Trevor Ng
Thailand has produced some of the world's best golfers, including Ariya Jutanugarn, Atthaya 'Jeeno' Thitikul, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Jutanugarn, born in Bangkok, became the first Thai golfer to win a major championship and was ranked number one in the Women's World Golf Rankings in 2017. Thitikul, born in 2003, became the youngest golfer to win a professional golf tournament at 14 and was named among the highest-paid female athletes in 2024. Aphibarnrat, meanwhile, gained membership status on the PGA Tour in 2018, becoming the first Thai player to do so. These golfers have not only achieved success in their home country but have also gained international recognition, solidifying Thailand's reputation as a rising force in the golfing world.
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What You'll Learn
Ariya Jutanugarn
Jutanugarn turned professional in 2012 at the age of 16, though she had her first taste of golfing success much earlier. At just 11 years old, she qualified for the Honda LPGA Thailand, making her the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA Tour event. Her sister Moriya was her caddy for the competition.
Jutanugarn's rise to the top of the golfing world has been impressive and meteoric. She is renowned for her aggressive and fearless playing style, and for not using a driver. In 2013, she led by two shots going into the final hole at the Honda LPGA Thailand, ultimately losing by one shot to Korea's Inbee Park. She won her first professional tournament at the LET's Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, topping the LET Order of Merit (money list). In 2016, she earned her first LPGA Tour win at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, becoming the first Thai winner on this tour. She went on to win the next two LPGA tournaments, making her the first player in LPGA history to win her first three titles consecutively. She won her first major championship with a three-stroke victory at the 2016 Women's British Open.
Jutanugarn's success has earned her numerous awards, including the 2017 Best Female Golfer ESPY Award, 2016 LPGA Player of the Year, 2016 Fox Sports Asia Breakthrough Athlete Award, and the 2016 Thailand Professional Athlete of the Year Award. In 2018, she won the U.S. Women's Open and the season-long Race to the CME Globe, ending the season ranked number one in the world. In May 2021, she won the Honda LPGA Thailand in her home country, her first victory since 2018. Jutanugarn is Thailand's top player and one of the best female golfers in the world, putting Thailand on the global golf sporting map.
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Atthaya 'Jeeno' Thitikul
Atthaya "Jeen" or "Jeeno" Thitikul is a Thai professional golfer who plays on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour. Born on 20 February 2003, Thitikul made her first appearance at the Honda LPGA Thailand on the LPGA Tour at the age of 14, where she finished 37th out of 66 competitors. She had earned her place in the field when she finished runner-up in the Thailand Amateur Open in August 2016, at just 13 years old.
Thitikul honed her skills and graduated from Sarasas Witaed Nakhonpathom School in Nakhon Pathom. Her emergence onto the international golf scene came with her victory at the Ladies European Thailand Championship on the Ladies European Tour as an amateur on 9 July 2017. This win made her the youngest person ever to win a professional golf tour event at 14 years, 4 months, and 19 days old—a record that stood until April 2023. She held the number one ranking in the world on the women's World Amateur Golf Ranking on two occasions before turning professional in January 2020.
Thitikul has achieved numerous accolades throughout her young career. In July, she competed at the Junior Dutch Open, carding a course-record 8-under-par round to win the tournament by eight clear shots. In August, she won an individual gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia and was part of the Thailand team that won gold in the team event. In February 2019, she won the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore, earning her a place in the HSBC Women's Champions on the same course.
Thitikul secured her first professional victory at the Thai LPGA Tour's 3rd Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship after the resumption of the golf season, which had been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She finished the season with five total wins on the Thai LPGA Tour and secured the top spot on the tour's money list. In May 2021, she finished second at the Honda LPGA Thailand, losing to Ariya Jutanugarn by one stroke. Thitikul won for the first time on the LPGA Tour at the JTBC Classic on 27 March 2022. By September of the same year, she had accumulated two wins on the LPGA Tour and four wins on the Ladies European Tour.
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Kiradech Aphibarnrat
Aphibarnrat had a successful amateur career, winning his age group at the Junior World Golf Championships in both 2003 and 2004. In 2007, he was part of the gold medal-winning team at the Summer Universiade and took silver in the individual event at the Southeast Asian Games.
His first professional victory came in 2009 at the Mercedes-Benz Tour's Singha Pattaya Open, which he won by 11 strokes, earning him US$50,000. Aphibarnrat then went on to win his first Asian Tour title at the 2011 SAIL Open. In March 2013, he achieved his first victory on the European Tour at the Maybank Malaysian Open, which was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, resulting in a second win on that tour. Aphibarnrat became only the second player from Thailand to record multiple European Tour wins, after Thongchai Jaidee.
In 2018, Aphibarnrat gained membership status on the PGA Tour for the 2018–19 season, becoming the first PGA Tour member from Thailand. In September 2021, he held the 36-hole lead at the BMW PGA Championship but fell out of contention after the third round. He finished with a strong final-round performance, tying for second place, just one shot behind Billy Horschel. Aphibarnrat has been compared to two-time major championship winner John Daly due to his "unathletic" physique, earning him the nickname "Asia's John Daly".
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Thai golfers' parents
Thai golfer Ariya Jutanugarn's parents are father Somboon and mother Narumon. Jutanugarn was born in Bangkok and grew up around golfing as her parents own a professional golf shop at the Rose Garden Golf Course near Bangkok. Jutanugarn turned professional in 2012 at the age of 16. However, she got her first taste of what was to come in 2017 when, at the age of 11, she qualified for Honda LPGA Thailand as an amateur, making her the youngest player ever. Her sister, Moriya, was her caddy for the competition and is also a professional golfer. The two sisters often play matches together and travel with their parents, who handle their business and financial affairs.
Jutanugarn is Thailand's top player and one of the best female golfers in the world. She is the first golfer, male or female, from Thailand to win a major championship. She became the number one ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings in June 2017. She has won many awards, including the 2017 Best Female Golfer ESPY Award, 2016 LPGA Player of the Year, 2016 Fox Sports Asia Breakthrough Athlete Award, and the 2016 Thailand Professional Athlete of the Year Award. Jutanugarn has an aggressive and fearless playing style. She led by two shots going into the final hole at the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand but lost by one shot to Korea's Inbee Park. She placed fourth a week later at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore. A few weeks later, she won her first professional tournament at the LET's Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco.
In 2018, Jutanugarn won three times, including the U.S. Women's Open. She also won the season-long Race to the CME Globe and the $1,000,000 bonus. For the 2018 season, she won the LPGA Player of the Year, the LPGA Vare Trophy with a scoring average of 69.415, the Leaders Top 10 competition with 17 top-10 finishes, and the LPGA money title at $2,743,949. She ended the 2018 season ranked number one in the world. In May 2021, Jutanugarn won the Honda LPGA Thailand in her home country. It was her first victory since 2018.
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Thailand's golfing reputation
Thailand has gained a reputation as a premier golfing destination in Southeast Asia. The country offers a wide array of world-class golf courses that cater to recreational players and professionals alike. With over 250 golf courses scattered across the country, most located close to major tourist destinations, golfers can enjoy a unique golfing experience alongside other leisure activities.
Thailand's diverse geographical features mean that golfers can enjoy a range of remarkable golfing locations. The north and northeast regions provide breathtaking views of the mountainous terrain, while the central region and east coast offer challenging links set amidst forested hills or with picturesque sea views. The south is a paradise for golfers, offering challenging courses with ocean views.
Thailand's tropical climate allows visitors to play golf anywhere in the country all year round, with the most favorable time being the cool, dry period between November and February. The country has embraced golf tourism longer than any other country in Asia, with an increasing number of golfers visiting each year to experience its exceptional golf courses.
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Frequently asked questions
May Thai golfer refers to Ariya Jutanugarn, a professional golfer from Thailand. She was born in Bangkok on 23 November 1995 and turned professional in 2012 at the age of 16.
Jutanugarn is Thailand's top golfer and one of the best female golfers in the world. She was the first golfer from Thailand to win a major championship. She became the number one ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings in June 2017. Jutanugarn has won several awards, including the 2017 Best Female Golfer ESPY Award, 2016 LPGA Player of the Year, and the 2016 Thailand Professional Athlete of the Year Award.
Jutanugarn has an aggressive and fearless playing style. She is known for not using a driver and has an average driving distance of close to 267 yards.
Yes, Jutanugarn suffered a shoulder injury in 2013 during a practice round at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. She underwent corrective surgery in Bangkok and was able to return to competition.
In addition to Ariya Jutanugarn, her sister Moriya Jutanugarn is also a professional golfer. Other notable Thai golfers include Atthaya 'Jeeno' Thitikul, who is one of the youngest golfers to win a professional golf tournament, and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who plays on the Asian and European tours and was the first PGA Tour member from Thailand.
