Australia’s Whitney returns to her Thai roots
AUSTRALIA’S WHITNEY Hillier arrived at Phoenix Gold Country Club in Pattaya on Monday, ready to compete in the inaugural Ladies European Thailand Championship, which starts today.
Hillier, who is half-Thai, was joined by her mother, Gai, who was born and raised in Bangkok. The 26-year-old speaks Thai and says that the popular massaman curry is her favourite dish. She said the tournament will be special. “This week is absolutely massive for me. When I found out there was a tournament in Thailand, I made up my mind to come,” she said.
“It’s such an important place for me, and my mum is from Thailand. I just feel right at home here. I love the country and I respect the culture. I’m wearing a black ribbon to mourn the passing of His Majesty the King and I have a couple of wristbands that have been blessed by Buddhist monks as well. Buddhism is a cool religion and the people here are so friendly.”
Hillier even has a Thai nickname, “Pook Pui”, which she explains was inspired by two of her grandfather’s favourite Miss Universe contestants. However, she also has a strong connection with England, as her English father, Stirling, emigrated to Australia, where he met her mother. Her English boyfriend, Ben Brewer, currently caddies for LET member Melissa Reid and is the son of her Lincoln-based coach, Stuart Brewer.
“I’ve been working on my swing and putting with my coach in England before coming here,” said Hillier, who enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing sixth at the Victorian Open. “My game feels good and I’ve just got to go and do the job now.”
Amolkan Phalajivin, Ajira Nualraksa – 2 professional players of Thai LPGA together with Stacy Bregman, players of LET pass their experience to Thai
youths in golf clinic activities before the tournament of Ladies European Thailand Championship 2017 which will be held from 6-9 July 2017 at Phoenix
Gold Golf & Country Club Pattaya.
Although her best finish in five years on tour was third at the 2013 Slovak Open, she is currently ranked 28th on the Order of Merit and has already qualified for the Ricoh Women’s British Open, which will be played at Kingsbarns in Scotland next month.
She feels that she could score well at Phoenix Gold Country Club this week. “It’s a typical Thai course with grainy greens and lush fairways and the rough is good too, so it’s a matter of placing the ball at right places and making sure that you are in the right spots on the greens,” she said.
