Ttikkun's 'Love for Korea'... "I Like Tteokbokki"

Special Invitee at KLPGA Hanwha Classic
Passionate Korean Culture Enthusiast... Strong Performance in Domestic Tournaments
"K-Pop, Dramas, Jjajangmyeon, and Barbecue Are All Great"

Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), the world No. 1, has a special love for Korea. This is why she gladly accepted a special invitation to the third major tournament of the 2023 KLPGA Tour season, the Hanwha Classic (total prize money 1.7 billion KRW), which kicked off on the 24th at Jade Palace Golf Club in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,777 yards). Thitikul said with a bright smile, "I am honored to be invited to the Hanwha Classic, a representative tournament of the KLPGA Tour," adding, "I think the tournament officials had a good impression of me, so I decided to participate."

Thitikul is deeply fascinated by Korean culture. She smiled and said, "I am a huge fan of Korean media, such as K-pop and Korean dramas," and added, "I also like Korean culture and food." When asked about her favorite foods, she replied, "There are really many. I enjoy tteokbokki, jajangmyeon, and Korean-style barbecue."

Atthaya Thitikul (right), the LPGA Rookie of the Year, and long hitter Kim A-rim are smiling brightly at the Hanwha Classic official press conference.
[Photo by KLPGA]

Thitikul is a rising star leading the world of women's golf. In 2017, she gained attention by becoming the youngest winner (14 years, 4 months, and 19 days old) at the Ladies European Tour (LET) Thailand Championship. She showcased outstanding skills by winning five times on the Thai Tour in the 2020 season. In the winter of 2021, she passed the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School in 3rd place and entered the U.S. stage the following year. She earned two wins in her debut year and was named Rookie of the Year. She once reached world No. 1. Currently, she is ranked 18th in the world and 26th in the money rankings (USD 788,913).

Thitikul has left a strong impression in domestic tournaments. In October last year, she led through the first three rounds at the LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship held at Oak Valley Golf Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province, finishing in 6th place. She also performed well with a tie for 9th place at the KLPGA Tour Hana Financial Group Singapore Ladies Open in December last year. She recalled, "I always have good memories of Korean tournaments," and added, "I remember Korean fans cheering very passionately at last year's BMW Ladies Championship."

Thitikul is aiming for her first domestic tournament victory. The winner's prize at the Hanwha Classic is 306 million KRW, the largest scale in domestic women's tournaments. She said, "I always receive positive energy in Korea. I want to make many Korean friends while competing in the tournament." She continued, "Although there is pressure about the world ranking, I plan to enjoy playing. I will repay with good play," expressing confidence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.