What Is 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour was the inaugural season of a professional golf tour based in Thailand, featuring 12 official events and won by Thaworn Wiratchant, who claimed the Order of Merit with consistent top-10 finishes.

Key Facts

The 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour was the first official season of the domestic professional golf circuit in Thailand.
It consisted of 12 tournaments held across various golf clubs in Thailand between January and December 2002.
Thai golfer Thaworn Wiratchant won the Order of Merit as the season's top performer.
The tour was sanctioned and operated by the Asian Tour in partnership with the Thailand PGA.
Total prize money across the season exceeded 100 million Thai baht ($2.7 million USD).

Overview

The 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour marked the official launch of a nationally focused professional golf circuit designed to promote Thai talent and develop competitive opportunities within the country. Organized in collaboration between the Thailand PGA and the Asian Tour, the season provided a structured platform for local players to earn rankings, prize money, and international exposure.

This inaugural season laid the foundation for future development of golf in Thailand by formalizing tournament standards, scheduling, and player eligibility. It also served as a proving ground for emerging golfers aiming to compete on larger circuits such as the Asian Tour or Japan Golf Tour.

Twelve official events were held across Thailand, including tournaments in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya, forming the core schedule for the season.
The tour was open exclusively to professional golfers, with over 80 players registering to compete at various points throughout the year.
Thaworn Wiratchant emerged as the season champion, securing the Order of Merit title through consistent top-10 finishes and two tournament victories.
Prize funds ranged from 500,000 to 10 million Thai baht per event, with the Thailand Open offering the largest purse.
The tour helped elevate the status of domestic golf, leading to increased sponsorship from local businesses and government-backed sports initiatives.

How It Works

The All Thailand Golf Tour operates as a season-long competition where players accumulate points and earnings based on performance in sanctioned events. The 2002 format established the rules, point system, and eligibility criteria that shaped future seasons.

Order of Merit: The player with the highest total earnings at season's end wins the Order of Merit; in 2002, Thaworn Wiratchant claimed this title with 18.7 million baht in winnings.
Tournament Format: Events followed a standard 72-hole stroke play format, with cut rules applied after 36 holes to narrow the field to the top 60 players and ties.
Eligibility: Only professional members of the Thailand PGA or approved international players were allowed to compete, ensuring a high level of competitive integrity.
Scoring & Points: Players earned points based on finishing position, with 1,000 points awarded to the winner and scaled reductions down to 50th place.
Sponsorship Model: Events were funded through a mix of corporate sponsors, government grants, and local organizing committees, with PTT and Toyota as key backers in 2002.
Pathway to Asian Tour: Top performers could earn conditional status on the Asian Tour, making the All Thailand Golf Tour a critical stepping stone for regional advancement.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour with similar regional tours during the same period:

Tour	Number of Events	Prize Fund (USD)	Top Player	Sanctioning Body
All Thailand Golf Tour	12	$2.7M	Thaworn Wiratchant	Thailand PGA / Asian Tour
Japan Golf Tour	28	$120M	Shigeki Maruyama	JGTO
Korean Tour	18	$18M	Cho Kyoung-jae	KPGA
PGA of Australia	20	$35M	Greg Chalmers	PGA Australia
Asian Tour	16	$40M	Thongchai Jaidee	Asian Tour

While smaller in scale than established circuits, the 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour played a vital role in nurturing local talent. Its structure mirrored international standards, allowing Thai players to adapt to professional demands and gain experience comparable to regional peers.

Why It Matters

The 2002 season was a landmark in Thai sports history, marking the formalization of professional golf within the country and setting a precedent for future development. It provided a structured career path for Thai athletes and raised the visibility of golf as a competitive sport.

The tour enabled over 30 Thai players to earn professional income, reducing reliance on international competitions for financial stability.
It led to the establishment of junior development programs in 2003, funded by proceeds from tournament sponsorships.
Success on the tour helped players like Thongchai Jaidee transition to the Asian Tour, where he later achieved international fame.
The season boosted golf participation rates in Thailand by 12% between 2002 and 2004, according to Sports Authority of Thailand data.
It strengthened ties between the Thailand PGA and international bodies, leading to co-sanctioned events in later years.
The 2002 model influenced the creation of similar national tours in Vietnam and Cambodia by the late 2000s.

By creating a sustainable competitive environment, the 2002 All Thailand Golf Tour laid the groundwork for Thailand's emergence as a golf powerhouse in Southeast Asia.