An Interview With:
AREE WONGLUEKIET
Q. Ladies and gentlemen, we're delighted to have with
us one of the two youngest contestants in the Open this year, Aree
Wongluekiet, 16 years old, first Women's Open championship.
You may recall her sister, Naree, played in Chicago at the Merit Club
and was low amateur this year, but, however, Aree has told us that her
sister will be not only caddying, she's going to be carrying the bag, which
I think is a rough thing to do to your sister.
How did you reach that agreement.
AREE WONGLUEKIET: My sister and I have caddied for one another for a couple
times now. And we've had a lot of success, you know, with each other, on the
bag, so I think it will help.
Q. What does she do for you that helps your game?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: I think she knows my game the best, so she helps me a
lot with club selection and just reading the greens.
Q. And this is your first Women's Open
championship. What does it feel like being here this week? I know you've played
with the professionals before, but this is our national championship.
AREE WONGLUEKIET: Very exciting. It's always been a goal of mine to compete
in the U.S. Open, so just being here is an honor. One of
my goals was to qualify for this championship this year, and I accomplished
that. Just atmosphere here is very different towards the tournaments.
There is a lot of amateurs in the field, and not many places you get, you
know, people cheering for you in the practice rounds, so it's nice.
Q. I'm going to ask you a cliche question, but what
are your expectations this week?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: I think I'm going to have my hands full because the golf
course is set up so difficult. It's everything I expect for a U.S.
Women's Open: Thick rough, fast greens, and small fairways, so
try and stick to my plan to stick to fairways and greens, and make some putts.
Q. I know two years ago you didn't sulk when you didn't
get in and your sister did; you went and won the World by 12 shots, the
World Junior, the same week, but were you jealous that Naree got
in the Open before you did?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: Little bit. She played really well on the weekend, and
she was a low amateur, so I was little bit jealous, but she told me all about
it when we got home, and she said it's the most fun she's ever had at a tournament,
so I was really looking forward to this week.
Q. And then Aree turned right around that year
and reached the semifinals of the Women's Amateur, so you got a little
revenge there.
What's going to stop you guys, let's say you're not playing well on Thursday.
Do you go to the bathroom, change shoes, and let Naree come and
play for you for a little bit.
AREE WONGLUEKIET: We've thought about that, but Naree doesn't
have her braces anymore, so I think that would be difficult to pull off.
Q. How much do you guys, I guess, help each other? Like,
do you read golf courses, or do you approach your game similarly, or are there
things you do better or that she does better that you can help each other with?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: I think our games are very similar, but there are few
differences here and there, but she knows, and -- she knows the way I
feel over certain shots, and I think it will be very helpful to get a second
opinion on some of the shots I'm going to play during the week.
Q. In what areas of golf are you stronger than Naree
and in what areas is she stronger?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: I think it depends on the week, really. It depends on
the week, but I think we are both pretty consistent all around.
Q. Perhaps you can help me remember back to a couple
years ago, or last summer, perhaps, when you and your sister played at an amateur
tournament in Lawrence, Kansas, did very well in the tournament. Will the experience
with the hot, Midwestern heat, and the wind, and all that help at all when you
come back to this state?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: It does a little bit. It does -- we grew up in
Thailand, which the weather is very similar to here, and I think it will help.
I think it will help.
Q. I know your dad is infamous now for driving everywhere
in his station wagon. Did you guys drive here?
A. No, we flew here.
Q. Has he let you start driving yet in the car? I know
you guys drove to Rochester; you have permits. Do you get to drive in the car
with him?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: Yeah, we got our permits in, I think, February, so I
think we'll be driving more.
Q. How many more sponsor exceptions do you have with
the LPGA? And do you know what they are going to be this year?
AREE WONGLUEKIET: I'm going to try and Monday qualify for the Giant
Eagle. My sister is in the tournament on an exception, so I'm going
to go on Monday and qualify; I think that's next week.
Then at the end of August there is the State Farm, I'm in
for the sponsor exception for that one, and my sister is going to Monday qualify.
Q. Any other questions? Aree, thanks so much
for being with us. Have a wonderful week. Play good golf.
