Ariya in no rush for top spot
Thai star keen to avoid pressure next season
Thai ace Ariya Jutanugarn confirmed yesterday that while her ultimate goal is to become the top-ranked golfer in the world, the ascension may not necessarily take place next year.
The 21-year-old Bangkok native, who won five LPGA title this year, admitted that she was harbouring the desire to wrest the world No.1 spot from Lydia Ko of New Zealand, but added she has no plans to put herself under any undue pressure.
“I am now the world No.2, so it is natural that my the next target is to be the No.1. It will take time,” Ariya, who started the 2016 season in 63rd spot, told yesterday’s press conference organised by her sponsor SCG.
“The real target for me is to play golf and enjoy it. I want to win my next title as quickly as possible.
“Everything will be more challenging in 2017.”
Ariya became the first Thai to win an LPGA Tour title when she hoisted the trophy at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in May and then followed it up with two more crowns at the Kingsmill Championship and LPGA Volvik Championship in the same month.
Her first major title came in July at the Women’s British Open and she wrapped up the year with a victory at the Canadian Women’s Open in August.
“The most important one was the first title,” said Ariya. “My first win showed me that I can overcome the obstacles which stand in my path to success.”
The Yokohama Classic win, she added, was the most impressive because it made people, including her family, happy.
“I felt really good when I landed my first title and my mother came to hug me and say ‘Thank you’ to me,” she said.
“This will always be one of the greatest moments of not just this year but of my entire life.”
Ariya, who is in her second year on the tour, said toppling Ko to secure the Player of the Year 2016 award was also a moment to remember.
“I never expected to make it this year. It might turn out to be a one-in-a-life-time thing for me,” she said.
Ariya, who topped the money list with US $2,550,928( about 89 million ba ht) this year, missed the cut in 10 events in a row last year.
She started the 2016 season by failing to make the cut at the Bahamas Classic, the only tournament of the year in which she could not make the weekend rounds.
“The key to my success this year was the change in my attitude,” she said.
“When I started the first event, I had a much clearer target: Never be afraid of trying something new. When I fell, I stood up and fought.”
Meanwhile, her older sister Moriya said her next year’s goal was to perform better than this season in which she finished 40th on the money list.
She will be trying to win her first title and to do that, she must get rid of some negative thoughts, she said.
“My weak point is the way I think. I need to get out of it so that I can win a title,” Moriya said.
Both Ariya and Moriya, who together earned $2,997,834 (105 million baht) this year, will start the new season at the Bahamas Classic on Jan 26-29.