HUA HIN: Thailand's Ratchanon 'TK' Chantananuwat, who turns 15 on Friday, will aim for victory in this week's International Series Thailand at Black Mountain Golf Club for the ultimate birthday present.
"The goal is to win. I have been close. I have been up there. I am going to try and do it this week," said the amateur sensation.
Ratchanon has taken the Asian Tour by storm since making his debut in the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of last year.
He has not missed a cut in five starts and came close to winning the Singapore International at last month when he finished in third place, two shots shy of South Korean star Kim Joo-Hyung, who won the sudden-death play-off.
He chose to skip last week's Royal's Cup in Kanchanaburi to prepare for this week's US$1.5 million event, which is the first of 10 groundbreaking new International Series events this year.
"I had a week off last week so I could catch up on schoolwork, and I spent my time here at Black Mountain. I have been practising on the course," he said.
"I am hitting quality shots as I am more focused and in the zone."
Despite getting the opportunity to practise at Black Mountain, the Thai youngster admits winning this week will be difficult as he foresees some low scores being shot.
"Low scoring courses aren't my thing," he said.
"I am kind of a person who likes a course which is hard and fun, but I am going to try my best. I have been practising a lot for the past one week. I feel pretty good."
Despite all the attention he has been receiving, he said he is still enjoying the moment.
"I like talking. I love interviews. It's all good right now," he said.
Ratchanon plans to play in some junior tournaments after this week. He said he also has to sit for IGCSE tests and is "taking a lot of tuitions".
Other Thais in the field this week include Jazz Janewattananond, Sadom Kaewkanjana and Phachara Khongwatmai.
Tour veterans Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand, Australia's Scott Hend, and India's Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh also add to the collection of star power in the event which tees off tomorrow.
Kim, meanwhile, said he is not burdened by the weight of being the Asian Tour's newly crowned No.1 player as he bids to build on the momentum of his brilliant 2020-21 season.
"There's no pressure for me," said the 19-year-old Korean, who claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in January by winning the penultimate event, the Singapore International, and finishing joint second in the season finale, the Singapore Open.
"If I was still trying to win it then maybe there would be some pressure, but I have won it and I am just trying to play better every day and get better every day."
The powerfully-built golfer recorded a top-20 finish in last week's Royal's Cup and will compete this week.
"It was a good warm up last week but it was disappointing as I could not get anything done on the greens. My long game is feeling really good. Hopefully, I can make some more putts this week," added Kim.
"I need to maintain how I feel right now and have a few more breaks go my way. It's a big event this week. I think all the players know that and I just want to be extra ready."
He has only played at Black Mountain once before this week.
"I am not familiar with the course. The course looks pretty fair, nothing too tricky. I think I will be ready by Thursday," said Kim.
The Korean is also riding high after hearing last week that his Merit list success has earned him a place in this year's US Open.
"I woke up to that news. It was awesome and it got me thinking about where am I going to play, and I looked up the courses," said Kim.
"It's going to be a great test, and an awesome week."