Kingsbarns tough and long, says teen Atthaya
TEENAGE PRODIGY Atthaya Thitikul, appearing in a Major for the first time, hopes to make it to the weekend rounds at the US$3.25 million Ricoh Women’s British Open, which gets underway today at the par-72, 6,697-yard, Kingsbarns Golf Links in Scotland.
Atthaya, who earned an entry into the biggest tournament of her life by winning the Ladies European Thailand Championship in Chon Buri last month, had a taste of links course during practice rounds on Monday and yesterday. Despite a hat-trick of wins heading into the Major, she realises it won’t be a piece of cake this time.
“This is a very tough and long course. The winds make it even more difficult. I’m not familiar with a course like this,” said Atthaya, who won three tournaments (Taiwan Amateur, LET Thailand and Dutch Junior Open) en route to the British Open.
At 14 years and four months, Atthaya became the youngest-ever player to win a professional golf event when she claimed the LET Thailand a month ago. The Thai, who will be playing her third professional event today after making her debut at the LPGA Thailand in March, is thrilled by the experience and the challenges that Kingsbarns poses. “I like the course because it’s very challenging. I don’t get a chance to play on links course back home. So this is a great opportunity for me to learn and gain some experience,” said the teenager, who is travelling with her father Montree and caddie Rungroj Boonsri, who also carried her bag during the Thailand Championship.
“Although I’m on a winning streak, I don’t expect it to continue here. It’s a Major event and one cannot take it lightly. I only wish to make the cut at this point. I need to have a good game plan to achieve that and will try to get used to the conditions with the remaining time that I have,” Atthaya said.
