5 things to know about Patty Tavatanakit’s dream win at 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand

Here’s what you missed from a busy final round in Thailand.

Life came full circle for Patty Tavatanakit on Sunday at Siam Country Club. She was 6 years old the first time an LPGA event was held in Thailand. After coming to the Honda LPGA Thailand event as a spectator, she played on a sponsor invitation as an amateur and then, at age 24, became the second Thai player to win the event in dramatic fashion.

Tavatanakit closed with a 5-under 67 over the Old Course to finish at 21-under 267, one shot ahead of Swiss player Albane Valenzuela. A swarm of friends, including World No. 1 Lilia Vu, showered her with water on the 18th green as she broke down in a flood of emotions.

“It’s a dream come true to win here,” said Tavatanakit, who won $255,000 for her efforts. “I was outside the ropes at one point in my life and now I’m inside, get to play with all these amazing girls. They’re the best in the world. To be able to close it is pretty surreal right now.”

Here are five things to know about a special Sunday in Thailand:

Patty Tavatanakit closing in on second win in as many weeks at Honda LPGA Thailand

For the first time since 2021, Tavatanakit has carded three straight rounds in the 60s

For the second time in as many weeks, Patty Tavatanakit has a three-shot lead heading into the final round. Déjà vu?

Playing in her home country, the 24-year-old shot 6-under 66 on Saturday at Siam Country Club Old Course in Chonburi, Thailand, to move three clear of the field with 18 holes to play. Last week, she did the same at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International on the Ladies European Tour en route to her first victory in more than three years.

This week, for the first time since 2021, Tavatanakit has carded three straight rounds in the 60s and sits at 16 under, three shots clear of Madelene Sagstrom.

“I’m really proud of my performance today,” Tavatanakit said. “It’s getting very tiring, exhausting in the heat. I’m just going to conserve my energy and take on the challenge tomorrow.”

Tavatanakit had about as strong a start as she could’ve hoped, carding four birdies and an eagle in the first seven holes. She bogeyed the par-4 11th but bounced back with a birdie on the 15th and cruised to the clubhouse for a 66.

“There is a lot of obligations so far this week,” Tavatanakit said. “I feel like I didn’t really have time to prepare, but I came into this week with an open mindset of like learning this position that I’m in coming into a home event, being last week’s champion. There is a lot of pressure, but I can look at it as an encouragement for me to feel happy to play in front of my fans.”

Sagstrom, a 36-hole co-leader, was even on her first nine holes but went 3 under on the back nine, including a closing eagle to pull her within three of Tavatanakit.

“Patty is playing beautifully,” Sagstrom said. “She it hitting the ball lovely, and she is putting even better. She left a few putts short today and she could have gone really low today. I think you kind of know that to really have a chance for tomorrow, you have to play good golf. You don’t really do that by comparing yourself to somebody else or trying to react on their games. All I need to do is get my own zone and out of my own way.”

Hye-Jin Choi, Emily Kristine Pederson and Hyo Joo Kim are tied for third at 12 under. There’s a big group at 11 under, including Brooke Henderson, Albane Valenzuela and amateur Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.

World No. 1 Lilia Vu is T-16 at 9 under.

5 takeaways from Honda LPGA Thailand, where a ‘humbled’ Patty Tavatanakit stays hot

Here’s what you need to know from the first round of play on Thursday.

The LPGA returned to action in Thailand after a three-week break and Peiyun Chien lit up Siam Country Club Old Course with a career-tying 8-under 64. The 33-year-old Taiwanese player poured in seven birdies and an eagle to take control.

“I like the course because I just feel the green is similar in Taiwan, so I read better,” said Chien, who needed only 24 putts in the first round of the 2024 Honda LPGA Thailand.

There are 11 Thai players in the field of 72, including last week’s winner on the Ladies European Tour, Patty Tavatanakit. The no-cut event features a purse of $1.7 million, with $255,000 going to the winner.

Here are five takeaways from a steamy start to the Asian swing:

Patty Tavatanakit wins first title in three years at 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International

Tavatanakit routed the field at Riyadh Golf Club, winning by seven shots.

Her three-year wait is over.

Patty Tavatanakit shot a final-round 65 on Sunday to win the 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International for her first individual victory since she won the 2021 Chevron Championship. She routed the field at Riyadh Golf Club, winning by seven shots.

Tavatanakit was part of the winning Team Thailand at the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, where each team had four players but Sunday marks her first individual title since winning at Mission Hills Country Club, which closed the chapter on the long-standing women’s major in the California desert.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve played this good,” Tavatanakit said. “It’s very emotional, I’m very emotional right now with how I have overcome that and looking back it was just one day at a time, keep working hard.”

Those emotions showed on the 18th hole after she putted out.

Esther Henseleit finished shot a 69 to earn solo second. Minami Katsu and Charley Hull tied for third.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the Aramco event has a purse of $5 million, which is the same as the men’s Saudi International.

In addition to this event, the 2024 Ladies European Tour schedule also features the Aramco Team Series, comprised of five events staged across the globe. The LET’s Saudi-backed events remain controversial given the wide-ranging human rights abuses Saudi Arabia has been accused of, especially toward women.

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Patty Tavatanakit looking to go wire-to-wire at 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International

If Tavatanakit holds on to win, it would be her first title in more than three years.

Patty Tavatanakit shot 3-under 69 on Saturday at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia, continuing to hold on to her lead at the 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

She has led after every round of the tournament, and sitting at 11 under following three rounds, she had a three-shot advantage heading to the final round.

“Overall, I was pleased with the mentality out there,” Tavatanakit said. “I feel like I had a really good mindset with how the round started. It was just kind of slow. I feel like I didn’t miss-hit a shot today. But on one hole, I went over the green, I just hit it too good.”

Germany’s Esther Henseleit is in second at 8 under after a stellar 7-under 65 on Saturday. The 25-year-old, who won the 2019 LET Order of Merit and Rookie of the Year titles, has improved each day after a round of 74 and 69 the first two days.

Charley Hull is in third at 7 under, tied with Emily Kristine Pedersen.

If Tavatanakit holds on to win, it would be her first title in more than three years.

Patty Tavatanakit halfway to first win in more than three years at 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International

The PIF-backed event has a purse of $5 million, which the same as the men’s Saudi International.

With the LPGA off for a third straight week, many of the top golfers in the women’s game are at Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Aramco Saudi Ladies International.

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the Aramco event has a purse of $5 million, which is the same as the men’s Saudi International.

Patty Tavatanakit, whose last individual win came at the 2021 Chevron Championship, is in good position after two rounds with scores of 68 and 70. She is sitting at 8 under and holds a two-shot lead after 36 holes. She has 10 birdies and just two bogeys so far. Tavatanakit was part of the winning Team Thailand at the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, where each team had four players.

Nicole Broch Estrup and Manon De Roey are tied for second at 6 under. Leona Maguire bounced back from an opening-round 76 with a second-round 64, the best score of the week so far by three shots.

Lexi Thompson is tied for 36th at 1 over. Defending tournament champ Lydia Ko is not in the field.

In addition to this event, the 2024 Ladies European Tour schedule also features the Aramco Team Series, comprised of five events staged across the globe. The LET’s Saudi-backed events remain controversial given the wide-ranging human rights abuses Saudi Arabia has been accused of, especially toward women.

Patty Tavatanakit, one of several major champions not yet in CME field, opens with 63 at The Annika

Here’s a look at the CME bubble.

Time is running out for players like Patty Tavatanakit. The top 60 players and ties on the Race to CME Globe points list qualify for the season-ending championship, and this week’s Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican is the final event before the list is finalized.

Tavatanakit, who currently sits 61st on the points list, opened with a 7-under 63 on a picture-perfect day at Pelican Golf Club to hold a share of the lead with former No. 1 Jin Young Ko.

“I’ve been like preparing for this event,” said Tavanatakit, the 2021 ANA Inspiration winner. “Obviously I knew what I had to do. I’m pretty stressed, but at the same time, I feel like I did everything under my control. I did everything with no regrets.”

The CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club offers the largest non-major purse on the LPGA at $7 million. The CME winner receives $2 million.

There are a number of high-profile major winners currently on the outside looking in. Here’s a list of bubble players as well as some stars who need a big week:

Thailand dominates 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, knocks out Australia in final

Team USA clinched third place with a victory over Sweden in the consolation match.

Team Thailand enjoyed a near-perfect week at the 2023 Hanwha Lifeplus International Crown, dropping only one match over the course of four days.

Former World No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn chipped in to close out the final match against Australia on Sunday, a fitting end for the dominate foursome that went 11-1-0 at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

Ariya Jutanugarn, currently No. 83 in the world, looked more like her old self, a two-time major champion, playing alongside sister Moriya. She oozed with confidence and putted beautifully as the sisters were undefeated in both four-ball and foursomes.

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Thailand, seeded No. 6, swept No. 7 Australia in the final match, which consisted of two singles matches and, for the first time in event history, one foursomes match. It marked the first time these two countries had advanced to the finals in the fourth edition of the Crown.

Patty Tavatanakit defeated Aussie Hannah Green, 4 and 3, while Atthaya Thitikul dusted Stephanie Kyriacou, 4 and 2. The Jutanugarn sisters birdied four consecutive holes in alternate shot midway through the round to take control.

“I was one of those kids,” said Patty Tavatanakit. “I looked up to the (Jutanugarn) sisters and to be able to play alongside them this week has been a dream come true and also an honor.

“I’m just so excited to see where Thailand’s golf is heading to in the future.”

Ariya Jutanugarn earned the event’s inaugural MVP award. The last time the Jutanugarns won on the LPGA was two years ago at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational.

Only the youngest player on the team, Atthaya Thitikul, 20, came into the event in world-class form. Perhaps this week is the spark needed for the rest to get back in the winner’s circle. To reach the final match, Thailand knocked out Team USA in the semifinals.

“I’m going to say we’ve been waiting for this since 2014,” said Ariya, “and finally we got what we’ve been waiting for.”

Prior to this week, Australia’s best finish in the event was sixth in 2018.

Team USA clinched third place with a 2-1 victory over Sweden in the consolation match. Lexi Thompson defeated Maja Stark 3 and 2 and singles, while the Danielle Kang/Nelly Korda duo knocked out Anna Nordqvist/Carolina Hedwall. Madelene Sagstrom did earn Sweden a point after beating Lilia Vu 5 and 4.

“Having team events like this,” said Thompson, “I think, brings a wider fan base for us. I think fans really enjoy it, and I think there’s a lot more energy out here and people cheering and things like that. We got big crowds today.”

This marked the first playing of the Crown, which is meant to be a biennial event, since 2018. The 2025 venue has yet to be announced.

The $2 million purse is unofficial money. Thailand’s winning portion is $500,000, or $125,000 per player.

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Photos: Patty Tavatanakit through the years

View photos of major champion Patty Tavatanakit throughout her young career.

At just 23 years of age, is it too early to say that Patty Tavatanakit is having a career resurgence?

As one of the most highly touted juniors in recent memory, Tavatanakit got out to a scorching hot start to her professional career in 2019. Winning three times in just eight starts on the now-Epson Tour, Tavatanakit ran away with Rookie of the Year honors and jumped up to the LPGA in 2020.

After a COVID-19-hindered rookie season, the Thai broke through for her first LPGA win in 2021.

Tavatanakit joined a shortlist of golfers whose first win on tour was a major championship, winning the ANA Inspiration by five strokes over Lydia Ko.

In her eight major starts since that win, Tavatanakit locked down three top-10 finishes but rode a cold streak of four straight missed cuts heading into the 2023 major season.

After briefly being in contention at the Chevron, it will be interesting to see how Tavatanakit continues her search for her second major title.

AIG Women’s British Open: Notable players who won’t play the weekend at Muirfield, including world No. 1

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko headlines the list, along with defending champion Anna Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson.

With so much history on the line this weekend at Muirfield, missing the cut at the AIG Women’s British Open stings just a little bit more. Not to mention the fact that this is the final major of 2022.

It’s a long wait til the Chevron Championship next April.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko headlines the list, along with defending champion Anna Nordqvist, Lexi Thompson and a host of other marquee players.

This marks the first time female professionals have competed at Muirfield, one of the world’s most iconic clubs. A total of 65 players made the cut at 3 over.

Three-time major winner In Gee Chun paces the field at 8 under.