After finishing the HSBC Women’s World Championship with a career-best result of T3, Xiyu Lin kept it rolling at the Honda LPGA Thailand, recording a 5-under 67 to stay three shots out of the lead. Lin said she felt more comfortable getting used to the conditions in Thailand after her achievement in Singapore the week before.
“It's definitely a good feeling when you come into a hot weather tournament week and you know you don't need to work a whole lot on your game. I mean, last two days I been trying to take it easy and just keep remembering all the good stuff I did last week and just try to do the same,” said Lin, who recorded six birdies and just one bogey on her final hole (No. 9) on Thursday. “I think today it's definitely unexpected, like the conditions is very different than the practice round, like everything, but I still managed to do pretty well. Just able to hole the opportunities, and then at the tough holes. And besides the last hole I didn't have any drop shot; that's pretty good.”
Lin felt that the Pattaya Old Course has its challenges, despite the favorable conditions many players took advantage of on the first day. “As long as you don't hit it straight it's pretty hard,” said Lin. “They have some -- like if you miss on the wrong side there will be lots of downhill chip that's really hard to stop,” said Lin, who is used to the firm and fast greens at Siam County Club. Fortunately for her, Lin has David Poitevent on her bag, who caddied for Amy Yang during her first of three Honda LPGA Thailand victories in 2015. His advice has proved crucial for the 25-year-old.
“He know the course so well. Like there was one hole I think I pull my iron maybe five yard left and then he said, Good shot. I turn around and I said, You think that ball going to stay on the green? He said, Oh, yeah, and I got in, it did stay on. I'm like, Okay, maybe you know the course,” said Lin, who started working with Poitevent at the 2020 Pelican Women’s Championship. “So, yeah, I trust him a lot here. Just like last week, just for me it's way less work. I just need to focus on my target and he always give lots of good information.”