Student Turns Teacher with Golf Masterclass

Bangkok, Thailand: Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the youngest male player to win an official Tour event, took time out from his usual school day at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside to host a golfing clinic with the school’s younger pupils.

The purpose of the exercise was to raise awareness about the sport ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok and the 13th Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in which he’ll compete in the last week of October in the Thai capital.

The 15-year-old, known as TK, made global headlines in April when he roared to victory as an amateur in the Asian Tour’s US$750,000 Trust Golf Asian Mixed Cup at Siam Country Club’s Waterside Course.

TK competed in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational London in June and has since served as a reserve player and golfing ambassador for the LIV Golf series.

While not competing in this week’s US$25 million LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok at Stonehill in the northern outskirts of the city, he’ll be on hand alongside some of the world’s best players.

Ahead of the 48-man event that features this year’s Open winner Cameron Smith and multiple Major winners Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, TK took time out from his studies to host a special masterclass and Q&A session, offering tips to those who want to follow in his footsteps.

He also put 14 lucky members of Shrewsbury’s after-school beginner golf programme through their paces, before distributing caps to the budding young golfers aged between six and 10.

TK said: “The school has helped me so much, so giving back to them is good. I can give them a favour back in return. Everywhere I go, people are actively trying to help – whether that’s the Asian Tour or the guys at LIV Golf. So it’s really nice that I can do that for the next generation.”

There was a buzz around the school at the prospect of watching some of the world’s best tee it up at Stonehill.

TK said: “I know a lot of the Thai fans are hyped. I have never seen this much media attention. I’ve gotten so many texts from friends saying ‘I want to go to this LIV Golf event’.

“For aspiring juniors, I urge you to come watch it because you’re going to see so much good golf. As they say, ‘seeing is believing’ and I think from watching, you will be able to learn a lot of things.”