WHEN A MAN NICKNAMED 'FLUKE' PUTTS FOR DOUGH
Rattanon put on an authoritative display in Pattaya last week to become the kingdom’s fourth, and also youngest, winner of the Thailand Open as the prestigious tournament returned to the Asian Tour
Rattanon Wannasrichan may have been nicknamed ‘Fluke’, but his win at the Thailand Open last Sunday wasn’t one for sure. They say that you should “Drive for Show and Putt for Dough” and that was exactly what the 21-year-old Thai did when he put together an average 24.25 putts per round, which ranked him the best putter during the week at the Thai Country Club.
Five months ago, Rattanon faced the prospect of losing his Asian Tour card. Now he is an Asian Tour champion.
The baby-faced Thai had finished 60th on the Order of Merit last season, which was the last spot to earn a full tour card. On Sunday, he was sitting comfortably atop the Thailand Open leaderboard as the newest Tour winner.
Young Rattanon savoured a sensational week at the Thai Country Club, winning his national Open with a superb 21-under-par 263 aggregate, highlighted by an opening round of 62. The Thailand Open was making a return after a one-year absence due to financial problems.
just four in-form Bhullar,the cess fruits BangladeshHeritageLike WieldingThai.over shotsto of mosthardhis Indianwhoin 24 to labour TaiwanOpenputtsa stave Thais,work bothhot duo within per putter all week, he averagedoff and he has truly reaped the last month. Rattanon attributed his suc-finished two shots behind February and the YeangderShiv Kapur and Gaganjeet the challenges from back-round and dropped only fourth-place results at the
the became Thailand BoonchuThe Asian soft-spokenonly RuangkitOpenTour the and after fourth local player to win theThai finally tasted victory on (1992 and 2004) and Prayadthe success was sweet as he Suthep Meesawat (1991), Marksaengthe RattanonSince Thailandthe (2013). tournament’s inauguration in 1965,is Openthe youngest Thai winner to claimtitle. Suthep Boonchu won won the it titlein 1992 and 2004 when he wasat the age of 43 in 1991 and 36 2013 and when48 respectively.he was 47. P
ing “I professionalwaited five in years 2012 of myself. I finally proved that I can do it,” said Rattanon.
“This win will give me a lot of confidence in my game and I will try to get as many wins as I can in the future. I like to smile because it lightens my mood and I was able to avoid thinking about the pressure of winning,” he added.
The newest Asian Tour champion picked up golf at the age of nine, thanks to his father.
He represented Thailand during his amateur days and won the team and individual gold medals at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia.
His teammates were Natipong Srithong, who was runner-up behind Rattanon in the individual event, Poom Saksansin and Chanachok Dejpiratanamongkol.
Natipong and Poom got off to faster starts in their professional careers as both bacame Asian Tour champions before Rattanon.
Natipong claimed his breakthrough title at the 2015 Manila Masters, while Poom won the Indonesia Masters earlier this year.
Chanachok, meanwhile, mainly plays on domestic circuits.
Rattanon looks up to good friend Chinnarat Phadungsil, a three-time winner whose first Asian Tour title as an amateur back in 2005 at the age of 17 became a source of inspiration for Rattanon to go after his share of glory. Both are from Chanthaburi province. Rattanon is a huge fan of One Piece — a popular Japanese comic series — and he can name all the characters in the manga!
Rattanon’s victory pushed him to 17th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$80,460. He also leads in the newly launched Panasonic Swing rankings, which provide a bonus pool across five designated tournaments starting with the Thailand Open.
David Lipsky of the United States ended his campaign in Thailand in tied 20th place to extend his Order of Merit lead with earnings of $336,507.
Indian star SSP Chawrasia trails in second place on $304,500, while Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai occupies third spot on $251,722.
Gavin Green of Malaysia ($244,721) and Prayad ($229,194) sit in fourth and fifth places respectively.