This month, he’s learning for vital biology and economics exams, a stress he is needed to juggle with representing his nation on the thirty first Southeast Asian (SEA) Video games, in Vietnam.
It is a balancing act of daunting proportions, however an unfazed Ratchanon has a degree to show.
“It will get somewhat bit onerous typically, however I benefit from the problem,” he advised CNN. “I like to do nicely in each and show all of the doubters flawed.
“Apparently should you’re an athlete, you may’t do good at school. I am making an attempt to vary that.”
Victory on the Asian Tour marked a brand new high-point within the fledgling profession of one of many sport’s brightest younger stars. Ratchanon has loved a sensational rise since — aged simply 13 years and 4 months — he turned the youngest participant to make the minimize within the historical past of the All Thailand Golf Tour, in August 2020.
And extremely, he got here agonizingly near profitable an Asian Tour occasion even sooner, ending third in his first worldwide professional occasion on the Singapore Worldwide in January.
Origin story
Ratchanon’s {golfing} origin story reads like a comic book ebook. Having begun enjoying with plastic golf equipment and balls on the age of three, TK — a nickname twinning his dad or mum’s initials — completed final in his first event at 4 years previous.
“I noticed the child who obtained the trophy and I obtained actually, actually jealous,” Ratchanon recollects. “I did not know why I did not get one, so I used to be actually upset. Then my dad needed to clarify to me how he received, so he obtained the trophy.”
And so following a month of intense coaching underneath the tutelage of a equally aggressive, golf-loving father, he obtained his palms on the trophy on the subsequent try.
At his first Junior World occasion a yr later, motivational messages had been inscribed on chairs at every tee. “Winners by no means give up and quitters by no means win,” learn one, a motto that exemplifies Ratchanon’s mentality and work ethic.
His father acts as his caddie in addition to a 3rd coach, placing in further hours along with his son to construct upon classes from two different coaches. On days with out college, an already intensive apply regime ramps up one other stage, the teenager spending wherever between seven and 9 hours on the course honing his craft.
Warned towards exhaustion, Ratchanon has began to take off the occasional half day — spending the time on tutoring, physiotherapy or health — however shrugs off any suggestion of burnout.
“I do not see it occurring. I like golf. I like working towards,” Ratchanon stated.
“Sure, it is onerous — it hurts and it takes loads of self-discipline, however even simply two months of tremendous onerous work simply to get that one good shot or only a good outcome, I feel it pays off for me.”
Function mannequin
And who higher to supervise Ratchanon’s ascent than compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, an Asian Tour legend with 20 skilled wins to his title. The 52-year-old icon has helped the teenager with varied facets of his sport since their first assembly in 2019.
When Ratchanon wished to be taught his hero’s spinning chip, the pair spent the subsequent three weeks working towards the method for six hours a day.
“He is been serving to me a lot with my sport. He is an awesome man,” Ratchanon stated. “I feel he simply enjoys serving to growing Thai golfers for the way forward for Thai golf.”
Thongchai has additionally helped mould the psychological facet of the teenager’s sport, serving to him implement a routine to beat dips in efficiency underneath strain. Now, Ratchanon has a technique to make use of in large moments: decelerate, take a sip of water, and swing “with out hesitation.”
Requested concerning the strain of the “teen prodigy” tag and rubbing shoulders with the game’s elite, the 15-year-old merely replies, “I get pleasure from it.”
“I am not feeling pressured … I am not terrified of enjoying with good folks,” he stated.
“Nobody’s actually pushed it on me and I am very lucky that I’ve loads of good folks round me who will assist help me and preserve me in line.”
Keep at school
It is an angle serving to Ratchanon to take issues one step at a time. Eager to not rush the leap to the skilled sport, he’s laser-focused on ending college with a flourish.
“I’ve seen loads of Thai gamers flip professional early, however now I feel lots of people know that going to school is value their whereas,” he stated.
“If we flip professional, that is our life. We won’t actually flip again.”
