Celine Seeks Happy ‘Homecoming’ at Siam Country Club
(Chonburi, Thailand – 21 February 2024) – Returning to the Honda LPGA Thailand and the country of her parents’ birth is always a thrill for Celine Boutier.
While Boutier was born in France, her mother and father both hail from Thailand. As such, it’s not surprising that she feels a strong affinity with the Land of a Thousand Smiles – and a golf event that ranks among the country’s grandest sporting occasions.
This week marks the 30-year-old’s fifth appearance in the Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club’s historic Old Course.
She’s finished in the top four on her past two starts here – third in 2022 when she shot all four rounds in the 60s and tied fourth last year.
Over the course of the past three years, she’s a combined 55-under-par at this event, a performance bettered only by China’s Lin Xiyu and Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul.
Now ranked third in the world, victory this week in the presence of her parents would be the perfect ‘homecoming’ gift from Boutier.
“Personally, this tournament means a lot. My parents have come here (this week). We used to come every summer when I was younger. It definitely means a lot to me, and I hope to do well again this year,” said Boutier, who has formed a close bond with the thousands of spectators who annually flock to the Pattaya venue.
A four-time winner on the LPGA Tour last year including her maiden Major success at the Evian Championship, she said: “I feel like the tournament has been growing year after year and the amount of people that show up year after year is just growing.
“It’s just unbelievable to see the interest. I think the fans here are also really nice. They’re very positive and very cheerful so it’s always a good experience.”
Although she’s hoping to add another victory to her burgeoning curriculum vitae, Boutier would be especially pleased to do so if it was completed over the regulation 72 holes of stroke play.
On her last appearance in Asia just under four months ago, Boutier won the Maybank Championship at Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club on the ninth hole of an epic sudden-death play-off with Atthaya.
“It was nerve-racking … definitely a one-of-a-kind experience,” recalled the Frenchwoman.
“It just kept dragging, hole after hole. After the third hole, I kind of lost count. Also, because it kept being the same two holes, I didn’t even know how many holes I’ve been (going).
“It was really a fun experience. I had a few opportunities the first few holes and didn’t make it. She (Atthaya) had a few opportunities, and then I ended up making the final putt. It was a relief, and I was very grateful that we were able to finish that day. It was definitely a marathon.”
Honda LPGA Thailand 2024 tickets are now available in both general admission and VIP categories at www.hondalpgathailand.com. Bangkok Bank credit card holders can enjoy discounts of up to 15%. Individuals under 16 and those above 60 can register for free admission.
For more details, follow updates at www.hondalpgathailand.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/lpgaThailand, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/hondalpgathailand.