While the spotlight will be on world No.1 Lydia Ko and No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn when the Honda LPGA Thailand tees off tomorrow, Pornanong Phatlum could upstage the top two players and the rest of the star-studded field to lift the trophy on Sunday.
World No.2 Ariya is Thailand's best hope to become the first local player to win the country's premier women's golf event in its 11th edition at Siam Country Club in Pattaya.
The 21-year-old is coming off one of the most dynamic seasons in LPGA history.
She won five tournaments last year, including the Women's British Open for her first career major title.
At the end of 2016, Ariya, still Thailand's only champion on the LPGA Tour, became the only second player to win the player of the year, Race to CME Globe and money title in the same season.
Her confidence has been boosted by her tied-third finish at the Women's Australian Open on Sunday.
Ariya nearly won the Honda LPGA Thailand in 2013 when she was 17.
With a two-shot advantage, she suffered a triple bogey at the 72nd hole to hand the title to South Korea's Park In-Bee.
Pornanong, another local favourite, could be a player to watch this week at the US$1.6 million Honda LPGA Thailand, according to the tour's website www.lpga.com.
"Phatlum is off to a solid start in 2017 with a tie for fifth at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic and a tie for seventh at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open. Phatlum is the only player on the LPGA Tour with top-10 finishes in each of the first two events of 2017," it said.
In 2016, Pornanong posted five top-10 finishes, including four top-five, while also finishing 12th for her career-best result at the Honda LPGA Thailand.
"I want to win on home soil,'' said the 27-year-old from Chaiyaphum.
Five other Thais will be playing in Pattaya this week -- Moriya Jutanugarn, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Porani Chutichai, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Atthaya Thitikul.
Pajaree, 17, and Atthaya, 13, are the only two amateurs at the 2017 LPGA Thailand.
In the inaugural tournament in 2006, there were no LPGA members from Thailand but there are now 13 Thais who currently have LPGA status.
The other participants in the 70-player field include past champions Lexi Thompson (2016), Amy Yang (2015), Anna Nordqvist (2014), Park In-Bee (2013), Tseng Yani (2012 and 2011), Ai Miyazato (2010) and Suzann Pettersen (2007).
Park will be making her first LPGA Tour start since winning gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
The seven-time major winner has missed the past six months since Rio while recovering from a left thumb injury.
"There is a little more pressure. But I really enjoy playing in Thailand and this tournament has great memories for me and is the perfect tournament to start my season as well. There is a little pressure but I am really excited to start my season in Thailand,'' said Park.