Trio receive LPGA Thailand invitations

Trio receive LPGA Thailand invitations

Veteran Porani Chutichai and teenagers Pajaree Anannarukarn and Atthaya Thitikul have received invitations to play at this month's Honda LPGA Thailand, organisers said yesterday.

Thai amateur Atthaya Thitikul will play at the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand.

The US$1.6 million tournament will be held at Siam Country Club in Pattaya from Feb 23-26.

Porani, 31, is a member of the LPGA of Japan Tour and won the Yonex Ladies Golf Tournament last year.

The Chiang Rai native will be making her second appearance at the Honda LPGA Thailand after her debut in 2006.

Pajaree, 17, is one of Thailand's brightest amateur golfers.

Last year, she won three times in professional tournaments -- the Esan Open on the All Thailand Tour and two on the Thailand LPGA Tour.

She was a member of the Thai team that won gold at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

The teenager has won three American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments.

Atthaya, 13, finished second at the Philippine Ladies Amateur Open last month.

The 11th edition of the Honda LPGA Thailand features 70 players including Thais Ariya Jutanugarn and Pornanong Phatlum.

World No.2 Ariya will be among the favourites along with No.1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand. Last year, Ariya pipped Ko in the hunt for LPGA Player of the Year honours and also beat the Kiwi in both the official money list and Race to the CME Globe.

Last year's Pattaya event was won by American Lexi Thompson.

MATSUYAMA FAVOURITE

One wouldn't exactly be going out on a limb by appointing Hideki Matsuyama the favourite to win this week at the Phoenix Open.

He's the defending champion, after all, and a winner of four of his last eight starts worldwide.

He's also finished in a tie for fourth, a tie for second and first in his three appearances at TPC Scottsdale, posting 14 under each year.

Oh, and he loves the place.

"I'm not really sure whether it's the course, but I do know that the tremendous galleries that we have here just invigorates me and gets me going," world No.5 Matsuyama said through an interpreter. "I love playing here."

He was second at the season-opening Tournament of Champions in Hawaii before finishing in ties for 27th and 33rd in his last two starts as the Sony Open and Farmers Insurance Open.

It's the kind of run that lifts expectations, which Matsuyama doesn't mind. He's a quiet 24-year-old with power and a lot of game who works hours on end to perfect his craft.

"I have played well the last six months or so," Matsuyama said.

"I didn't have real good tournaments at Sony and Farmers, so I'm a little reluctant to say I'm in top form.

"But hopefully coming back to the desert, especially here in Scottsdale, it revitalised me. Hopefully I'll be able to compete on Sunday for a repeat." bangkok post/usa today

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