FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Rattanon regains winning touch as birdie in playoff gives him first title in two years

Rattanon regains winning touch as birdie in playoff gives him first title in two years

Rattanon Wannasrichan pulled off a much-needed birdie to outplay veteran Prayad Marksaeng in the play-off to win the Bt3 million Singha-SAT Khon Kaen Championship on Saturday.

Rattanon regains winning touch as birdie in playoff gives him first title in two years

 

The win will go a long way for him to regain the confidence that he still has what it takes to win.

Since his last triumph -- coincidentally also here at the Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club in 2018 -- Rattananon’s form had been going downhill. He missed the cut in more than 10 events in 2019.

He started to make some cuts and posted a top 10 finish after the Covid-19 outbreak earlier this year before ending the two-year title drought at the par-72 7,557-yard course.

“2019 was by far the worst year of my career,” said the 25-year-old Rattanon, who chipped in a 45- yard eagle to catch up with Prayad on top of the leaderboard at 11-under-par 205 in regulation.

“I had some muscle problem, which could be contracted by sitting in a plane for too long. I couldn’t hit the ball straight and my confidence was gone,” said the Chanthaburi-based player who sealed his victory with a three-foot-birdie putt on the par-5 hole 18 play-off after the 54-year-old Prayad had missed a six-foot birdie earlier.

As the pandemic led to suspension of tournaments for months, it also allowed the 2017 Thailand Open champion to put behind the disastrous memories of 2019.

“I was so disappointed last year because I was able to play on the Japan Tour but I didn’t perform well. Luckily, the Covid-19 outbreak allowed me to stop thinking of the game. Gradually, the ghost of 2019 vanished. I became more relaxed and at the same time tried to get the old good feelings back,” added Rattanon.

On Saturday, he walked away with the champion’s prize money of Bt360,000.

“It means a lot to me psychologically to finally win again. At least I know I still have the game,” said Rattanon, who now takes a long holiday before his next event in January.

Meanwhile, Prayad as a runner-up had to be content with a Bt198,000 cheque.

However, the 2020 Order of Merit title belongs to Panuphol Phittayarat who earned a gross total of Bt630,911. Prayad came in second with Bt607,216.

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