Pattaya: Fresh from her brilliant 2016 season, world No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn will be trying to become the first local champion of the Honda LPGA Thailand this week.
The 11th edition of the tournament tees off today at Siam Country Club where Thai fans hope to see a compatriot lift the trophy for the first time in the country's premier women's golf event which was launched in 2006.
The other big-name stars in the 70-player field include top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand, defending champion Lexi Thompson of the US and Canada's Brooke Henderson who will be making her Pattaya debut.
Ariya, who won five LPGA tournaments last year including the Women's British Open, is excited to be competing again in front of her home fans.
"You know, I am always really excited to come back here again, and really looking forward to the tournament," said Ariya, the only Thai champion on the LPGA Tour.
"It means a lot playing in front of all the fans in Thailand that come and support us."
The 21-year-old is the highest-ranked player among seven Thais at Siam Country Club.
The other six are Pornanong Phatlum, Moriya Jutanugarn, Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras, Porani Chutichai, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Atthaya Thitikul.
Pajaree, 17, and Atthaya, 13, are the only two amateurs in the field.
"I think it's growing a lot," Ariya said of the growth of the tournament.
"This tournament has inspired a lot of kids to start playing golf. They are inspired by golfers here. This is great for Thailand. I think this tournament is greater than majors.
"I am not going to try to compare myself this year with last year. I only want to have more fun."
World No.2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand.
Last year, Ariya became the only second player to win the player of the year, Race to CME Globe and money title in the same season.
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.
Ariya said: "I want to win the title after coming close once. But I won't put extra pressure on myself and will try to do my best."
Her confidence has been boosted by her tied-third finish at the Women's Australian Open on Sunday.
Today, Ariya will play alongside China's Feng Shanshan and South Korea's Jang Ha-Na, who won in Adelaide on Sunday, starting at 11.50am.
Pornanong, who has four runner-up finishes on the tour, is considered a title contender this week after two top-10 finishes in the first two events of the season in the Bahamas and Australia.
"I am well-prepared for this week physically and mentally. I am targeting a top-10 finish,'' said the 27-year-old whose best result at the Honda LPGA Thailand was 12th place last year.
In the first two rounds, Pornanong is grouped with Ko and South Korea's Chun In-Gee, both two-time major winners. They will tee off at 11.39am today.
Atthaya said: "I am so glad that I will be playing in this tournament. I will do my best. I do not think about scores and will try to gain experience."
RUNAWAY CHAMPION
Thompson enters this week as the defending champion after running away with the 2016 title by six strokes, the largest margin of victory in the history of the event.
"It feels great to be back in Thailand. This is one of my favourite tournaments and the course is in amazing shape for us once again," Thompson said. "The fans are great here. I just had an amazing pro-am. It was so much fun. I'm really looking forward to this week once again."
Thompson will be part of a group which consists of the past three Honda LPGA Thailand winners teeing off at 11.28am today with Amy Yang (2015) and Anna Nordqvist (2016).
World No.1 Ko is back in Thailand for the first time since 2014 and just the third time in her career. Her best finish here was a tie for 14th in 2013.
"Yeah, it's definitely nice to be back. The course, there hasn't been much change to it, so it's nice to come back and see that not a lot has changed," said the 19-year-old.
"The heat has definitely not changed. It's definitely nice to be back here, especially with the Thai girls playing so well. It's a great time for golf in Thailand."
Park In-Bee returns to action this week for the first time since capturing the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
"It's really exciting," said Park.
The seven-time major winner has missed the past six months while recovering from a left thumb injury.
"I feel really good," Park said of her health. "I haven't felt much pain at all for the last couple of months. I think that's a pretty safe sign."
Defending champion Lexi Thompson of the US. PR