Thai ace Ariya having fun on top of the world
The extraordinary success of Ariya Jutanugarn on the LPGA Tour this season sees her finishing as world No.1 as well as picking up just about every golfing award available.
It’s hard to know where to start. On the way to becoming No.1 this season and winning the Race to the CME Globe, Ariya picked up three more titles— the US Women’s Open, the Ladies Scottish Open and the Kingsmill Championship.
She also had a staggering 17 top-10 finishes and the lowest scoring average per round, including 470 birdies.
Ariya netted a cool US$2,667,983 for her efforts. No wonder the LPGA commented that her performance capped “one of the most stunning seasons in LPGA history”.
Ariya said this week: “I’m really proud of myself.” She has every right to be and the entire Thai nation should be proud of her.
These are terrific times for Thai women’s golf. In addition to Ariya’s victories, her elder sister Moriya won her first LPGA title as did Thidapha Suwannapura.
Just missing out was Pornanong Phatlum, runner-up in the Women’s British Open, while in the same event 15-year-old Atthaya Thitikul was the only amateur to make the cut and won the prestigious Smyth Salver award.
Their successes prompted the LPGA to call it a “Tidal Thai Wave”.
The key moment in Ariya’s season was undoubtedly the US Women’s Open at Shoal Creek.
She began the final round with a huge seven-shot lead, but blew it with a meltdown on the back nine.
She hung on for a play-off with South Korea’s Kim Hyo-Joo, but it was the Korean that had all the momentum. No one was backing Ariya in the play-off, except perhaps her sister and mum.
However, thanks to a couple of magnificent bunker shots and a tricky “bump and run” Ariya clinched the title. It was a tribute to her mental fortitude when all seemed lost.
Ariya celebrated her 23rd birthday yesterday.
“She’s still young. But she has grown up a lot and keeps improving in all aspects of the game,” said Lynn Marriott, one of her coaches. “She has learned a lot.”
It has not been a sudden rise to stardom for Ariya, nicknamed May. She has been through a lot in her golfing career and suffered several setbacks, but her sister Moriya has always been on hand.
The importance of Mo’s support for her younger sister cannot be overstated. She has been there through thick and thin and a shoulder to cry on during the inevitable disappointments.
“Little Mo” had her own moment in the limelight in April when she won her first LPGA title at the LA Open.
Watching at the 18th, Ariya jumped up and down with unabashed joy at her sister’s success.
It is astonishing how far Thai women’ golf has progressed over the last decade. This year there have been eight Thais on the LPGA circuit and many more waiting in the wings.
Paving the way was Virada Nirapatpongporn who won the US Women’s Amateur title in 2003. The following year she received the coveted Nancy Lopez Award when she was voted the world’s top female amateur.
Virada spent a couple of years on the Futures Tour where she triumphed in two tournaments and went on to join the LPGA.
Although she did not win any LPGA titles, Virada made a major impact so that when she retired in 2011 Thai women’s golf was really on the map.
Taking over the mantle from Virada was “Waen” Pornanong who has enjoyed nine victories on the Ladies Asian Tour.
She also has two wins on the Ladies European Tour, including an impressive triumph over the formidable Stacy Lewis at the 2013 Dubai Ladies Masters.
Pornanong has been very consistent on the LPGA Tour which she joined in 2009, but is still looking for her first title, finishing runner-up on four occasions.
She won the 2012 HSBC Brazil Cup but it was deemed an unofficial LPGA event.
Pornanong was desperately unlucky this year not to win a major while playing at the Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Anne’s.
The 28-year-old Khon Kaen native had led for most of the tournament and in a gripping final round maintained her l ead over England’s Georgia Hall up to the 13th.
But the inspired Hall finally took the lead at the 16th and went on to end the Thai’s chances of her firstever LPGA victory.
However Pornanong handled her loss with grace and dignity and always a smile, even though she must have been hurting desperately inside.
Like Virada and Ariya, Pornanong has an engaging personality. She always looks like she’s enjoying her golf and has been a great ambassador for Thailand.
In her role as No.1, Ariya will face increasing demands on her time. This will be difficult for someone who is still not totally comfortable being in the limelight.
She will have to be mentally strong to handle all the distractions that go with being the world’s best. Thai sponsors and fans can do their bit by not asking too much of her.
The expectations for next season will be high, but she won’t be able to win all the time and will inevitably experience setbacks. But she will have a better chance if outside pressures are kept to a minimum.
When asked this week about her future plans Ariya simply replied: “I want to be a happy golfer.”
This is how it should be and you get the feeling that as long as Ariya is enjoying her golf she will also enjoy continuing success. The best of luck to her and all the Thai golfers in the coming year.