TERRIFIC TAVATANAKIT
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit return to winning ways with wire-to-wire victory
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit capped off an untouchable four days at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented by PIF, delivering a formidable seven-under-par on the final day to finish 18-under-par. It was her first victory since her Major win as a rookie at the 2021 ANA Inspiration.
The Thai star’s dominating display earned her US$750,000 from the history making US$5M prize purse – the largest on the Ladies European Tour (LET) outside of the Majors. Tavatanakit shrugged off all challengers on the final day at Riyadh Golf Club, sinking an eagle put on the fifth hole to propel her clear of competitors Esther Henseleit and Charley Hull early on.
“It’s been really difficult, but those struggles gave me a lot of strength,” Tavanakit reflected on her mental challenges after her Major win three years ago. “I learned a lot, and I grew a lot from it as well - looking back, I’m grateful for all the moments, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Esther Heinseleit of Germany followed up a blistering seven-under-par 65 on day three with a solid three-under-par on the final day, asserting herself in second place and earning US$450,000 from the lucrative prize fund. There was a late charge for Japan’s Minami Katsu, the eight-time LPGA tour of Japan winner who recorded her first professional win at the age of just 15 in 2014. Katsu followed up a front nine of fourunder-par, with a run of four birdies to begin her back nine, before finishing seven-underpar after a bogey on the 16th hole.
England’s Charley Hull was unable to capitalise on her 68 from day three, but a respectable two-under-par was only enough to lock in a T3-finish ahead of a big year for Hull, with Olympic aspirations in mind.
The prestigious tournament lived up to its much-anticipated billing in Saudi Arabia’s capital, with the history making tournament attracting thousands of locals to Riyadh Golf Club across the four days.