In the world of elite women’s golf—dominated by top professionals from the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Europe—the name of a young woman from Southeast Asia, Thailand’s pro golfer Atthaya Thitikul, has emerged as a true game changer on the international greens. Rising with confidence to claim the world number one ranking, her exceptional skill and quiet determination have inspired a new generation to look toward golf with renewed passion.
In 2023, she became the first Thai athlete to join the Rolex family of Testimonees, a distinguished circle of individuals who represent the highest level of achievement across their respective fields worldwide. ELLE speaks with Atthaya about her journey to reach for the crown, and how she continues to stand firmly in her pursuit of excellence today.
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How did a young girl from Ratchaburi begin to take golf seriously, and what led you to become the youngest golfer in the world to win a professional tournament at the Ladies European Thailand Championship 2017, at just 14 years old?
“My father and my grandfather wanted me to play sports. They wanted it to be an individual sport, so I wouldn’t have to wait for anyone on a team, and it had to be something that could become a career. They saw that in the future, I would need to take care of my family. At that time, my grandfather read news about Tiger Woods in the newspaper and realised that golf could be a professional career, so they encouraged me to try it. If one day I was good enough, I could continue.
When I was a child, I didn’t think much about it—it was just fun. I only really thought about golf as a career when I turned professional. I started playing golf when I was six years old. When I won that tournament, I competed because I was invited. It was a professional event, but I was still an amateur at the time. I happened to play well, but the result didn’t come from just one or two days. I had been playing from age six to 14—almost 10 years.”
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With your consistent performances, you became the world’s number one female golfer and won the Tour Championship back to back. What expectations do you have for 2026, and what do you think is the real key to your success?
“Honestly, I don’t expect much each year. If you expect something and it doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, sometimes it can make you feel disappointed. Right now, golf is my happiness. It’s something I enjoy and love. At this stage, now that I’m a professional and have achieved a certain level of success, not having any injuries is the best thing. Physically, I believe everyone already does what they need to do. Golf is a sport that gives you a lot of time to think—while walking, and before hitting the ball. It’s a sport where you have to be with yourself. As many people know, it’s a mental battle and a game of thinking. If you ask what I do to maintain good focus, I didn’t study this side of things before. Now, I’ve been developing myself by reading books, listening to podcasts, doing everything to understand myself better and stay as calm as possible. I don’t have a coach guiding me in this area; I study it on my own. Sometimes we’re in pressured or exciting situations, so I want to know how to slow my heartbeat down as quickly as possible. If I were to give advice to younger players, I would say stay in the present and be good at solving problems in front of you. Don’t spend time looking at other people’s results. Stay with yourself and do your own thing well first. As for the result, once you finish 18 holes, you’ll know.”
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You entered the LPGA Tour at a very young age and became world number one very quickly in 2022, inspiring many young people. With more tournaments in Thailand supporting youth participation, how do you feel about being an inspiration, and how important is that to you?
“I think that now that I’m here, in five or 10 years I’ll have to go—I’ll have to stop—and we’ll need new generations to replace us. I think it’s already part of my job to inspire younger players to play golf more. I want to inspire them to enjoy golf in a way that isn’t stressful. I want to present that perspective rather than the old-school image where training has to be very strict and serious. Life needs balance. I understand that when you’re young, you need to practice a lot, but as you grow older, you need to strike a better balance. I’m happy to help encourage more young people to play golf. For me, golf is one of the few sports where Thai athletes can become world number one. Someone has shown that it’s possible, so it makes sense that there should be future generations. I’m also concerned about parents. Sometimes, expectations are very high. Not everyone can handle pressure the same way. Some children may not be able to handle it, while others can— because there’s no way back and they have to keep going.”
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If you could go back and talk to one person in the past, who would it be, and what would you say?
“I would talk to myself. I would want to thank myself and appreciate myself more. There were days when I felt down and felt like I couldn’t find a way out, and struggled to find one. If I could go back, I wouldn’t regret anything, I would say there’s nothing I need to change. I would thank myself every day and keep reminding myself of the good things I’ve done. As human beings, we don’t often remind ourselves of the good, we tend to focus on the bad. There was a momen when other people’s voices were louder than my own. I would want to go back to that moment and not let anyone’s voice be louder than mine.”
What do you think your spirit animal is, and why?
“I don’t really know what my spirit animal would be, but I’m a morning person. I have energy all day and I’m comfortable being on my own, so I think of a bird.”
One favourite song, one favourite book, and one favourite movie or series right now?
“My favourite song right now is “Cheua Fai” by Hugo. I heard it at Mai Davika’s wedding and really liked it—it stayed with me. My book is Good Vibes, Good Life: Use the Power of Positivity to Create a Life You Love by Vex King. Even small things can create positive energy—don’t stay in places with too much negative energy. As for a series, I’d say Crash Landing on You, because I like Hyun Bin.”
What makes you who you are in terms of percentages?
Health/self 25 per cent, family 25 per cent, work per cent, friends 10 per cent, leisure 10 per cent, and green tea five per cent.
How does it feel to be the world’s number one female golfer and the first Thai athlete to become a Rolex Testimonee?
“It feels like a great honour. To be a Rolex Testimonee, you truly have to be ‘top in the world’. I never thought about it or dreamed of it. It really confirms that what I’ve done has brought me to this point, and it also reflects Thailand and Thai athletes in another way—because I’m the first Thai person to do this."
“I want to thank everyone who has continued to support me until today, both in good times and bad,” Atthaya says in closing. “Everyone who stays and cheers in every situation, who comes in and offers words of encouragement—hearing that really fills an athlete’s heart. Encouragement is very important. Please continue to follow and support me.”
At this point, we firmly believe that Atthaya will continue her journey in professional golf with confidence, unwavering and unshaken—becoming a role model for a life shaped by one’s own hands. Like a flower blooming beautifully through care and dedication, her story brings to mind the words engraved on the caseback of the Rolex watch she received as Rookie of the Year in 2022: “Be Your Own Beautiful Flower.”
FASHION DIRECTOR SARUNRAT PANCHIRACHAROEN
WATCH AND JEWELLERY EDITOR WANPHEN NILPIAM
Make-up Artist CHANAJIT DECHASATIDWONG
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Assistant Photographers PRADIPAT KHEMNGERN; VIWAT RIMVAREEKUL
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