Tag: Thailand

Q-Series finale: Major winner, Thai phenom and a pair of sisters among 46 players to earn LPGA cards

There are plenty of storylines to follow next season from LPGA Q-Series.

Another sister act is heading to the LPGA.

Taiwan’s Hou sisters, Yu-Sang (22) and Yu-Chiang (21), who both play for the University of Arizona, will immediately turn professional after earning their LPGA cards at Q-Series for the 2022 season.

“I mean, it’s been our goal since like the beginning of our golf career,” said Yu-Chiang. “It’s been 13 years already and playing on LPGA is our dream. Just to achieve this goal with my sister and knowing that we both going to play on LPGA next year, it’s something really special.”

A total of 46 players earned LPGA cards for next season, including four amateurs. Arkansas’ Brooke Matthews and Gina Kim of Duke joined the Hous. Both said they plan to announce their decision about whether they will turn pro or defer in the coming days.

Na Rin An, a 25-year-old South Korean who has won twice on the KLPGA and is ranked 64th in the world, topped the field after a final-round 66 to finish at 33 under for the eight-round event. An tied for third at the BMW Ladies Championship in October, her career-best finish on the LPGA.

An called the Q-Series experience physically straining and said she’ll have to quarantine for 10 days when she gets back to South Korea.

“I’m excited to be able to travel to different countries,” she said of playing on the LPGA, “and I’m also looking forward to playing with players that I’ve only been able to see on TV.”

Frenchwoman Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, winner of the second stage and the leader heading into the final round, was disappointed not to pull off the victory after a final-round 72 to finish second.

“I’m just very happy,” said the former South Carolina Gamecock. “I’m not really allowed to say that, but I’m kind of frustrated of the last round. I guess it’s because I’m a competitor and I love competition and all that.

“But I had a couple friends stopping me from getting mad and be like, ‘Dude you have your LPGA card. Like that’s what you wanted.’ So I’m just focusing on that right now and I can’t wait for what’s coming.”

Atthaya Thitikul, the 18-year-old Thai phenom who was both Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year on the Ladies European Tour, finished solo third.

“It’s like a dream come true, just a dream come true,” said Thitikul. “I know everyone will have a goal to be a member in LPGA because it’s the biggest tour in the world for women, and then, yeah, I’ve done it.”

Japan’s Ayaka Furue, who is currently ranked 15th in the world, finished seventh while major champion Hinako Shibuno tied for 20th and two-time Solheim Cup player Emily Kristine Pedersen tied for 14th.

Longtime LPGA player and mom Sarah Jane Smith and Mariah Stackhouse made the cut for a card on the number at 4 under.

Former Texas player Agathe Laisne earned her LPGA card for the 2022 season and now heads to Spain on Monday for the final stage of the Ladies European Tour Q-School.

“It’s going to be hard physically I think. Mentally also,” said Laisne. “Just reset and try to relax and enjoy and, yeah. That’s it.”

Another Arizona Wildcat, Bianca Pagdanganan, who earned her card at the 2019 Q-Series, was once again successful, taking a share of 10th. One of the longest players in the women’s game, Pagdanganan enjoyed a successful 2020 campaign only to have it wiped away due for the COVID-19 pandemic. While she couldn’t carry the momentum over to 2021, she’ll get another try next year.

More: Meet the LPGA’s newest power player, Bianca Pagdanganan

Duke’s Kim won the first stage of Q-Series back in August before competing in the Curtis Cup the next week with Matthews in Wales. College players have the option of deferring and can accept LPGA membership at any point until July 1, 2022. Their position on the priority list would be held until that point.

“I have a feeling I’ll probably make my decision in the very near future just simply because, you know, I do need to tell my coaches,” said Kim, who tied for 35th. “I do need to tell my team about it.”

“I think that’s the biggest respect I can give them, update them on what I’m planning on doing.”

Matthews, a fifth-year senior who tied for 30th, said she’ll go back home to Arkansas and talk to her family and coaches and go from there.

“Either way,” she said, “I’m in a good position.”

LPGA Q-SERIES TOP-45 AND TIES (29)

Julie Amie (France), Na Rin An (Republic of Korea), Hye-Jin Choi (Republic of Korea), Allisen Corpuz (United States), Olivia Cowan (Germany), Karis Davidson (Australia), Ayaka Furue (Japan), Linn Grant (Sweden), Haylee Harford (United States), Lauren Hartlage (United States), Yaeeun Hong (Republic of Korea), Yu-Chiang Hou (Chinese Taipei), Yu-Sang Hou (Chinese Taipei), Gina Kim (United States), Stephanie Kyriacou (Australia), Agathe Laisne (France), Brooke Matthews (United States), Sanna Nuutinen (Finland), Kaitlyn Papp (United States), Jessica Peng (Chinese Taipei), Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (France), Hinako Shibuno (Japan), Maddie Szeryk (Canada), Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), Savannah Vilaubi (United States), Dewi Weber (Netherlands), Ruoning Yin (China), Katie Yoo (United States), Weiwei Zhang (China).

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=01evcfxp4q8949fs1e image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Golfweek’s Best 2021: Top 25 courses in Asia

From Japan, China and South Korea all the way to the Middle East, these are the best golf courses in Asia.

Welcome to Golfweek’s Best rankings of the top 25 courses in Asia as determined by Golfweek’s Best Raters for 2021 (pictured atop this story: The Club at Nine Bridges in South Korea).

For the purposes of this story, Golfweek has used generally accepted boundaries of Asia that stretch from the Pacific Ocean westward through the Middle East.

The members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final rating for each course. Then each course is ranked against other courses in Asia to produce the final rankings.

For more on top courses outside the U.S., check out the following lists:

Listed with each course below is its average rating, location, designer(s) and year opened. Private clubs include a p, daily fee courses a d, resort courses an r and courses that host top-tier tour events a t.

Thai players, led by former No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, in hot pursuit at Evian Championship

Two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn, and her fellow Thai players, are not letting the Amundi Evian Championship become a runaway.

Jeongeun Lee6’s historic round of 10-under 61 – which tied the best round in major championship history – allowed her to open up a seven-stroke lead as half the field got started in the afternoon wave at the Amundi Evian Championship.

It looked like the championship might turn into a blowout.

But not if Thailand’s best had anything to say about it. Ariya Jutanugarn, who teamed up with sister Moriya to win last week’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, eagled the 18th hole to card a 63 and move into a share of second with compatriot Pajaree Anannarukarn, who carded a second-consecutive 68. The pair sit at 12 under for the championship, three shots back of Lee6, whose 127 set a new 36-hole record for all major championships – clipping Brooks Koepka’s 128 at the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA.

“The way she plays is so impressive,” Ariya said of Lee6’s performance. “Actually, I watch her play this morning because she finished before I play. Like she made like everything, and it’s major, so the course is so tough.”

Anannarukarn, who tied for tied for third at last week’s Dow with partner Aditi Ashok, has a habit of writing “good luck” on her golf balls that dates back to when she took up the game around age 12.

“Good luck charm for me,” she said.

Atthaya Thitikul, the 18-year-old Thai phenom who won a Ladies European Tour event in Thailand at age 14, sits eight shots back in a share of seventh after a 2-under 69. Earlier this year, Jutanugarn edged out Thitikul at the Honda LPGA Thailand by one stroke.

Rookie Patty Tavatanakit, the wire-to-wire winner of the 2021 ANA Inspiration, finished in a share of third that week. Tavatanakit withdrew from the Evian on Wednesday, citing travel restriction issues.

Thitikul, who leads the LET’s Race To Costa Del Sol, didn’t feel good about her game warming up on the range Friday but told herself to enjoy the day and stay patient.

“…Every day that we wake up, every day it’s not the same,” said a wise-sounding Thitikul. “Our body is not the same and our feeling is not the same. It’s just like a little things that I think that I can go to the range and then fix it up today.”

The Amundi Evian Championship - Day Two
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand looks on at the 6th hole during day two of the The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 23, 2021 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Jutanugarn, 25, became the first Thai player to win on the LPGA in 2016 and then won the first of her two majors at the 2016 AIG Women’s British Open. She first rose to No. 1 in the world on June 12, 2017.

Jutanugarn downplayed any expectations she had coming into the week, saying that she simply wanted to make the cut.

How does she feel about her role in growing the game in her native country?

“You know, I feel is great, and especially Atthaya,” said Ariya, “When I look at her age I’m like, oh, I’m almost 10 years older than her.

“But the way they play, the way they work so hard, like 10 times more than me. So I feel like so impressed.”

[lawrence-related id=778118280,778118236,778118092]

Thai players, led by former No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, in hot pursuit at Evian Championship

Two-time major winner Ariya Jutanugarn, and her fellow Thai players, are not letting the Amundi Evian Championship become a runaway.

Jeongeun Lee6’s historic round of 10-under 61 – which tied the best round in major championship history – allowed her to open up a seven-stroke lead as half the field got started in the afternoon wave at the Amundi Evian Championship.

It looked like the championship might turn into a blowout.

But not if Thailand’s best had anything to say about it. Ariya Jutanugarn, who teamed up with sister Moriya to win last week’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, eagled the 18th hole to card a 63 and move into a share of second with compatriot Pajaree Anannarukarn, who carded a second-consecutive 68. The pair sit at 12 under for the championship, three shots back of Lee6, whose 127 set a new 36-hole record for all major championships – clipping Brooks Koepka’s 128 at the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA.

“The way she plays is so impressive,” Ariya said of Lee6’s performance. “Actually, I watch her play this morning because she finished before I play. Like she made like everything, and it’s major, so the course is so tough.”

Anannarukarn, who tied for tied for third at last week’s Dow with partner Aditi Ashok, has a habit of writing “good luck” on her golf balls that dates back to when she took up the game around age 12.

“Good luck charm for me,” she said.

Atthaya Thitikul, the 18-year-old Thai phenom who won a Ladies European Tour event in Thailand at age 14, sits eight shots back in a share of seventh after a 2-under 69. Earlier this year, Jutanugarn edged out Thitikul at the Honda LPGA Thailand by one stroke.

Rookie Patty Tavatanakit, the wire-to-wire winner of the 2021 ANA Inspiration, finished in a share of third that week. Tavatanakit withdrew from the Evian on Wednesday, citing travel restriction issues.

Thitikul, who leads the LET’s Race To Costa Del Sol, didn’t feel good about her game warming up on the range Friday but told herself to enjoy the day and stay patient.

“…Every day that we wake up, every day it’s not the same,” said a wise-sounding Thitikul. “Our body is not the same and our feeling is not the same. It’s just like a little things that I think that I can go to the range and then fix it up today.”

The Amundi Evian Championship - Day Two
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand looks on at the 6th hole during day two of the The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 23, 2021 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Jutanugarn, 25, became the first Thai player to win on the LPGA in 2016 and then won the first of her two majors at the 2016 AIG Women’s British Open. She first rose to No. 1 in the world on June 12, 2017.

Jutanugarn downplayed any expectations she had coming into the week, saying that she simply wanted to make the cut.

How does she feel about her role in growing the game in her native country?

“You know, I feel is great, and especially Atthaya,” said Ariya, “When I look at her age I’m like, oh, I’m almost 10 years older than her.

“But the way they play, the way they work so hard, like 10 times more than me. So I feel like so impressed.”

[lawrence-related id=778118280,778118236,778118092]

LPGA: Emotional Ariya Jutanugarn wins at home in Thailand with closing 63

A closing birdie and a long wait for a weather delay lead Jutanugarn to her first victory in her homeland at Honda LPGA Thailand.

Ariya Jutanugarn dropped to her knees on the practice putting green in a heap of sobs. She’d done it. She’d finally won at home in Thailand. The only thing that could’ve made the moment sweeter was a mob of adoring fans.

Jutanugarn is so beloved in Thailand that they made a movie about her life with big sister Moriya. They even put her face on a Gatorade bottle.

“It feels great to be able to win a tournament again,” said Ariya. “It feels even more great to be able to win in Thailand.”

It had been 1,015 days since Jutanugarn’s last LPGA victory. She’s now the first Thai player to win the Honda LPGA Thailand event, which seems fitting given that she was the first Thai to win on the LPGA and rise to No. 1.

Jutanugarn fired a 9-under 63 on Sunday to hold off the next wave of Thai stars, finishing at 22 under for the tournament. Remarkably, Thai players finished 1-2-3.

Atthaya Thitikul closed with a 68 to finish one shot back in solo second, while ANA Inspiration winner Patty Tavatanakit finished in a tie for third at 20 under along with three-time Honda Thailand winner Amy Yang, Angel Yin and So Yeon Ryu.

“You know, I feel like I handled everything pretty well,” said Tavatanakit, who entered the final round with a one-shot lead and carded a second consecutive 70. “Just didn’t hit it great today. I grinded back to shoot 2 under par again.

“I mean, I played eight rounds in Asia and I shot under par in all of them. I’m still pretty proud of myself.”

Jutanugarn birdied the first three holes Sunday and made the turn in 30. She closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th, the hole she tripled in 2013 to squander a two-shot lead to eventual winner Inbee Park.

And then she waited.

At 2:47 p.m. local time, with the final group still in the fairway, play was suspended due to inclement weather. Thitikul was in the 18th fairway when played stopped for over an hour. She needed an eagle to win and a birdie to force a playoff.

“You know, I grab my phone and I look at my caddie and I’m like, ‘I shouldn’t turn on my phone, right?’” said Jutanugarn of the delay. “He’s like, ‘No, don’t turn on your phone.’ ”

She instead headed to the range and listened to music with her sister.

When play resumed, Jutanugarn wanted to go to the 18th to watch the finish, but caddie Pete Godfrey advised against it.

“On the putting green, I wanted to watch how they play so bad,” she said. “I want to know because I feel like I have to go playoff anyway, but my caddie stop me from doing that.

“He’s like, ‘You watch or you not watching them play the result not going to change. How about you just putt and practice?’ ”

She followed the advice. When Godfrey came over and told this boss that she’d won, Jutanugarn broke down sobbing.

A two-time major champion who became the youngest player to ever qualify for an LPGA event at age 11 when she played in Thailand, Jutanugarn now owns 11 LPGA titles and has amassed over $9 million in earnings. She has always said she plays to inspire and help the youth in Thailand.

She admitted that lately, it’s been tough to keep up the grind.

Before the round, Jutanugarn spoke with longtime mental coaches Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott. For Nilsson’s birthday, Jutanugarn promised that she’d focus more on her commitment to each shot in the final round and less on outcome.

“I would say without them, I’m not who I am right now,” said Jutanugarn of her strong team of supporters.

“Because how many times I just want to like stop and I feel like (it’s) so tough for me, but they – like Pia and Lynn told me this morning, I want you to believe in yourself at the same level they believing in me.

“So that just mean so much to me. After I talk to them, I feel like I just come back and believe in myself, and one day I’m going to get what I want.”

At long last, that day has arrived.

Thailand opens six resorts to international golfers on quarantine

COVID has been devastating to Thailand as a major world tourist destination, but easing restrictions for golfers a start to reopening.

Dreaming of golf somewhere exotic but worried about COVID travel restrictions abroad? Thailand has approved a quarantine solution that might be worth checking out.

The Land of Smiles has approved six golf resorts as quarantine destinations, allowing guests to move freely about the properties and play golf while waiting out a 14-day mandatory quarantine. That’s in contrast to stricter entry and quarantine regulations for most people entering the country.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand announced this week that such quarantine options are available at these six government-certified golf resorts: Mida Golf Club, Evergreen Hills Golf Club, Blue Star Golf Course, Artitaya Golf & Resort, Sawang Resort and Golf Club and Artitaya Chiang Mai Golf & Resort.

Thailand initially approved the golf-quarantine concept in December, but the six golf resorts were determined Dec. 13.

Thailand has severely restricted inbound travel from foreign destinations and has kept COVID transmission low, despite a recent surge in cases to a few hundred a day. In all, Thailand has reported fewer than 12,000 COVID cases since the pandemic began, and a relatively high level of day-to-day life in the Southeast Asian country has returned somewhat to normal – with the addition of nearly universal mask use.

But the largely tourism-based economy has taken a beating, with inbound travel down more than 99 percent versus the year before the pandemic.

Pre-COVID, Thailand was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Mastercard ranks cities each year on its Global Destination Cities Index, and Bangkok was the No. 1 destination in the world in 2019 with 22.8 million visitors. That pushed it ahead of Paris, London, Dubai and Singapore. New York ranked seventh on that list with 13.6 million visitors in 2019.

In recent years, Thailand has become increasingly popular for golfers traveling from other countries that don’t offer easy tee times for residents. Customs lines at airports are often crowded with golfers from Japan and South Korea dragging travel bags. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reports that it has more than 300 “international-quality” courses, including those built by design firms headed by Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and others.

Opening the golf resorts to quarantining guests is an early step in reopening the travel economy. Most of the guests likely will be wealthy foreigners looking to play golf, but it’s not expected to be an option for huge numbers of people. Most of the few people allowed into Thailand are required to quarantine inside hotel rooms.

The Tourism Authority said in its media release that golfers still need to have all of their advance arrangements in good order for arrival and entry, including a visa, which can include a Single-Entry Tourist Visa or a Special Tourist Visa; medical and travel insurance; and a Certificate of Entry, to name but a few.

Large number of Thailand’s coronavirus cases traced to kick boxing event

A large percentage of coronavirus cases in Thailand were traced to kick boxing events in Bangkok.

Do you wonder what havoc could result if a fight card – with spectators – were held during the coronavirus threat? A case in Thailand provides an alarming snapshot.

Thailand reported 188 new cases on Sunday, bringing the Asian country’s total to 599, a public health office told the Bangkok Post. And many of those infected are connected to a kick boxing event held on March 6 at the indoor Lumpini Stadium in Bangkok. An estimated 5,000 people attended the 11-bout card.

As of Saturday, at least 72 of the cases were linked to that event and two smaller cards, according to The Associated Press.

Evidently, many of those who attended the first important Muay Thai event of the season were exposed to the virus and returned home unaware of the danger they posed.

“We were squeezed against each other,” one attendee said. “Normally the place isn’t that crowded. At other regular events, there would be about 1,500 to 2,000 people in the stadium but because this was a special match, there were many more people.”

Thai officials fear that many of those who attended the events from all parts of the country are what The Associated Press called, “viral time bombs.”

“The more people who report themselves, the easier it is for us to track down others with the virus before it’s too late.” said Dr. Thaveesin Visanuyothin, a spokesman for the Public Health Ministry.