New Zealand's Grant Waite's coaching career has received its biggest boost to date with Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit's victory in the first women's major of the year.
Grant Waite Photo: Photosport
It's only been nine months since the LPGA rookie approached Waite after finding she was struggling with the transition from amateur and college play to life as a professional.
The turnaround since then has been remarkable, and was capped with a dominant win yesterday at the ANA Inspiration in California.
Tavatanakit led from start to finish, holding off a last-round challenge from New Zealander Lydia Ko to win by two strokes.
Waite said it was great to see Ko finding form again.
The three-time major champion carded a tournament record-equalling 10-under par 62, holing a remarkable eight birdies and an eagle and shooting a record 29 on the front nine
"What she's achieved already in her career is quite amazing, and for her to struggle for a little while - which no-one is immune to because golf is a very difficult sport - then to see her re-emerge playing at this level is really good for women's golf," he said.
"She's such a great player and I'm happy for her, because I know how much she wants to play well and how hard she works at it."
It had been equally satisfying, however, to see Tavatanakit's calm finish to take the title.
Waite said it hadn't taken long to realise that the Thai golfer had huge potential.
"She was in the beginning of her year at the LPGA, and she came to talk to me about her game," he said.
"She wasn't playing very well, she was having a bit of a tough time to adjusting to playing on the LPGA, doing it for a living week after week."
Waite described the big-hitting 21-year-old Thai golfer as a real talent, who potentially could be a dominant player on the LPGA.
"She had all the tools, she just didn't know how to use them as effectively as she could," Waite said.
"She understands now that distance is great but it's got to be with a certain amount of control.
"She's got a beautiful combination now - she hits the ball very far, but also can now control her short irons and hit those the appropriate distance."
-RNZ
