Jakarta: Thai prodigy Phachara Khongwatmai hopes to shine in his debut at the US$750,000 CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters Presented by Enjoy Jakarta Golf next month.


All eyes will be on the 15-year-old Phachara, whose name means ‘Diamond’ in Thai, when he tees up alongside world class stars such as Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn in the prestigious Asian Tour event at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.


The slightly built Phachara has sparkled in the professional ranks where he became the youngest winner on the Asian Development Tour (ADT), which is the feeder circuit to the Asian Tour, last month.


Prior to that, Phachara made headlines when he won a professional tournament at the 2013 Hua Hin Open while still an amateur before joining the play-for-pay ranks last August and earning his Asian Tour card at Qualifying School in January.


“I started playing golf when I was nine years old. I had to choose between golf and tennis and I chose golf. When I first touched a golf club for the first time, I started to love golf. I enjoyed going to the driving range, meeting friends and people,” said Phachara.


The Hatyai native said it was always his desire to turn professional and make golf his career as soon as he felt his game was ready. Despite dropping out of school, Phachara had the blessings of his parents to chase his childhood dream of making it big in golf.


“I told my dad that I will turn pro when I was 14 years old. My parents discussed about this as I have to leave normal school and study at a Non-Formal Education Centre. My parents agreed to that,” said the Thai, who rates Luke Donald as his favourite golfer.


As soon as he turned 14, Phachara honed his skills at the All Thailand Golf Tour before heading to the Asian Tour Qualifying School where he fired an opening 66 before nerves started to creep in. He eventually finished one spot inside the top-40 cut-line to earn a Tour card.


“The All Thailand Tour was the place for me to practice when I was amateur. I played with good professionals and that experience helps me when I play in international tournaments. I got just a bit nervous at Qualifying School,” said Phachara.


He hopes to produce a strong result at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters, which has become one of the premier events on the Asian Tour since its inauguration in 2011..


“I will try my best to finish inside the top-60 on the Order of Merit at the end of this year. I hope to continue my rhythm after winning in Malaysia (on the ADT),” said Phachara, who enjoys playing football and basketball with his friends during his time away from golf.


Like Thai legend Thaworn Wiratchant, who holds an unprecedented 18 Asian Tour titles, Phachara credits hard work for his early success at such a young age.


“I work a lot on my golf skill. I have coach in Hatyai, his name is Wuttinan Chuechamluang and I also have fitness coach in Bangkok. I like to learn every day. I relish the opportunity to play more and more international tournaments because I will gain a lot of experience from there,” he said.


Sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the PGA Tour of Indonesia, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters Presented by Enjoy Jakarta Golf will feature 24 Indonesian golfers, 20 professionals from the PGA Tour of Indonesia and four of Indonesia’s top amateurs who will compete in the 150 player field over 72 holes of individual stroke play.