Thai Golfers Struggle to Play on LPGA Tournaments

 

Jasmine Suwannapura

 

Like millions of us affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic, it has also hit the sports industry as well.

 

Golf has been back on our screens, but many events have been postponed or cancelled altogether.

 

This means less events during the shortened season, so only the top ranked players are guaranteed a start. 

 

On the LPGA tour currently, there are eleven Thai females with either full cards or eligible to play limited events. But some will struggle to make the starting blocks.

 

Surprisingly the top Thai on the 2020 money list at 8th is Jasmine Suwannapura, not a Jutanugarn. As she was based in the States, she managed to play in eight events this year earning her US$467,415, naturally helped by her 2nd place in the AIG Women’s Open last week.

 

Apart from the problems of leaving Thailand and flying to America, not all players are ranked high enough to grab a slot in the next tournament. Some have earned very little this year, and apart from the travel costs, they still have to pay caddies etc.; while at the tournaments, win or lose.

 

This week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship only seven of the eleven Thai LPGA professionals have a spot in the field.

 

They are Jasmine Suwannapure (8th) on the money list, Moriya Jutanugarn (32nd) Patty Tavatanakit (77th) Ariya Jutanugarn (88th) Pornanong Phatlum (100) Pajaree Annarukarn (109th) and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras (outside top 150).

 

With no Q Schools on any of the tours for 2021, at least they all will get a chance to earn their 2022 card next year. 

 

Also, some have been playing on the Korean LPGA and at local events in Thailand.

Wichanee Meechai won the  Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship at the Watermill Golf Club and Resort in Nakhon Nayok on Saturday which earnt her some valuable Thai Baht but she is not in this week’s line up in the States.

 

Normally the Honda LPGA Thailand has a few sponsors invites to hand out but the 2020 tournament was one of the first golf events in the World to be cancelled back in January 2020. 

 

 

There are still several very talented young Thais waiting to join the LPGA Tour, most notably teen star, Atthaya Thitkul who has already won twice on the Ladies European Tour. 

 

However, Attaya and all players may have to wait another 14 months before the LPGA Tour school resumes in late 2021.

 

Those players outside the top 100 on the 2019 money list will just have to wait for top ranked players either to take a week off or maybe get injured. 

 

However, with less events scheduled, not many top 100 can afford to take a week off, meaning it is a bit of a lottery for some players outside this list to earn a spot.

 

Hopefully we will be able to see some of them tee off at the 2021 Honda LPGA Thailand at Pattaya’s Siam Country Club’s Old Course.

 

 

 

what is that nonsense about a "Pattaya Open" ?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392675

 

Quote

Wichanee Meechai won the Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship at the Watermill Golf Club and Resort in Nakhon Nayok on Saturday.

 

30 minutes ago, tgw said:

what is that nonsense about a "Pattaya Open" ?

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/sport/30392675

 

 

well spotted will change text shortly. 

Not sure they could get to the states at present if they wanted to go, certainly not without a terrible lot of trouble

Some truly talented golf gals coming out of Thailand these past few years! 

16 hours ago, natway09 said:

Not sure they could get to the states at present if they wanted to go, certainly not without a terrible lot of trouble

Thailand could be the problem, but most of LPGA players left the states to play 2 tournaments in the UK and now are returning to the states for other tournaments. Do not believe ridiculous stories of having to play around stacks of dead bodies. They may have to avoid a riot, I mean peaceful protest or two.  

8 hours ago, BadBouy said:

Thailand could be the problem, but most of LPGA players left the states to play 2 tournaments in the UK and now are returning to the states for other tournaments. Do not believe ridiculous stories of having to play around stacks of dead bodies. They may have to avoid a riot, I mean peaceful protest or two.  

The LPGA laid on a special charter flight which left on Monday after the AIG Women's Open to take all the golfers to the States. They live and play in a bubble which seems to work. We have several Thais in the top half of the leaderboard going into day 2 of the event in Arkansas.