Pornanong Phatlum Bio
Pornanong Phatlum is a Thai professional golfer who has competed on the LPGA Tour, the Ladies European Tour, the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and the Epson Tour. Born on December 4, 1989, in Khon Kaen, Thailand, she turned professional in 2006 and joined the LPGA Tour in 2009. She is widely recognized for her consistent play across multiple tours and has accumulated 22 professional wins during her career.
Nicknamed Waen, Phatlum developed her game in Thailand before making the transition to the international stage. She has represented Thailand at the Olympic Games and in team competitions, and her best finish in a major championship came at the 2018 Women’s British Open, where she finished as runner-up.
Early Life and Background
Pornanong Phatlum was born in Khon Kaen, Thailand, on December 4, 1989, and grew up in a country where golf was still establishing itself as a mainstream sport. Standing at 5 feet 3 inches tall, she began playing golf at the age of nine and has credited her father as the person who most influenced her early development in the game. His support helped set the foundation for her future as a touring professional.
Phatlum pursued higher education alongside her athletic development, attending Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University, where she balanced her studies with competitive golf. As an amateur, she competed on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, finishing tied for 16th at the 2005 Phuket Ladies Masters. The following year, she won the 2006 Hong Kong Ladies Masters, finishing at three-under-par and one stroke ahead of Russamee Gulyanamitta and Zhong Xiaolong, a result that announced her arrival as a serious talent.
During her amateur years, Phatlum also represented Thailand at the 2005 Queen Sirikit Cup, gaining valuable experience in international team competition. These formative experiences on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour and in amateur team events shaped her competitive approach and prepared her for the transition to professional golf later in 2006.
Path to Professional Golf
Phatlum turned professional in February 2006, just months after her victory at the Hong Kong Ladies Masters. Her early professional career was built primarily on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, where she quickly established herself as a consistent winner. In February 2008, she captured the Thailand Ladies Open at The Vintage Club, finishing at eight-under-par and two strokes ahead of Frances Bondad and Kim Hae-jung. A month later, she added the DDF Women’s Indian Open to her growing resume with a total of four-under-par.
Her success on regional circuits earned her an opportunity to pursue the LPGA Tour. Later in 2008, Phatlum tied for 34th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament, earning status on the LPGA Tour for the 2009 season. This marked a major step from regional competition in Asia to the highest level of women’s golf in the United States.
The transition was made smoother by her continued success abroad. In 2009, she successfully defended her title at the DDF Women’s Indian Open, defeating Kim Hae-jung by two strokes, signaling that she could compete and win at multiple levels of the professional game.
Pornanong Phatlum Career
Early Career (2006-2008)
Phatlum’s earliest professional years were defined by rapid progress on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Following her amateur victory at the 2006 Hong Kong Ladies Masters, she transitioned to the professional ranks and began collecting titles in Asia. Her win at the 2008 Thailand Ladies Open and the DDF Women’s Indian Open that same year demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure and against experienced competitors.
These results, combined with her strong showing at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament in late 2008, positioned her for a rookie season on the LPGA Tour in 2009. Her early years were marked by a steady accumulation of experience, confidence, and trophies on circuits across Asia.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2009-2012)
Phornanong Phatlum joined the LPGA Tour as a rookie in 2009 and made an immediate impression. During her rookie season, she recorded a career-low round of 67 in the first round of the Navistar LPGA Classic and made her first LPGA hole-in-one during the third round of the Safeway Classic. She also continued to compete on the Futures Tour, where she finished 10th on the 2010 money list with six top-10 finishes, gaining valuable experience on the developmental circuit.
In January 2011, she won the Hitachi Ladies Classic in Taiwan, finishing a dominant eight strokes ahead of Miki Saiki. The following year, in 2012, she captured the Hero Women’s Indian Open, a tournament co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, finishing at thirteen-under-par and four strokes ahead of Caroline Hedwall. That same year, she added the HSBC Brazil Cup, an unofficial LPGA Tour event, winning by four strokes over Amy Hung.
Domestically, she won the 6th Singha-SAT Thai LPGA Championship in 2012, beginning a strong run of titles on home soil. Her play from 2009 to 2012 established her as a reliable competitor across multiple tours and a threat in co-sanctioned events.
Ladies European Tour Success (2013-2018)
Phatlum’s biggest international breakthrough came in December 2013, when she won the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters, her second Ladies European Tour title. She closed with a final-round 66, finishing at fifteen-under-par and one stroke ahead of Stacy Lewis, one of the most recognizable names in women’s golf. On the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, she also won the Hitachi Ladies Classic three more times between 2013 and 2015.
Domestically, she added three consecutive Thailand LPGA Masters titles from 2013 to 2015 and the Bangchak Thai LPGA Open in 2016, extending her strong record on the Thai LPGA Tour. Her peak major championship moment came at the 2018 Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes Golf Club, where she held the 36-hole and 54-hole leads before finishing second, two strokes behind Georgia Hall. It remains her best finish in a major championship.
She also represented Thailand at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, finishing tied for 25th, and played for her country in the International Crown in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Epson Tour Return (2024-Present)
In 2024, Phatlum returned to the Epson Tour and won the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic, her first title on that circuit. She finished at twenty-one-under-par 195, winning by two strokes over Amy Lee, demonstrating that her game remained sharp well into her thirties. The victory added a new chapter to a career that had already spanned nearly two decades.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Phatlum’s career is her runner-up finish at the 2018 Women’s British Open, where she led after 36 and 54 holes before finishing two strokes behind Georgia Hall. Her 2013 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters win, her Olympic appearance in 2016, and her representation of Thailand in multiple International Crown events also stand out as signature achievements.
Pornanong Phatlum Career Wins
Phatlum has accumulated 22 professional wins across multiple tours throughout her career. Her victories span the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, the Ladies European Tour, the Epson Tour, the Thai LPGA Tour, the All Thailand Golf Tour, and additional events, reflecting her versatility and longevity in the sport.
LPGA Tour and Major Highlights
While Phatlum has yet to record a victory on the LPGA Tour, her best major championship finish came at the 2018 Women’s British Open, where she finished as runner-up. She has also recorded strong major results including a T7 at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open, a T13 at the 2013 Chevron Championship, a T14 at the 2019 Women’s PGA Championship, and a T20 at the 2015 Evian Championship.
Other Wins and Performances
On the Ladies European Tour, she has two wins, including the 2012 Hero Women’s Indian Open and the 2013 Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. On the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, she has nine wins, while on the Epson Tour she has one win, the 2024 Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic. She has also recorded five wins on the Thai LPGA Tour and additional victories on the All Thailand Golf Tour and in other events.
Pornanong Phatlum Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Phatlum was raised in Khon Kaen, Thailand, and has credited her father as the person who most influenced her golf career. His support was instrumental in her early development and helped set the foundation for her rise as a professional golfer.
Personal Life
Phatlum currently resides in Chaiyaphum, Thailand, the same city where she attended Chaiyaphum Rajabhat University. She maintains an active presence on social media, where she is known by her nickname Waen.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Phatlum continues to balance competition across the Epson Tour and the LPGA Tour, drawing on nearly two decades of professional experience. Her 2024 victory at the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic demonstrated that her game remains competitive, and she is expected to pursue additional opportunities to compete at the highest levels of women’s golf.
With a career that includes 22 professional wins, Olympic representation, and a major championship runner-up finish, Phatlum remains one of Thailand’s most accomplished golfers. Her experience across multiple tours gives her flexibility in scheduling and a strong foundation for whatever challenges the 2025 season may bring.
As a senior figure in Thai golf, Phatlum also serves as a role model for younger players from the country, and her continued presence on competitive circuits helps raise the profile of the sport across Southeast Asia.