What Is 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour was the 11th season of the domestic professional golf circuit, featuring 14 official tournaments across Thailand with a total prize fund exceeding ฿40 million. The tour champion was Thaworn Wiratchant, who won multiple events and topped the Order of Merit.

Key Facts

The 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour ran from January to December 2016 with 14 official events.
Total prize money distributed exceeded ฿40 million (approximately $1.15 million USD).
Thaworn Wiratchant won the Order of Merit title with three victories during the season.
Tournaments were held in cities including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Hua Hin.
The tour is sanctioned by the Royal Thailand Golf Association (RTGA).

Overview

The 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour marked the 11th season of Thailand's premier domestic professional golf circuit, designed to promote local talent and strengthen the national golf ecosystem. Organized under the Royal Thailand Golf Association (RTGA), the tour provided Thai and regional players with competitive opportunities without needing to travel abroad.

With a schedule spanning 14 official events from January to December 2016, the tour attracted over 150 professionals annually. Prize funds per event averaged ฿2.8 million, contributing to a season total exceeding ฿40 million, making it the most lucrative domestic season to date.

14 tournaments were held across the year, including the Singha Classic, SAT Championship, and Toyota Championship, each offering official world ranking points.
Thaworn Wiratchant dominated the season, winning three events and securing the Order of Merit with consistent top-10 finishes.
Tournaments were hosted in key cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Phuket, promoting regional tourism and local sponsor engagement.
The tour was sanctioned by the Royal Thailand Golf Association (RTGA), ensuring compliance with international standards and player eligibility rules.
Prize money was distributed in Thai Baht, with the largest purse being ฿4.2 million at the Toyota Thailand Open.

How It Works

The All Thailand Golf Tour operates as a developmental and competitive platform for professional golfers based in or affiliated with Thailand. Each tournament follows a standard 72-hole stroke play format, with cut rules applied after 36 holes.

Eligibility: Open to professionals and amateurs approved by the RTGA; international players could participate with prior registration and fee payment.
Tournament Format: Events followed a four-round structure with a 36-hole cut reducing the field to the top 40 and ties for the final rounds.
Order of Merit: A season-long points race based on prize money earned; the winner received a trophy and automatic entries into select international events.
World Ranking Points: Select events awarded Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points, helping players improve global standings and qualify for bigger tours.
Sponsorship Model: Events were primarily funded by corporate sponsors like Singha, Toyota, and SAT, with government-backed tourism promotion support.
Player Development: The tour served as a pipeline for Thai golfers aiming to join the Asian Tour or Japan Golf Tour, with top performers receiving exemptions.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour compared to other regional circuits in terms of scale and competitiveness:

Tour	Number of Events (2016)	Total Prize Fund	OWGR Points Offered	Top Player (2016)
All Thailand Golf Tour	14	฿40M+	Yes (select events)	Thaworn Wiratchant
Asian Tour	23	$12M+	Yes	Anirban Lahiri
Japan Golf Tour	33	¥7.8B	Yes	Ryo Ishikawa
PGA Tour China	12	$1.2M	Yes	David Lipsky
ASEAN PGA Tour	10	$800K	Limited	Scott Barr

The All Thailand Golf Tour ranked competitively among regional circuits, offering more events than the PGA Tour China and comparable OWGR opportunities. While prize funds were modest compared to the Asian or Japan Tours, its role in nurturing Thai talent was unmatched domestically.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season was pivotal in elevating the profile of Thai golfers and reinforcing the country’s growing influence in Asian golf. By offering structured competition and financial incentives, the tour played a crucial role in player development and national sports identity.

Thaworn Wiratchant’s success inspired younger players, demonstrating that sustained domestic performance could lead to international recognition.
The tour helped boost golf tourism in host cities, with events drawing spectators and media coverage nationwide.
Several players earned promotion to the Asian Tour based on their 2016 performances, validating the tour’s developmental purpose.
Sponsorship growth from brands like Toyota and Singha signaled increasing corporate confidence in Thai golf’s commercial potential.
The RTGA used the tour to standardize rules and training across regional golf associations, improving overall competitiveness.
Media partnerships with Thai television and online platforms expanded fan access, contributing to a 20% rise in viewership over 2015.

Overall, the 2016 All Thailand Golf Tour was a milestone season that strengthened the foundation for future growth in Thai professional golf.