Who's who: Thaworn Wiratchant

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Thaworn Wiratchant

  • Name:

    Thaworn Wiratchant
  • Country:

    Thailand
  • Born:

    Dec 28, 1966 in Nakhon Prathorn, Thailand.
  • Original/Home Club:

    Army GC, Bangkok.
  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1987

Roll of Honour

Multiple wins on the Asian and European Tours. Asian Tour Order of Merit winner (2005, 2012).

Did you know?

In terms of tournaments won, Wiratchant is the Asian Tour's most successful golfer of all time. To date he has recorded 18 wins on the Tour.

Wiratchant developed his game at the Army Golf Club in Bangkok where his parents worked. He fashioned a swing that is regarded as unorthodox; his hands are set directly above his head at the top of the backswing, followed by a long and extended follow through. Any wayward approach shots are corrected by a fabulous short game. When not practicing golf, Wiratchant indulges a love of fast cars.

Top tournaments won by Thaworn Wiratchant

2018
Europe
Sharjah G&SC
204 (-12)
€51,319
Shurooq

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Sharjah G&SC

Score

204 (-12)

Prize money

€51,319

Title sponsor

Shurooq

Played as the Sharjah Senior Golf Masters presented by Shurooq (March 8-10; Eurpn Snr Tr season-opener). Wiratchant (Thai) beat Dennis Clark (USA) with a par at the fourth playoff hole (par-4 18th), to record back-to-back wins on the European Snr Tour. Peter Fowler (Aus) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. Final holes of the playoff played under floodlight as darkness fell. [Sharjah G&SC, Sharjah, UAE].

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

193 (-23)

Prize money

€68,486

Title sponsor

MCB

Played as the MCB Tour Championship (Dec 8-10; European Senior Tour season-ending event). Second-placed Mark McNulty (Ire) finished 8 shots behind 50-year-old Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai), who recorded his first win on the Tour with a final round 62 (-10). [Legend course, Constance Belle Mare Plage, Post de Flacq, Mauritius].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

268 (-20)

Prize money

US$90,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the King's Cup (Nov 27-30; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Andrew Dodt (Aus) and Anirban Lahiri (India) finished 2 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai), who also won Thailand's Queen's Cup in 2014. [Singha Park Khon Kaen GC, Khon Kaen, Thailand].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

US$54,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Queen's Cup Bangkok Airways (June 5-8; Asian Tour event; in honour of Queen Sirikit of Thailand). Second-placed Poom Saksansin (Thai) finished 1 shot behind 47-year-old Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai), who claimed his second win in three years in this event, and 17th Asian Tour win overall. [Santiburi Samui CC, Koh Samui Island, Thailand].

2013
Asia
Linkou Intl
275 (-13)
US$90,000
Yeangder

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Linkou Intl

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

US$90,000

Title sponsor

Yeangder

Played as the Yeangder TPC-Tournament Players Championship (Sept 12-15; Asian Tour event). Second-placed Chan Kim (USA) finished 1 shot behind Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai), who claimed his 16th Asian Tour title. [Linkou International G&CC, Taipei, Taiwan].

2012
Awards
$738,046
see Score
Asian Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Score

$738,046

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Wiratchant (Thai) won his second Asian Tour 2012 Order of Merit, with earnings of US$738,046 on the Tour. Marcus Fraser (Aus) was second with $672,744; Jbe Kruger (RSA) was third with $474,988.

2012
Asia
270 (-14)
US$198,125
Hero

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

270 (-14)

Prize money

US$198,125

Title sponsor

Hero

Played as the Hero Indian Open (Oct 18-21; Asian Tr event). Wiratchant (Thai) beat Richie Ramsay (Scot) with a bogey at the first playoff hole, to win his third Asian Tour title of 2012. [Karnataka Golf Assoc, Kodihalli, Bangalore, Karnataka].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

277 (-7)

Prize money

US$47,550

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Queen's Cup (June 14-17; Asian Tour event; in honour of Queen Sirikit of Thailand). Second-placed Juvic Pagunsan (Phil) and Siddikur Rahman (Ban) finished 3 shots behind Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai), who recorded his 13th Asian Tour win, equalling Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) for most Asian Tour wins. [Santiburi Samui CC, Koh Samui island, Thailand].

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Wiratchant (Thai) won the Asian Tour Players' Player of the Year Award, based on the votes of his peers.

2012
Asia
272 (-16)
US$60,900
Worldwide Hldgs

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

US$60,900

Title sponsor

Worldwide Hldgs

Played as the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters (Sept 5-8; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) finished 3 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Kota Permai G&CC, Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia].

2011
Asia
275 (-13)
US$180,000
Enjoy Jakarta

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

275 (-13)

Prize money

US$180,000

Title sponsor

Enjoy Jakarta

Played as the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta (July 14-17; OneAsia Tr event). Second-placed Rory Hie (Indonesia), Choi Jin-Ho (S Kor) and defending champion Michael Hendry (NZ) finished 1 shot behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) course, Damai Indah Golf, North Jakarta, Indonesia].

2010
Asia
Linkou Intl
206 (-10)
US$47,500
Yeangder

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Linkou Intl

Score

206 (-10)

Prize money

US$47,500

Title sponsor

Yeangder

Played as the inaugural Yeangder TPC-Tournament Players Championship (Sept 16-19; Asian Tour event). Second-placed Chinnarat Phadungsil (Thai) finished 1 shot behind Thaworn Wiratchant (Thai). Reduced to 54 holes due to threat posed by Typhoon Fanapi on the Sunday. [Linkou International G&CC, Taipei, Taiwan].

2009
Asia
269 (-15)
US$79,250
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

269 (-15)

Prize money

US$79,250

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Macau Open (Sept 10-13; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Gaganjeet Bhullar (India) finished 6 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai), who claimed his 11th Asian Tour win. [Macau G&CC, Macau, China].

2008
Asia
271 (-13)
US$47,550
Bangkok Airways

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

271 (-13)

Prize money

US$47,550

Title sponsor

Bangkok Airways

Played as the Bangkok Airways Open (June 5-8; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Shintaro Kai (Jpn) finished 3 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai), who claimed his tenth Asian Tour win. [Santiburi Samui CC, Koh Samui Island, Thailand].

2007
Asia
263 (-21)
US$63,400
Midea

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

263 (-21)

Prize money

US$63,400

Title sponsor

Midea

Played as the inaugural Midea China Classic (Sept 13-16; Asian Tr event). Wiratchant (Thai) beat Chinarat Phadungsil (Thai) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole. Simon Yates (Scot) was eliminated at the first playoff hole. [Royal Orchid Intl GC, nr Foshan, Guangzhou, China].

2005
Asia
Chang Gung GC
270 (-18)
US$47,250
x

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Chang Gung GC

Score

270 (-18)

Prize money

US$47,250

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Taiwan Open (Sept 15-18; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Chapchai Nirat (Thai) finished 1 shot behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Chang Gung GC, Guishan District, nr Taipei, Taiwan].

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Wiratchant (Thai) won the Asian Tour Players' Player of the Year Award, based on the votes of his peers.

2005
Asia
255 (-25)
US$166,660
Enjoy Jakarta/Std Chartered

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

255 (-25)

Prize money

US$166,660

Title sponsor

Enjoy Jakarta/Std Chartered

Played as the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open (March 24-27; Asian/Eurpn Trs event; last played in 1998). Second-placed Raphaël Jacquelin (Fra) finished 5 shots behind first-time European Tour winner Wiratchant (Thai). A final round 60 moved Colin Montgomerie into joint third place. [Cengkareng GC, Jakarta Intl Airport, Indonesia].

2005
Asia
272 (-16)
US$47,250
Hero Honda

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

US$47,250

Title sponsor

Hero Honda

Played as the Hero Honda Indian Open (Oct 27-30; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Gaurav Ghei (India) finished 2 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

US$31,500

Title sponsor

Carlsberg

Played as the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam presented by Thai Airways Intl (Nov 17-20; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Chris Rodgers (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Chi Linh Star G&CC, Hai Duong, nr Hanoi, Vietnam].

2005
Awards
$510,122
see Score
Asian Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Score

$510,122

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Wiratchant (Thai) won the Asian Tour 2005 Order of Merit, with earnings of US$510,122 on the Tour. Thongchai Jaidee (Thai) was second with $454,335; Jyoti Randhawa (Ind) was third with $329,835.

2004
Asia
Taiwan G&CC
283 (-5)
US$77,968
Mercuries

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Taiwan G&CC

Score

283 (-5)

Prize money

US$77,968

Title sponsor

Mercuries

Played as the Mercuries Taiwan Masters (Sept 16-19; Asian Tr event). Chris Williams (Eng/RSA) and Yuan-chi Chen (Taiw) finished in second place behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Tamsui course, Taiwan G&CC, Taipei, Taiwan].

2001
Asia
272 (-16)
US$48,450
Alcatel

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Venue

Jurong

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

US$48,450

Title sponsor

Alcatel

Played as the Alcatel Singapore Open (June 21-24; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Yu-shu Hsieh (Taiw) finished 1 shot behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Jurong CC, Jurong, Singapore].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

271 (-17)

Prize money

US$44,412

Title sponsor

Volvo

Played as the Volvo Masters of Malaysia (Aug 9-12; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Scott Kammann (USA) finished 3 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai). [Kota Permai G&CC, Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Wiratchant, Thaworn

Score

282 (-6)

Prize money

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Sabah Masters (Asian Tr event). Second-placed Jeff Wagner (Aus) and Chih-chen Lin (Taiw) finished 2 shots behind Wiratchant (Thai), who recorded his first Asian Tour win. [Sabah G&CC, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Indonesia].

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