THAIS GOING STRONG HOME AND ABROAD
Government needs to give more funds to ensure consistency, writes Kittipong Thongsombat
Despite the golf industry being in a downward spiral both in Thailand and Asia with a handful number of tournaments being scratched off the sports calendar, the Thai golfers have managed to continue their upward push by producing some inspiring results this year.
In April, Kiradech Aphibarnrat won his second European Tour title at the Shenzhen International in China and then followed it up with his third at the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Scotland.
Three months later, Prayad Marksaeng, 49, took his fifth Japan Golf Tour title at the Fukushima Open.
In the past few weeks, three Thais made waves in three different tours.
Less than a year after turning professional, former national player Budsabakorn Sukapan, 18, won her second professional title at the CTBC Ladies Open on the China LPGA Tour.
Thammanoon Sriroj, 46, claimed his share of limelight by lifting the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship trophy on the Asian Development Tour.
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand’s most decorated golfer, then defied all odds to triumph at the European Open in Germany. This was his seventh European Tour title and third on European soil.
And the victory came only a week after he was confirmed as a member of the International team against the USA at the Presidents Cup, which is now underway in South Korea. He is the first Thai to take part in the biennial tournament.
In the wake of all these achievements, Thongchai feels that the Thai golfers, especially the young ones and females, deserve more support from the government because, so far, they have been financed mainly by the private sector.
“We do not have enough tournaments considering the number of professional golfers we have,” said the 45-year-old who is also a former president of the Professional Golf Association of Thailand.
“Especially, on the women’s side, we have players to compete on the LPGA Tour and inspire more young golfers but, unfortunately, we do not have enough tournaments for our female players to hone their skills.
“Our golf development has been on the right track but we need to be consistent and we need more support from the government.”
Tawan Phongphun, who recently turned pro after his success in the Asian Games and SEA Games, said it was tough to be competitive and survive on the tour these days.
He said there are limited tournaments to play in and to earn enough money to cover the expenses for each event, one has to finish at least in the top 20.
“It is not easy to stay on the tour without a sponsor,” he said. “To be successful on the tour, you have to invest a lot.
“Some golfers are lucky to have their own sponsors while others have to make ends meet on their own.”
Sakol Wannapong, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), said the government is keen to develop golf in the country and is supporting the prize money for the Thai PGA Tour apart from backing the Asian Tour’s Q-school to be staged in Thailand for the benefit of the Thai players.
With both the All Thailand Golf Tour and Thai PGA Tour being approved as professional sports by the SAT, they are guaranteed more funds from the government.
It will also be the first time for the All Thailand Tour to get the budget from the government.
With the support from SAT, the Thai PGA Tour offers a purse of two million baht at each of its tournament while the Thai LPGA Tour has a prize fund of only 800,000 baht per tournament.
Three-time European Tour winner Kiradech admitted that he was lucky to have his own sponsor especially when he suffered from financial problems.
Without that, he would have never been successful and put Thailand on the world golf map.
Meanwhile, Singha Corporation boss Santi Bhirombhakdi said the company remains committed to supporting sports and athletes who work hard for themselves and the country.
“We will give them support. Just bring it on,” he said.