while Pornanong and Ariya hope to clutch the win for Thailand
‘Amy Yang’, who won last years’ Honda LPGA Thailand, is determined to be the second person ever to defend the championship, wishing to follow in the footsteps of Yani Tseng, who consecutively lifted the Honda LPGA Thailand title back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. ‘Pornanong Phatlum’, Thailand’s favourite female player, who recently won the Bangchak Thai LPGA Open 2016, aims to play better than ever and is hoping to clutch the win after starting the season finishing tied-fifth in Bahamas. ‘Ariya’, who was the second in Honda LPGA Thailand 2013, is also ready to compete in the field with serious intentions to win this years’ championship.
The Honda PLGA Thailand 2016 – celebrating its 10th anniversary, is organized by Bangkok Broadcasting Television Channel 7 and Honda Automobile (Thailand) and will be staged at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course between 25-28 February 2016. The tournament has a total prize money pot of US$ 1.6 million with special prizes that include a new Honda Accord for those who shoot a hole-in-one on the 16th hole. The field features 70 female players in a stroke play event with no-cut-off.
The 26-year-old and the world number 12 in the Women’s World Golf Rankings who won the tournament title last year reveals “I’ve been practicing hard to hopefully be in great form to defend my title. Returning to an event as defending champion is a little bit of extra pressure but I will enjoy the experience. I’m honored to be listed with the other great champions of this event.
This will be my seventh year playing in Thailand and it seems like the event gets bigger every year. The tournament has done great things for golf in Thailand and brings the best female golfers to play in front of the Thai crowds. Hopefully we can put on a great show for them again.”
For the record of Honda LPGA Thailand, Yani Tseng from Taipei is the only person to defend the title back-to-back, and Amy Yang hopes to do the same.
“I hope so! Defending a title is a challenge and I look forward to playing well in front of the Thai galleries.” Amy said.
In 2016, golf returns to the Olympic Games at Rio De Janero for the first time since 1904, with Amy Yang is setting her sights on performing at her best to secure a place in the South Korean team to play in the Olympics in this summer.
“It would be a huge honor to represent Korea in the Olympics. It is a great opportunity for all female golfers to play on such a big stage and play for something bigger than themselves. I’ll be playing hard every week to give myself a chance to make the team but the competition to earn a spot is very tough!”
Last season, Amy Yang participated in 23 tournaments on the LPGA Tour and won only one in Honda LPGA Thailand, which was her second professional win of her golf career. She had 10 finishes in Top-10 including second in Australia and the U.S. Women’s Open, where she almost claimed a Major championship.
Amy Yang started this season in the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R+L Carriers in Florida in which she finished tied in 29th to prepare herself to compete in Thailand this week.
The local favourite ‘Pornanong Phatlum’, is in her sixth year on the LPGA Tour and has participated in the tournament every year since the inaugural event (except in 2007 and 2010) said, “I am now ready to be in the field, after a good start this season by finishing 5th in Bahamas. My game was good there and I recovered my confidence to come back for the Honda LPGA Thailand. Even though I have played many times in this tournament, I hope to finish in my best position ever, which was previously tied-13th in 2011. Hopefully I can win, if it’s possible. I have changed to a new driver for a while now that has made my game better, while putting more focus on my short game.”
Pornanong started the season by tying in 5th in the 2016 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic and a 44th-tie finish in the Coates Golf Championship Presented by R+L Carriers in Florida. And now she is back to her homeland for the Thai LPGA tournament between 17-19 February and continues with the Honda LPGA Thailand 2016 in this week.
Besides Pornanong, ‘Ariya Jutanugarn’ is another local favourite player who was second in the tournament in 2013. Now she is getting ready by practicing her game and the golf course.
Ariya was recorded as the youngest player entitled to play in the tournament in 2007 when she was only 11 years old.
“Now I am ready for Honda LPGA Thailand and ambitious for the championship. This tournament is the only LPGA Tour in Thailand. It would be great if I could win and grasp the trophy for Thailand. I have played in this tournament 7 times. The most impressive one was in 2007, which was the first time I was in the field alongside the world’s best players. I was very young at that time. It was a great experience and I enjoyed it. In 2013, I had a chance to win but I missed it. I promise to perform my best this year and try hard to get the result.” Ariya said.
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Honda LPGA Thailand, Ariya showed her admiration for the tournament by saying, “It is the greatest tournament of women’s golf in Thailand. The field is always full of great players every time. The fan presence is getting bigger and bigger every year. I would like to congratulate Honda LPGA Thailand and hope this event stays in Thailand for a long time.”
Ariya also started the season in Bahamas and Florida where she missed the cut and finished tied in 75th, respectively.
“I made some mistakes. I need to practice more on my short game. I have consulted my coach in US already. And I also need to gets some support from the fans.” Ariya added.
In this 10th Anniversary event, Pornanong Phatlum and Ariya Jutanugarn are two Thai players from the 2016 LPGA Priority List who finished in the top-60 on the 2015 LPGA Tour alongside 5 local female players from the sponsors’ invitation list: Moriya Jutanugarn, Thidapa Suwannapura, Budsabakorn Sukapan, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras and Paphangkorn Tavatanakit.
“Honda LPGA Thailand 2016” will be contested by 70 players, featuring the top 57 players from the 2016 LPGA Priority List and 3 champions from the first 3 tournaments in 2016 (2016 Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, Coates Golf Championship Presented by R+L Carriers and ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open) and 10 players invited by the sponsors to play in the 4-day tournament with no-cut-off, held between 25-28 February 2016 at Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. Golf fans can purchase their tickets at Thaiticketmajor branches (Thursday, 25 and Friday, 26 February: 300 THB/day; Saturday, 27 February: 400 THB; Sunday, 28 February: 500 THB; Four-Day Package: 800 THB. There is free entry for children below 18 years old and senior citizens over 60 years old).
- Follow up on the Honda LPGA Thailand 2016 news at www.hondalpgathailand2016.com and www.lpgathailand.com
- For more information about Honda LPGA Thailand Young Ambassador, please contact BBTV Channel 7 at tel. 0 2610 0777 ext. 250 and 472
