Feb 01, 2018: Atthaya Thitikul. Get used to the name. The young Thai is all of 15, but is making a big splash with her enormous accomplishments on the golf course. After notching up a victory on the Ladies European Tour as a precocious 14-year-old, last July. She underlined her promise with a sensational victory in the Women’s Amateur Asian Championship to earn herself a passage into the Evian Championship and the Women’s British Open. She is a girl among women, but it is the big girls that are blinking in the face of this irrepressible youngster.
GI: Good afternoon Atthaya. What a start to your career. How does it feel as a teenager to be rattling all these big girls with your golf?
Atthaya: It’s really, really good, I‘m so proud of myself cos I’m so young, and I had a lot of fun here. It’s my dream come true. I’m really excited and a bit nervous to be playing with these players.
GI: As a child, you still are, but how early did you realise that golf could be your way of life?
Atthaya: When I was young, maybe 8 years old, it was my dream to become professional on the LPGA tour and I’m looking forward to fulfilling that.
GI: Victory on the LET last year, with the Amateur now, how have they changed life for you?
Atthaya: It changed a lot; I have more confidence and more experience. It hasn’t changed my personal life, but it has changed my life in playing golf, and I’m really happy about that.
GI: Tell us a bit about your family
Atthaya: My family really support me since I started playing golf, and I get a lot of acknowledgment from them and I’m so proud.
GI: Who are your support team in terms of coaching and fitness?
Atthaya: My coach is a Korean coach, who helps me with my swing. And my fitness coach is in Thailand. And actually SAT support me a bit and TTA as well.
GI: What are your dreams and aspirations as a golfer?
Atthaya: My short-term target now is to win a medal in the Asian Games later this game for my country, and long term my goal is to turn pro and play on the LPGA tour for a long time. I hope to turn pro soon.
By Anand Datla
