Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn have won Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2023. The award, which was created by Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thailand Foundation in 2022, is meant to honor both Thai and foreign individuals who have helped to promote Thailand, Thai people and Thainess globally. The Jutanugarns were officially recognized on December 7 with many of their fellow Thai LPGA Tour players in attendance.
Ariya became an LPGA Tour member in 2015 and has earned 12 career victories, two of which were major championships – the 2016 AIG Women’s Open and the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open – as well as 62 other top-10 finishes. In 2016, she earned Rolex Player of the Year honors, won the Money Title and was named the Race to the CME Globe champion. Two years later, in 2018, Ariya was once again recognized as the Rolex Player of the Year and also won the Vare Trophy, the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award, the Money Title and the Race to the CME Globe.
The 28-year-old became the first player from Thailand to ascend to No. 1 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings on June 12, 2017, and has held the top spot for a total of 23 weeks throughout her career. She has represented Thailand in four Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crowns and helped her country to their first victory in the international team competition in May of this year. Ariya also represented her country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she finished T43, and has made $11,528,231 in career earnings.
Moriya joined the LPGA Tour in 2013 and has earned two victories at the 2018 DIO Implant LA Open and the 2021 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the latter of which saw her partner up with her younger sister in Midland, Mich. The 29-year-old has also recorded 43 additional top-10 finishes since becoming a member. She was named the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year in 2013 and has represented Thailand in four Hanwha LIFEPLUS International Crowns, most recently doing so earlier this year at TPC Harding Park alongside Ariya. Moriya has made $6,844,375 in career earnings.
MFA and Thailand Foundation presented the Thailand’s Public Diplomacy Award 2023 to Moriya and Ariya Jutanugarn to honor their contributions in promoting Thailand through their achievements in international women’s golf, as well as for inspiring younger generations. (7 Dec 2023) pic.twitter.com/dJnxGtkkie
— กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ | MFA of Thailand (@MFAThai) December 8, 2023
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