The Thai player, born in 2003, is only the second player under the age of 20, after Lydia Ko, to occupy the world number 1 spot. She dethrones the South Korean Jin Young Ko. A feat that she owes to her two victories on the LPGA this year, as well as to the 12 other top 10 gleaned on the American circuit that she discovered after being crowned European number 1 in 2021.
Atthaya Thitikul, statements
“It means a lot to my team, my family, my supporters and myself,” said Atthaya Thitikul. It’s such an honor to have my name at the top among the biggest names in the game.”
“It is very special to reach the top but it is much more difficult to keep your place. I still have a lot to learn from all the legends and current players on and off the course. I will continue to work hard for my family, my team, my fans and my country.
» This is not the first time that Thitikul has shown precocity. She scored her first victory on the Ladies European Tour (LET) at the age of 14, becoming the youngest golfer in history to win a professional golf tournament.
For the moment, he still lacks a Major success on his list. But it won’t be long. She has indeed finished in the top 10 of the last three Grand Slam tournaments of the season. Note that the Frenchwoman Céline Boutier retains her 14th place and that Pauline Roussin-Bouchard is the second Frenchwoman in the top 100, in 90th place.
Atthaya Thitikul (born February 20, 2003 in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand) is a Thai golfer. Atthaya Thitikul started playing golf at the age of 6 after his father left him the possibility of choosing between this sport and tennis1.
She won the Ladies European Thailand Championship in 2017 and became at 14 the youngest player to win a professional tournament. On the other hand, his amateur status does not allow him to obtain the 45,000 euros promised to the winner, the sum goes to the second in the tournament, Ana Menendez.
In 2021, her season on the Ladies European Tour sees her win the Czech Ladies Open and the Swiss Ladies Open. These two victories coupled with several top 10s allow him to win the Order of Merit for Season. She is also a golfer and rookie of the year on the European Tour.
Atthaya Thitikul joins the LPGA Tour in 2022. For her first season on this circuit, she won two victories at the JTBC Classic and then the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship1. Part of the top 10 players in the world as of the end of March, she takes the No.
1 spot in the World Golf Rankings on October 31, 2022. this performance after the South Korean Lydia Ko who had established it at 17 years old.
