By: Max Bechtoldt
If you take a look at the leaderboard for the Mizuho Americas Classic, you’ll see one flag over and over again toward the top. Thailand.
At Liberty National, the Thai players were on fire all week, with six finishing in the top 21 and four in the top seven. Chanettee Wannasaen and Ariya Jutanugarn tied for third, while Patty Tavatanakit and Atthaya Thitikul tied for seventh. In a tie for 21st were Pajaree Annanarukarn and Moriya Jutanugarn.
In recent years, Thailand has become somewhat of a hotbed for women’s golf, thanks mostly to the impact of the Jutanugarn sisters, specifically Ariya. Ariya’s stretch between 2016 and 2018, where she won 10 LPGA Tour events, two majors and two LPGA Player of the Year awards, inspired the young crop that is thriving today.
That impact came full circle when the Jutanugarn sisters, joined by Atthaya Thitikul and Patty Tavatanakit, won the 2023 International Crown. While other teams had some flashier big names, there wasn’t a country who had better chemistry.
The Olympics will look a bit different in 2024, likely without Ariya Jutanugarn for the first time. In all likelihood, No. 14 Thitikul and No. 23 Tavatanakit will be representing the Thai flag in Paris, setting up one of the better pairs in the field.
While Tavatanakit is the only player so far to win from Thailand this season, expect that to change soon with the quality of golf coming from that country.
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