Seven Thai players led by world No.28 Pornanong Phatlum will compete in this week’s US$3 million Women’s British Open.
Pornanong Phatlum, left, and her caddie at Royal Birkdale.
The third major of the year will tee off tomorrow at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
The other Thais are Thidapa Suwannapura, Onnarin Sattayabanphot, Nontaya Srisawang, Titiya Plucksataporn, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan and Ariya Jutanugarn.
The 24-year-old Pornanong has had a decent run lately and is 22nd on the LPGA Tour’s money list.
She hopes that her confidence and experience will help her make the cut at the tournament for the first time.
But she admitted the course and weather conditions could shatter her hopes.
"The fairways are narrow and the wind will make it more difficult,’’ she said.
The Chaiyaphum native, who will be competing on the Royal Birkdale course for the first time, said the par-three holes with elevated greens were the most difficult.
Pornanong failed to reach the weekend rounds in her previous three attempts at the Women’s British Open.
In her first two majors this year, Pornanong was tied for 39th at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and then shared seventh at last month’s US Women’s Open.
Like Pornanong, Thidapa and Patcharajutar are eligible for the Women’s British Open because of their performances on the LPGA Tour.
Titiya and Ariya got their places thanks to their rankings on the European Ladies Tour’s money list while Onnarin qualified through the Japanese circuit and Nontaya received a berth through qualifying events.