Thailand’s promising and fast-rising Golf star Phachara Khongwatmai shares his thoughts in an exclusive interaction with 4moles.com 

 

By Priyanka Sen Sarkar

 

What’s in a name? Talk of names and the illustrious lines of William Shakespeare will be thrown at you. But try asking Thailand’s young Golf sensation Phachara Khongwatmai and he may beg to differ with the bard. For the 18-year-old Golfer’s first name and nick name ‘Phet’ - both translate as ‘Diamond’ in Thai. How many of us have this unique association with our names? And when the interesting revelation comes from Phachara, it is quickly followed by grins and an ‘Oh My God’ expression.

 

 

Just like his name, he has been shining like a diamond and streamlining his efforts in pursuit of more success. A tremendous inspiration to other young Golfers wielding the club, Phachara is pushing the envelope like never before.

 

The young Golf star first hit the headlines two-months after his 14th birthday in 2013 when he became the youngest-ever winner of a professional Golf tournament by taking the Sing Hua Hin Open on the ASEAN PGA tour.

 

At 15 and by then a professional Golfer, he added Asian Tour victory in his bag of accolades, another age record. This was followed by securing his first place at The Open and then claiming the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship and with it the final Asian Tour card for the season.

              

Choosing Golf over Tennis

 

Introduced to the game at an early age of 9, not to mention the grit and grime of Golf- Phachara knew from then on that he wanted to be a Golfer. “At that time, I had to choose between Golf and Tennis. And I am happy that I picked up Golf. Once I began my tryst with Golf, I started enjoying it and that paved the way of my lifelong association with the game. My father was always encouraging and played a pivotal role in honing my Golf skills. I played both in Amateur and Pro tournaments. My turning point came when I won the Sing Hua Hin Open at the age of 14. It was then I decided to turn a Pro - which means I started working when I was just 14. It’s funny that my friends are still in school and I play professional Golf and earn,” quips Phachara.

 

Handling the tee jitters effortlessly

 

Golf seems to be difficult than other sports when it comes to the mental side. Getting mentally prepared can play a significant role in a tournament. What preparation (mental & physical) does the golfer do before any major tournament? And how does he handle the tee jitters before playing any match? “Whether it’s a small event or a big tournament, I am indeed fortunate that I don’t get nervous easily before teeing off. The preparations are the same, irrespective of the size of the match. I try to play in cold conditions and practice hitting after putting my hand in ice. Also, my strong mental approach towards the game helps me play better,” adds the 18-year-old golfer.

 

Need to nurture more talent in Golf

 

 

Golf is considered to be an expensive sport. Does he think there is enough funding or opportunities for budding golfers in Thailand to take up the sport? “There are a lot of Golfers in Thailand right now. We need more sponsors to help Golf get bigger in the country and nurture more talent that can compete on the global Golf landscape. I am lucky to have amazing parents who are there to support me and my ambitions. My parents spent a lot to help me realize my dream. Now, it’s payback time and I am happy playing Golf as well as earning money for my parents,” says Phachara.

 

On Thailand being a great Golf destination

 

Golf pundits believe that if one wishes to experience a great golf holiday, Thailand is the place to be. What’s his take on the same? “I don't know if people outside look at Thailand as a great Golf destination or not but I enjoy every bit of it. It’s quite cheap to play Golf here.  It’s amazing to get access to a wide range of sumptuous Thai food followed by amazing spa therapy treatments,” shares Phachara.

 

 

No rivalries, only companionship

 

Friendships are hard to forge when you're rivalling on the greens. But Phachara has a different perception about his competitors. “It’s hard to believe but in Thailand, we all are friends and play Golf together. Yes, there’s rivalry but that’s a healthy one. We believe in making a particular match very active so that Golf lovers enjoy the game. Yes, my biggest competition is with the Golf courses. Instead of focusing on competing with other players, I see if I can enhance my skills by playing in varied and challenging golf courses,” says Phachara as he signs off.