger so I’m able to hold the shot better and a bit more consistently, too.”

-Yani Tseng explaining how much stronger she feels this year. She leads the Tour in average drive distance

POST-ROUND INTERVIEWS

STACY LEWIS

Q. You're hot onto the lead.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, that's pretty much the only good thing that came out of today. It was bit all over the place today. Played six really bad holes to kind of start the day but then got things going. This 18th hole just frustrates me. Over the years it's gotten my number more times than it's been good.

Q. Let's focus on a good part of your round. Great drive on the 15th hole.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, just tried it hit a little driver. If I hit it too hard it would've gone too far, so I took a little off of it and it worked out pretty good. So it was good. I needed that to just get back on track a little bit.

Q. Are you going to hit balls now?
STACY LEWIS: I'll be around the putting and chipping green. The ball‑striking really was not that bad. Just got short‑sided in some bad situations. Hit some good shots, hit some shots too far actually. This new golf ball in the heat is going a bit.

SANDRA GAL

Q. A very good back nine indeed. I believe you were 3‑under for the last five.
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, I think just you mentioned that to me. I didn't realize. I was kind of in the zone and just really playing one shot at time. It was good to finish strong in this humidity and this hot weather where it's really tough to stay focuses and fresh, especially during the end of the round.

Q. There was some respite, though. There was a bit of breeze out here this afternoon. Quite welcome I imagine.
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, the breeze was wonderful. And also some of the clouds. We love the clouds here.

Q. Played very well, particularly on the last hole, getting up and down from a birdie. Was a difficult hole location?
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, it is one of the toughest out on that green. I really tried to get myself a good number with the second shot so I wouldn't have too much spin on the ball. Yeah, it worked out well, so I was happy.

Q. You've given yourself some very good chances over the last few tournaments, getting yourself into contention and knocking on the door. It's all starting to fit into place.
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, that was the goal at the beginning of the season, to be in contention and have a chance to win on Sunday. I just need to relax and kind of do the same thing I did the last few days. I think the more chances I'll have the better I'll do. Tomorrow I just have to go out, and, like I said, just be relaxed and enjoy the moment.

Q. Have you brought the paint brushes along for this tournament?
SANDRA GAL: What a question. Of course I have.

Q. What's the work of art at the moment? Is there a masterpiece in the making?
SANDRA GAL: There is. It's a bit Picasso‑ish, a bit of an abstract face I'm doing. So let's see what comes out today.

Q. What worked for you out there today?
SANDRA GAL: I think I was very patient, because I had a good start and was a little shaky in the middle there. There was a lot of very tough pins today I thought. They were all tucked in the corner. I fought a little bit being too aggressive sometimes, and I kind of wheeled back and said, Okay, I need to be more middle of the green. So just staying patient. Just at the end I got to knock a couple putts in.

Q. You say the wind was a welcome relief, but for other people they say it made the course trickier.
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, but I think we had some wind the last couple days as well. I think that's what make this course tricky is the wind. Yeah, you definitely got to hit some different shots out there for that.

Q. Second at the moment, a couple shots behind Stacy Lewis with a title in sight tomorrow. Will you do anything different tomorrow?
SANDRA GAL: No, nothing different. I think I need focus less on winning and more on the process. That's what I have been doing up until now. I just need to continue that.

YANI TSENG

Q. Good rounds. Solid. 2‑under. You must be happier than you were yesterday.
YANI TSENG: Yeah, much better. I am hitting the shot much solid, and I kind of come into every shot I played today. Almost made eagle on the last hole. I hit lots of great shot out there. Just still need to work on my putting a little bit, but I'm happy the round I played today?

Q. What happened on the 17?
YANI TSENG: I just hit too good, too long. Maybe a little miscommunication with my caddie. We do same yardage but don't have same pitcher. Could have played a little save out there. I hit a perfect shot and wind just took it and goes too long. It was a great save bogey, and happy to finish with bogey out there.

Q. Your hitting it so long. What's happening? You have a new fitness coach.
YANI TSENG: You want to be long on the tee but not on the second shot. Yeah, I do you have a new trainer, David Donatucci. He works with Michelle, Stacy, and, I mean, I feel great. I been work with him couple months now and I feel my body, the way I swing, it matches my body and just get my body and my core stronger so I'm able to hold the shot better and a bit more consistently, too.

Q. You're 8‑under and at the moment four shots off the lead. Do you feel like you're in contention?
YANI TSENG: 6 shots. I just saw Stacey make birdie out there, make eagle out there. Still one more day. You never know on this golf course. Now wind picks up and actually they have tough pin position out there for few holes. I just need to stay patient and maybe try to make birdie out there as much as possible tomorrow.

Q. How much of a factor was the wind today?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, back nine kind of pick up a little bit. Like they got only tough pins, so you actually couldn't go for the pin. You kind of play safe. Par is good. Even have chance to make birdie. It's hard to be aggressive sometimes when wind picks up and they don't have good pin placement out there.

AMY YANG

Q. Amy Yang, 1‑under par today, one shot shy of the lead. It was a tough slog out there, wasn't it? What were conditions like today compared to yesterday?
AMY YANG: I think pin position was a lot tougher today. Yeah. Other things, they were okay, but pin position was really tough.

Q. Was the wind a factor with the game today?
AMY YANG: Oh, yes. It was windy as well, so it was hard to go for the pin. And also tough pin positions, so it was a long day.

Q. It was indeed a very long day. Not many people scored low. 4‑under was the lowest I believe. But you do go into the final round one shot back of the lead. What will your strategy be like tomorrow?
AMY YANG: I'll just do my best one shot at a time. I won't think about too much. I am going to go to the range and work on some of my swing right now and putting a little bit and get ready to go.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the end of the season last year. You finished up quite early, didn't you?
AMY YANG: Yeah.

Q. Why was that?
AMY YANG: You know, sometimes you get tired of what you're doing. I think I that happened to me. But, how can I say, got much better so I came back.

Q. Feeling a lot refreshed, I believe.
AMY YANG: Yeah.