Thitikul, 16, earns low amateur honors at Women's British Open

If there’s one thing that’s clear about 16-year-old Atthaya Thitikul, it’s that she’s very comfortable in professional events. Not even a major championship fazed her this week at the AIG Women’s British Open. (Then again, she has now played in five.) Thitikul earned low amateur honors by finishing the week at 4 under and in a share of 29th place.

Thitikul has already won two events on the Ladies European Tour. The Thai player won the Ladies European Thailand Championship in June after winning. When she earned her first LET victory back in 2017 at age 14 (four months and three days), she became the youngest known winner of a professional golf tournament.

Thitikul also won the inaugural Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur in 2018, which earned her a spot in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April (though her world ranking would also have gotten her into that event).

At Woburn Golf Club in England, Thitikul had her best round of the week on Friday, a 4-under 68 that secured her a weekend tee time. She followed with rounds of 70-73. Sunday’s final round included two birdies in her final four holes.

Thitikul told Golfweek that she planned to turn pro next year, she just wasn’t sure when.

For the honor of low amateur, Thitikul beat out Japan’s Yuka Yasuda, who just last week shared that title with Albane Valenzuela at the Evian Championship, another LPGA major. After rounds of 73-70-70-77 at Woburn, Yasuda finished the week at 2 over and part of a tie for 59th.