By Priyanka Sen Sarkar

 

 

To be one of the best across the globe at anything is awe-inspiring and swiftly exploding on the international landscape requires more than just a dollop of luck. That’s how you describe Thailand’s top-notch Golfer Ariya Jutanugarn, who has always been a package of performance delivered, a talent powerhouse.

 

 

 

 

From racking up the wins at an early age to becoming the number one ranked golfer in the Women's World Golf Rankings in June 2017, the 22-year-old Golfer has inspired a whole new generation of young girls to express their desires and ambitions through sport.

 

 

 In an EXCLUSIVE interview with 4moles.com, Thailand’s best-in-class Golfer Ariya Jutanugarn talks about how Golf lovers are zeroing in on Thailand as their next Golf holiday destination.

 

 

 

 

‘I knew only Golf can take care of my family’ 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ariya flashes a disarming smile when you quiz her on how did she take up the game of Golf? “I used to love playing all kinds of sports but it was my parents who first introduced me to the game.  My parents used to own a golf pro shop and that was where I hung out after school. So my dad just gave me a club to play with. And it all started from there. I wanted to become a professional Golfer with the inspiration of taking care of my family with what I love to do,” shares the young Golfer.

 

 

Ariya is quick to confess that she initially felt that it’s an old man's sport! “But I couldn’t resist the lure of Golf and I knew only the game can take care of my family.”

 

 

Ariya comes up with an interesting revelation about her mother. “My mother played Golf while she was expecting my elder sister Moriya. Once Moriya was born, she hired a caddie to look after Moriya while she played,” exudes Ariya.

 

 

Not many know but Ariya first appeared as an 8-year-old to make her presence felt in the Junior World Championship.

 

 

 

‘2017 taught me on how to come back to playing good Golf’

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Ariya, success is being able to feel that you are empowered every single day, every single moment.  And the year gone by, that was a mixture of highs and lows, was a testament to the fact.

 

 

Currently ranked as World number 5, the young talent went on to seal the number 1 spot following her sixth career win in the Manulife LPGA Classic in June. “I won a tournament. And I played badly for a few months. Then I ended the season with a win. This season made me realize many things in terms of how to be back with a bang after experiencing disappointment. I had to try hard to figure out how to come back to playing good Golf. Thanks to everyone in my team for helping and staying along the way.

 

 

So, what it takes to stay on the top of the game? “ This one is difficult. Besides being healthy and practising, I think you will have to enjoy doing it,” shares Ariya.

 

 

 

On a healthy sibling rivalry with Moriya

 

 

 

 

 

Moriya is the older sister — by 16 months — of Ariya Jutanugarn, who is credited to be the first Golfer, male or female, from Thailand to win a major championship. Ariya, who shares a healthy sibling rivalry with Moriya, says they’re uber-competitive not only in Golf but also in Tennis. Whoever loses, pays for the dinner.

 

 

Talking more about her sister, Ariya enthuses, “We are totally different. She is more of a perfectionist. She does everything logically and thinks very carefully before doing anything. I love being in the moment. I decide things very quickly. And I look up to her in so many ways. And I am so proud of my sister.”

 

 

 

‘Happy to see Thailand increasingly becoming a hotbed for Golf holidays’

 

 

 

 

 

With its picturesque locations, panoramic landscapes and lush green Golf courses, Thailand is increasingly becoming a hotbed for Golf holidays. Ask her to share her views on the same and she chimes in, “Golf lovers always have a great bucket list when it comes to exploring the world. And I’m really, really happy to see that they are zeroing in on Thailand as their next Golf holiday destination. From immensely talented Golfers to an incredible Golf holiday destination, Thailand is a full package.

 

 

There’s an unmistakable gleam in her eyes as she says while signing off, “Golf can be played all year long, we have good food, good facility, many choices to choose from, well-trained caddies, and at a very reasonable price. We love golfing in Thailand.”