Teen titan Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand believes the experience of playing in Europe will give him an edge when he steps up to the tee for his first Omega European Masters next week.
The talented 18-year-old Phachara, nicknamed ‘Phet’ which means diamond in Thai, capped a solid 2016 season by finishing 14th on the final Asian Tour Order of Merit, earning himself a spot in the Swiss showpiece, as well as several other starts on the European Tour this season.
After enjoying starts in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Czech and England, where he made a second appearance at The Open last month, Phachara will head to Switzerland for the only event co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours on European soil from September 7 to 10.
Place third on the current money list, Phachara will spearhead an elite Asian Tour cast, which consists of 33 winners and five Order of Merit champions, at the picturesque Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
They will battle against a star-studded field headlined by defending champion Alex Noren of Sweden, England’s Danny Willett, Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood at the €2.7 million (approximately US$3.25 million) event.
“I have been playing quite a bit in Europe so I am getting used to the conditions here. I am currently in Prague for the Czech Masters so I don’t have to adjust to the weather and the time difference in Switzerland next week. Hopefully that helps in my performance.
“I am beginning to feel comfortable playing in the cold weather here in Europe. I went to India earlier and was down with sinusitis due to the temperature change. I have recovered from it since and I am glad to be back enjoying the cool weather in Europe again,” said Phachara.
Phachara’s good form in 2016 spilled into the 2017 season where he secured two runner-up finishes in Singapore and Perth earlier in the year.
While he has yet to make his mark in Europe, Phachara hopes his growing experiences and the comfort gained from playing in the continent will help him put up a good showing next week.
“It is going to be my first time there and I am very excited. It is a tournament which every player dream of playing. I heard it’s a beautiful place but the golf course is challenging.
“I heard the fairways are quite narrow and the greens are difficult. I haven’t played this kind of golf course before, especially on such a high altitude. It should be a good learning week for me,” added the young Thai.
Ranked 218th in the latest Official World Golf Ranking, Phachara is one of the most exciting talents to emerge from Thailand. When he was 14, he won as an amateur to become the youngest player to win a professional tournament in the world.
In the following year, he came into prominence when he won the 2015 PGM CCM Rahman Putra Championship to become the youngest Asian Development Tour (ADT) winner at the age of 15.
Other notable players set to feature in the Omega European Masters are Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee, India’s S.S.P. Chawrasia, Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines and Soomin Lee of Korea.
