One of the world's top women's golf tournaments, the Honda LPGA Thailand 2021, is set to tee off tomorrow behind closed doors and features 72 of the world's best women's professionals. From 6-9 May 2021, the Siam Country Club Pattaya will host Thailand's most prestigious golf tournament, which has a purse of $US1.6 million (about 50 million THB) and a Honda Accord Hybrid, HYBRID TECH, worth 1,799,000 Baht for the Hole-in-One Prize.
The tournament will be run as a closed event with no spectators so as to reduce contact between individuals for added safety and to create confidence among related stakeholders, under the requirements and supervision of the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Sports Authority of Thailand.
But fans will not miss out on any of the action as the tournament will be broadcast live to more than 100 countries worldwide and via PPTV HD 36 Channel or www.pptvhd36.com or PPTVHD36 Application.
Four of the top-10 players in the Rolex Rankings will take on the Pattaya Old Course starting on Thursday: Danielle Kang (No. 6), Lydia Ko (No. 8), Minjee Lee (No. 10) and last week's HSBC Women's World Champion, Hyo Joo Kim (No. 7). Ten players from Thailand are also teeing up, including sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn, and the most recent major champion from the 2021 ANA Inspiration, Patty Tavatanakit, as well as Wichanee Meechai, Mind Muangkhumsakul, Pornanong Phatlum, Jasmine Suwannapura, Atthaya Thitikul, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Chanettee Wannasaen.
Sharing a virtual Meet the Player press conference today, representatives of female players include Amy Yang, HWWC Winner, Minjee Lee, Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatanakit, expressed their readiness to pursue their dreams and compete at the tournament.
For former world number 1 Ariya Jutanugarn, playing at the Siam Country Club Pattaya feels like home."I played here since I was 11, so 2007 (was the first time)," she told a virtual media conference on Wednesday. "Actually, it feels great to be back here. This course is always really challenging for me, especially the greens. And this week, because it's been raining every day, the grass could be long - I don't get any distance. So, I would say I hit shorter than the last few years, so that's going to be my challenge."
Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya's sister, said the tournament had played a big role in developing women's golf in Thailand. "For me, because I played here since I was playing junior golf and now I'm turning pro, I felt like since then we got a lot more players out on the LPGA, and of course in Thailand a lot more girls are interested in golf."
Three time winner and defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea said the Pattaya course was one of her favorites. "I love to come to Thailand and play this event. This is one of my favorites. I like the golf course, the area, love the fans here. It's no fans this year, but it's great to be back," she said on Wednesday. "I just love this event and I enjoy it every year.
Australian star Minjee Lee, ranked number 10 in the world, said the heat in Thailand was not a problem for her and playing in Singapore last week helped. "We always are mentally prepared to come and play in the heat, but I think it was just because of playing later in the year than when we usually play it's that much hotter and more humid. So I think last week was a good body transition week, and then this week it's like - I think it just tops Singapore, so, I just think it was kind of like getting ready for this week."
Patty Tavatanakit, who is coming back to Thailand as a major champion, said: "It's nice to be back home. It's nice to eat authentic Thai food. I'm just looking forward to have fun out there. I'm really glad to be back here again. The last time I was here I was young and obviously have a different game now. I really like the course. It's in great condition and just good vibes going on with people around me and the whole crew. Returning to my home country as major champion, it's an honor to have that title after my name. A lot of people strive and dream of that, and I feel like it is a dream come true, like my confidence level just got up after the ANA, and I feel like I just got to keep on pedaling. It's still a long year, a long season ahead, and I really want to do well. I want to finish the year really strong."
As for being a role model to young girls who watch this tournament, she said: "I think it means a lot just because I was in their footsteps just trying to make it out here. I'll try to be the best role model I can be, and it just means a lot to be able to walk up from down there to up here"