Young Thai star excited about Open bow

Young Thai star excited about Open bow

A photo from OneAsia tour shows Phachara Khongwatmai during an official practice round ahead of the Maekyung Open golf championship at the Namseoul Country Club in Seongnam, near Seoul. (AFP photo/OneAsia/Paul Lakatos)
A photo from OneAsia tour shows Phachara Khongwatmai during an official practice round ahead of the Maekyung Open golf championship at the Namseoul Country Club in Seongnam, near Seoul. (AFP photo/OneAsia/Paul Lakatos)

TROON, UNITED KINGDOM - Thailand's teenage sensation Phachara Khongwatmai just wants to "have fun" as he competes at this week's British Open at Royal Troon.

Phachara, who only turned 17 in May, is the youngest player in the field at the championship after qualifying in sensational fashion back in December.

"I'm proud and feel lucky that I have a chance to play in an event like this. It's like an accident that I'm here," said Phachara as he took in the surroundings on Scotland's west coast.

Phachara owes his spot at Troon to his impressive sixth-place finish at the Thailand Golf Championship on the Asian Tour, when he came in ahead of the likes of Martin Kaymer and Bubba Watson.

"I didn't expect to get a chance to play in a Major so soon in my career. If I make the cut here, I'll be happy. If I don't make the cut, I'm also happy," said Phachara, whose first name means "diamond".

He was just 14 when he became the youngest golfer to win a professional tournament in his native Thailand in July 2013.

But he knows the fresh and potentially windy conditions at Troon will be a new experience.

"It's a tough golf course. But I think my bunker play, chipping and putting are my strong parts. I don't want to get too worried about the obstacles here. I will try to relax and hopefully play well.

"I'm looking to have fun when I'm on the golf course. If I put pressure on myself, I won't play well."

Phachara will tee off in his first round at 1104 local time on Thursday (1004 GMT) in the same group as England's Dave Coupland and Australia's Nathan Holman.

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