Ariya Jutanugarn (right) and her sister Moriya. Ariya was the first Thai women golfer to win a Major title after winning the 2016 AIG Women's Open.
TWO decades ago, it would have been tough to imagine the influence that the young girls of Thailand to have a big say in women's golf scene. But pioneers from Thai golf like Patty Tavatanakit and Ariya Jutanugarn have helped the LPGA tour the global game that it is today.
Add to that the likes of current stars like Atthaya Jeeno Thitikul, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Jasmine Suwannapura, Thailand like South Korea is the leading Asian powerhouse of golf in the women's game. And don't forget Eila Galitsky too, the Thai-Canadian teenager has already been said to be capable of leading the way for Thailand in the near future.
While it was the men, such as Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat who competed on the DP World and PGA Tours, who starred for Thailand golf in the 90's, things changed at the beginning of the millennium and in 2004, Russy Gulyanamitta became the first player from Thailand to join the LPGA Tour.
By 2015, six Thai players had followed in Gulyanamitta’s footsteps, including Ariya, who would become a pioneer for women’s golf in Thailand.
In 2016, Ariya became the first player from Thailand, male or female, to win one of golf’s major championships with her victory at the AIG Women’s Open. She also became the first Thai to ascend to No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings.
In 2021, Ariya also became the first Thai to win Thailand's Honda LPGA title championship in what she said was one of the proudest moments of her career.
And also in 2021, Patty Tavatanakit became the second Thai to capture a major title when she won the Chevron Championship. And in 2022, Jeeno Thitikul joined Ariya as the only other player from Thailand to reach the top of the Rolex Rankings.
And the Thais golfers have been winning title after title consistently over the years. Add to that, the stars of Thailand have descended to Kuala Lumpur at the KL Golf and Country Club this week as the Maybank Championship tees off on Thursday (Oct 24).
Jeeno came close at the Maybank Championship last year before losing out to French star Celine Boutier in a thrilling playoff while Jasmine finished tied third in the tournament. The duo are also among the favourites for the title again at KLGCC.
"Well the success of senior players have certainly spurred us all since young. I think Thai players have a steely determination to succeed and this has helped many of us to go far," said Jeeno, a player many believe is on the cusp of a victory in a Major.
"Yeah, I mean, like I said as always I love seeing like all the new generations coming up from Thailand to the LPGA Tour. I think we do have a lot of Thai players coming this year. I think we have like 12, 13 players on the LPGA Tour, which is what I love to see."
Jeeno has a brilliant resume so far and she is also hoping for a bright run in the Maybank Championship again.
"It is great to be here again and it will be wonderful to have another grand run and maybe even go as far as winning the title.
"I had a lot of support from the local fans last year. I hope it is the same this time around. I mean it feels like home as well because it's close to Thailand. The heat is kind of same. And then the food is just great. I just love coming here."
For the record, before turning professional, Jeeno had 16 amateur victories. These included gold at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics and leading amateur at the Women's Open Championship in 2018 at Royal Lytham and 2019 at Woburn.
Jeeno turned professional in 2020, at which point, she already had two professional wins on the Ladies European Tour, both coming at the Ladies European Thailand Championship.
In 2021, Jeeno won the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit, Rookie of the Year, and Players' Player of the Year titles, following her two wins, three runner-ups, and nine additional top-ten finishes.
Jeeno's first LPGA Tour win arrived in just her fifth start at the 2022 JTBC Classic. She came from six shots back after 54 holes to force a playoff and ultimately pick up the trophy. On October 31, 2022, Jeeno rose to World No.1 for the first time and she claimed the LPGA Tour's Rookie of the Year trophy in 2022.
Jeeno currently has three LPGA Tour titles to her name, including the 2024 Dow Championship - a team event that she triumphed in alongside China's Ruoning Yin.
She has two fourth-place finishes at Majors. Thitikul ended solo fourth at the 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship before recording a T4 result at the 2023 Chevron Championship. This year, she was tied sixth in the prestigious US Open.
"You know I play for my family. I always want to do well for my parents. My mom and dad helped me so much in my career and my successes are for them. I must admit a Major would simply see them the happiest of parents. I mean, every pro golfer wants to win a Major.
"I think after Ariya and Patty, there are sure to be more Thais to win Major titles. It will be a big honour for me to win one too," added Jeeno.
Meanwhile, Jasmine is also confident of seeing another Thai winning a Major very, very soon and in the near future too.
The 31-year-old Thai has also been impressive this year and already has three LPGA titles under her belt, recently winning this year's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
"We (Thai golfers) are always in the mix in all tournaments. I'm sure one of us will get another Major soon," said Jasmine, also among the favourites in the tournament.
Malaysia is also not new for Jasmine. Besides finishing tied third in last year's tournament, she also won the 2010 Malaysia Amatuer Open title.
She added she is very happy to see more young Thai players coming to play in the LPGA and it helps that they are very competitive in their games.
"It is definitely feel great to see a lot of Thai player on the tour and also have successful career out here. I think Thai people have very impressive because they start golf so young.
"Like we have so many junior golf tournament in Thailand, I mean we talking almost every week that you can pick up.
"So it's very competitive sport in Thailand. So I think when you start young you learn faster and you adapt faster and you'll see more young players from Thailand up here. And likewise, I hope one of the Thais win the Maybank Championship title here too."
By far, it is no surprise that the Thai golfers will also get plenty of support from the Malaysian fans too.
And now it is left to be seen how impressive they will when the Maybank Championships begins on Thursday (Oct 24).
