Wichanee Meechai doesn’t think she’s confident. Yet, here she is, leading the U.S. Women’s Open. Saturday could have gone many ways for Meechai, especially in the unpredictable world of golf. Miss a putt here, get a bad bounce there – it’s a game of inches and chances. Before this week, not many avid women’s golf fans might have known her name. In her ninth LPGA season, the 31-year-old from Thailand had never finished better than T5 on the LPGA Tour and hadn’t won anywhere since 2015. But this weekend, she defied the odds.
Instead of fading from the spotlight on Saturday, Meechai battled through and finds herself tied for the lead going into the final round with Minjee Lee and Andrea Lee. She turned what could have been a 74 into a 69 with precise putting, including making five crucial par putts from outside four feet. “I’m the person who has no confidence at all,” Meechai candidly admitted at a press conference. “I never think that I’m good enough. I never think that I can win tournaments on the LPGA, but if I can stay in my place and keep working hard, I think it’s going to show up one day.”
Meechai and Minjee Lee are the only two golfers to break 70 every day this week. After another round of 69, Meechai remained humble and expressed her enduring lack of confidence. “To be honest, yesterday I thought about missing the cut because I used to be in this position,” she said. “Like the first day I play pretty good, and then the second day I just [shoot] like 80s and missed the cut by one. I cried a lot.”
On Saturday, however, Meechai displayed resilience. She birdied the first hole and played steadily, despite challenges. She took a breath on the 12th hole to regain focus and managed to play her last six holes in even par, maintaining her lead.
Her patience and focus were tested throughout the day, especially when her group was put on the clock after the 12th hole. Yet, she responded with remarkable recovery shots and steady play under pressure. Whether it was battling difficult positions or making critical putts, Meechai showed the grit needed to lead the U.S. Open.
Meechai credits her calm demeanor and perseverance for her performance. “I think my focus on the game was pretty good today,” she reflected. “I hit a lot of bad shots, but I don’t have any bad thoughts about my swing or the results. I’m just staying in my zone and trying to keep going.”
It’s hard to imagine leading the U.S. Open without confidence, but Meechai has shown that sometimes, grit and determination can carry you through. If she clinches the title, she might just find the confidence she says she lacks.
Meechai’s story is a testament to the unpredictable nature of golf and the power of perseverance. Should she win, she may solidify her name in the history books, transforming her own perception of confidence along the way.
