Singapore: It was no surprise to see the name of Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul appearing on the leaderboard after the opening round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club.

Following an opening three-under-par 69 over The Tanjong course, Atthaya teed-off in today’s second round in a share of fifth place, two strokes behind pace-setting compatriot Patty Tavatanakit.

Given her liking for the layout, there’s no wonder that the 19-year-old Atthaya is thrilled to be back at the venue that elicits so many fond memories.

It was on The Tanjong in 2018 that Atthaya gained international acclaim with her triumph in the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP).

Keeping her nerves in check, Atthaya emerged victorious from a four-way sudden-death play-off that also included Yuka Saso, the 2021 US Open champion, then playing under the Philippines banner, and who is also in the HSBC field this week.

“It was the first play-off in my life and I won it! Coming back to this course is really special, since I have so many good moments and memories here,” said Atthaya.

There was more to come at Sentosa that year for Atthaya ... and quickly, too. The WAAP win earned her a start in the 2018 edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championship, played the following week on The Tanjong.

Showing her affinity for the course, Atthaya shone brightly against the cream of the LPGA Tour and finished tied eighth, turning heads in the process.

“Playing in the HSBC the week after the WAAP and getting a top-10 was also amazing.

“I like the golf course ... the greens are really smooth and the fairways are excellent. If you want to get a good score here, you have to hit really good, accurate iron shots,” said Atthaya, who earned her LPGA Tour card for 2022 with a third place finish in last year’s Q-Series.

Turning professional in early 2020, Atthaya played mainly on the local Thai circuit that year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and won five times. She progressed to the Ladies European Tour (LET) last year, winning twice to claim the season-long Race to Costa Del Sol.

Atthaya had already won two LET titles as an amateur, both times in the Tour’s Thailand Championship – the first in 2017 when she became the youngest-ever winner of a professional event at 14 years, four months and 19 days.

Now, an LPGA win is in her sights.

“Of course, I want some wins on the LPGA Tour but that’s not my biggest focus this year. What I have to focus on is my game, whether it has improved or not, and just try my best to keep my status for next year,” she said.

Despite the apparently seamless transition to the paid ranks, Atthaya says she feels more pressure playing as a professional.

“I have to concentrate more on my game now. When you’re an amateur, you don’t really have much to worry about. But when you’re a pro, you have to worry about your ranking, your points, everything,” she stressed.

As for her target this week, Atthaya is already a quarter of the way there. “If I can shoot under par every day, that will be good for me. I will try my best ... I have my new equipment, the whole set, so I have to get used to it.”

*Article contributed by Golf Matters