Ariya Jutanugarn

2.1. Childhood and Background

Ariya Jutanugarn was born on November 23, 1995, in Bangkok, Thailand. She began her golf journey at a very young age, influenced by her family's direct involvement in the sport. At just nine years old, she represented Thailand at the Junior World competition in the United States, where she finished as the runner-up. She also attended Trimitr Wittaya School for junior high. Her early exposure and success in junior golf set the foundation for her future career.

2.2. Family Influence

Ariya's family played a crucial role in her development as a golfer. Her father, Somboon, and mother, Narumon, owned a professional golf shop at the Rose Garden Golf Course near Bangkok. This environment provided Ariya and her older sister, Moriya Jutanugarn, with early and continuous exposure to golf. Moriya is also a professional golfer, and the sisters often compete in the same tournaments and travel together, with their parents handling their business and financial affairs. Ariya also has four older half-siblings through her father. This strong family support and shared passion for golf were instrumental in shaping her career.

4.1. Professional Debut and Early Tours

Ariya Jutanugarn turned professional at the end of 2012 and officially joined the Ladies European Tour (LET) in 2013, later joining the LPGA Tour in 2015. Even as an amateur, she made headlines by qualifying for the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand at the age of 11, becoming the youngest player ever to qualify for an LPGA Tour event. By early May 2013, she had already participated in three LPGA tournaments and four LET tournaments, securing five top-four finishes, demonstrating her aggressive and fearless playing style.

A notable moment in her early professional career occurred at the 2013 Honda LPGA Thailand. Leading by two shots as she approached the final hole, she tragically recorded a triple bogey, ultimately losing by one shot to Inbee Park of South Korea. Just one week later, she showed her resilience by placing fourth at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore. A few weeks after that, she earned her first professional victory at the LET's Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, a win that propelled her to the top of the LET money list. In May 2013, she led the first two days at the Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg, Virginia, after shooting 7-under-par on the first day. Despite her strong start, she finished third after struggling with a round of 73 on the third day before recovering with a 66 on the final day. In the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, she finished tied for third, earning her tour card for the 2015 season. At the 2016 ANA Inspiration, Jutanugarn held a two-stroke lead with three holes remaining but faltered with three consecutive bogeys, finishing in fourth place.

4.2. Injury and Recovery

In 2013, Jutanugarn suffered a significant setback during a practice round at the Wegmans LPGA Championship. She injured her shoulder when she tumbled down an incline while playfully chasing her sister Moriya with a water bottle. This injury necessitated corrective surgery, which she underwent in Bangkok, leading to a period of rehabilitation and a temporary halt in her burgeoning career.

5.1. Breakthrough Season (2016)

The year 2016 marked Jutanugarn's true breakthrough. She earned her first LPGA Tour victory at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, becoming the first Thai golfer to win on the tour. Following this historic win, she achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the next two LPGA tournaments - the Kingsmill Championship and the LPGA Volvik Championship. This made her the first player in LPGA history to win her first three titles in consecutive fashion. Her exceptional season culminated with her first major championship victory at the 2016 Women's British Open, where she secured a three-stroke win.

5.2. Olympic Participation (2016)

Jutanugarn participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics, entering the competition as a strong gold medal contender. She started impressively, finishing the first day in the lead. However, her performance was impacted by left knee pain that emerged during the second day. Despite receiving taping and treatment, she continued to struggle on the third day, losing 12 strokes over 13 holes before ultimately withdrawing from the tournament due to the injury.

5.3. Continued Success and Challenges (2017-2020)

The period from 2017 to 2020 saw Jutanugarn navigate phases of continued success interspersed with significant challenges. In 2017, despite experiencing a mid-season slump that included five missed cuts and one withdrawal across a seven-tournament stretch, she still managed to secure two more Tour titles. Her second victory of the year came at the CME Group Tour Championship, the final event of the season, where back-to-back rounds of 67 earned her 500.00 K USD. In addition to these two wins, she recorded three runner-up finishes, one third-place finish, and a total of 10 top-10 appearances, bringing her earnings for the year to 1.55 M USD and her career total to 4.58 M USD. This marked her second consecutive season earning over 1.50 M USD. The subsequent years, 2019 and 2020, proved to be challenging as she experienced winless seasons.

5.4. Dominant Season (2018)

Jutanugarn's 2018 season was exceptionally dominant. She secured three victories, highlighted by her win at the 2018 U.S. Women's Open on June 3. On November 18, 2018, she won the season-long Race to the CME Globe and an additional 1.00 M USD bonus. Her outstanding performance in 2018 earned her numerous prestigious accolades, including the LPGA Player of the Year award, the LPGA Vare Trophy with an impressive scoring average of 69.415, and the Leaders Top 10 competition with 17 top-10 finishes. She also claimed the LPGA money title with earnings of 2.74 M USD. Furthermore, she set new single-season records for rounds in the 60s (57) and total birdies (470). She concluded the 2018 season ranked World No. 1.

5.5. Resurgence (2021 onwards)

Jutanugarn experienced a significant resurgence in 2021, breaking her winless streak that had extended through 2019 and 2020. In May 2021, she achieved a dramatic comeback victory at the Honda LPGA Thailand in her home country. Following this win, she candidly admitted to the media that she had seriously considered retiring from golf during her challenging winless seasons. Later in 2021, she demonstrated continued strong form by winning the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational alongside her sister, Moriya Jutanugarn, further solidifying her return to form.

6.1. LPGA Tour Wins

6.2. Ladies European Tour Wins

6.3. LPGA Tour Playoff Record

Ariya Jutanugarn has a LPGA Tour playoff record of 3 wins and 2 losses.

7.1. Major Wins

7.2. Results Timeline

Results are not presented in chronological order for years 2010-2019. The Evian Championship was recognized as a major starting in 2013. In the table, 'DNP' indicates did not play, 'CUT' means missed the half-way cut, 'NT' stands for no tournament, and 'T' denotes tied for place.

7.3. Summary of Major Results

• Most consecutive cuts made - 20 (2018 ANA - 2022 Chevron)
• Longest streak of top-10s - 3 (2016 British Open - 2017 ANA)

8.1. LPGA Tour Career Summary

The following table provides Ariya Jutanugarn's LPGA Tour career summary. Years marked with 'a' indicate periods when she competed as an amateur, and 'n' denotes years when she was not a member of the LPGA Tour. Totals are official as of the 2024 season, excluding events played as an amateur and non-member. 'Cuts made' includes match play and other tournaments without a cut.

8.2. World Rankings

Ariya Jutanugarn's position in the Women's World Golf Rankings at the end of each calendar year.

9.1. Golf Awards

Jutanugarn has been recognized with several prestigious golf awards:

• LPGA Player of the Year: 2016, 2018
• LPGA Tour Money Winner: 2016 (2.55 M USD), 2018 (2.74 M USD)
• Race to the CME Globe: 2016, 2018
• LPGA Vare Trophy: 2018 (for lowest scoring average of 69.415)
• GWAA Female Player of the Year: 2016, 2018
• Heather Farr Player Award: 2016
• Best Female Golfer ESPY Award: 2017
• Rolex Annika Major Award: 2018
• Thailand Professional Athlete of the Year Award: 2016, 2018
• Fox Sports Asia Woman of the Year Award: 2016

9.2. Royal Decorations

In recognition of her achievements and contributions to Thailand, Ariya Jutanugarn has received royal decorations from the Thai government:

• 2016 - Companion (Fourth Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn. This honor is part of a special royal decoration granted by the Prime Minister's Office.

• 2017 - Commander (Third Class) of The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn. This further recognition highlights her national significance and the esteem in which she is held in Thailand.

11.1. Pioneering Achievements

Ariya Jutanugarn's career is marked by pioneering achievements that have fundamentally changed the landscape of golf in Thailand. Her victory at the 2016 Women's British Open made her the first Thai golfer, male or female, to win a major championship. This historic win was followed by her ascent to the world No. 1 ranking in June 2017 and again in 2018, further solidifying her status as a global golf icon. Her success has significantly contributed to the development and popularity of golf in Thailand, inspiring countless young athletes to pursue the sport and demonstrating that Thai golfers can compete and excel at the highest international levels. She is widely regarded as a role model and a symbol of national pride.

11.2. Cultural Representation

Jutanugarn's inspiring story and her significant contributions to Thai sports have been recognized and celebrated in popular culture. Her journey, alongside that of her sister Moriya, was adapted into a film titled "Pro May" (โปรเม อัจฉริยะ/ต้อง/สร้าง^Thai), released in 2019. This film not only chronicled their challenges and triumphs but also further cemented their cultural significance in Thailand, bringing their story of dedication and perseverance to a wider audience and showcasing the impact of their achievements on the nation's sporting narrative.