THAWORN WIRATCHANT  
 
   

ASIAN TOUR VICTORIES:
(8) 1996 Sabah Masters, Malaysia; 2001 Alcatel Singapore Open, 2001 Volvo Masters of Malaysia, 2004 Mercuries Taiwan Masters, 2005 Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open, 2005 Taiwan Open, 2005 Hero Honda Indian Open, 2005 Carlsberg Masters Vietnam Presented by Thai Airways International.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Thaworn enjoyed a superb season in 2005 where he won a record-breaking four Asian Tour titles in a single season and was crowned the Order of Merit winner for the first time in his career. He also became the first player to surpass the US$500,000 mark for earnings in a season when he amassed total of US$510,122 from 26 events.

Thaworn also claimed his first European Tour sanctioned title by winning the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open in March, 2005, shooting a 25-under-par 255 total, the lowest aggregate in Europe and the Asian Tour. Unfortunately, as the preferred lie ruling was in operation, the score was not considered an official mark. Such was his desire to win the Merit title that he played in 12 consecutive Tour events.

Thaworn's heroics also mean that he is the player with the most number of wins in Asia with eight titles and he was also voted the 2005 Players' Player of the Year. In 2006, he has posted two top-10s and missed the cut in only one out of 10 events competed midway through the season.

In 2004, he won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters en route to another impressive season. Finished fourth on the Order of Merit with a then career high of US$260,637, which was also where he also placed in 2003 thanks to second placed finishes in the Korean Open and Volvo China Open. Will also be remembered for his remarkable 2001 season, when not having won in five years he triumphed in successive tournaments. A putter brought to him from Japan by fellow professional Prayad Marksaeng coupled with a new driver helped Thaworn return to the top.

The slender Thaworn wielded the putter and driver like magic wands to win the Alcatel Singapore Open and the Volvo Masters of Malaysia. He birdied the final three holes to triumph in Singapore and, in a near repeat, the Thai birdied three of the last four holes to win in Kuala Lumpur. Was a member of the winning Asian team in the 2003 and 2005 Visa Dynasty Cup against Japan. Thaworn had an impressive amateur career in the mid-1980s, highlighted in 1987 when he won the amateur championships of Singapore and Thailand as well as the individual and team title in the South East Asian Games. He also helped Thailand win the Putra Cup in 1985 and 1986.
 
PERSONAL:
Thaworn has a highly unorthodox swing with his hands directly above his head at the top of the backswing. He also has a long extended, much photographed, follow through. Said he did not see the need to change his golf swing as "it worked well for me during my amateur days and it works now." A short game wizard, thanks to countless of hours at the practice green. The veteran golfer is a lover of fast cars. Picked up the game at the Army Golf Club in Bangkok where he parents used to work.

TEAMS:
Visa Dynasty Cup: 2003 (winners), 2005 (winners)
The Royal Trophy: 2005

 
     
 

ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT

 
 

Year

RANK

US$

Pld

1st 2nd Top10

MC

2005

1 510,123 26 4 1 9 2

2004

4 260,637 20 1 1 8 3

2003

4 156,074 17 - 2 5 2

2002

25 78,031 17 - - 2 7

2001

4 120,573 17 2 - 3 6

2000

49 34,519 20 - - - 6

1999

60 21,318 14 - - - 4

1998

68 20,333 15 - - 1 5

1997

60 28,569 17 - - 1 5

1996

17 70,934 17 1 - 4 5

1995

29 40,420 13 - 1 3 4
Total (3) 1,341,530 193 8 5 36 49

 ( ) denotes career earnings ranking