Most have already recognized that Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn is on a short list of the world’s best female golfers. The LPGA reiterated that notion last week, awarding Jutanugarn the title of Player of the Year.

Jutanugarn won three times in 2018, and posted an amazing 15 Top 10 finishes in 25 starts. That total gives her enough points in the Rolex Player of the Year standings that no LPGA Tour player can better in the year’s remaining tournaments. It is Jutanugarn’s second turn at being Player of the Year in the last three seasons. She now has 10 wins in her LPGA Tour career.

Jutanugarn’s short game and putting instructor is Gareth Raflewski, who works out of London, Ont. The Canadian/Irish instructor says Jutanugarn’s success comes from a clarity of purpose in all aspects of her game.

“I think the secret to her success is that she has a clear vision of the player she wants to be,” Raflewski told Golf Town. “That clear picture allows us to continually work at improving her game. I’ve had weeks where she has won and less than 12 hours later we’re in a new city and are working to make her game even better. Her goals align with her behavior, which makes the road to improvement pretty straight forward.”

The award comes just days after Jutanugarn returned to the No. 1 female player in the world for the second time this year. She’s made $2.4-million in earnings this year and is poised to be the top player in almost every performance category on the LPGA Tour this season.

Ariya Jutanugarn What’s In The Bag

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
3-wood: TaylorMade AeroBurner, 15 degrees
Irons (2-3): TaylorMade Tour Preferred UDI; (4): TaylorMade RSi TP UDI (5-PW): Titleist 716 AP2
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM7 (50, 56, 60 degrees)
Putter: Odyssey Works Cruiser V-Line