After six months at Stanford University Ratchanon Chantananuwat, aka ‘TK’, returned to play two events on the Asian Tour: the International Series Qatar followed by last week’s PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers. Remarkably, despite the break from playing on Tour, he tied ninth in Saudi – adding to the young Thai amateur’s amazing story. Olle Nordberg, former Tour player and now Asian Tour contributor, caught up with him and asked nine key questions.

ON: TK, last time we had a chat here at the Saudi Open presented by PIF in April you were just about to go to Stanford University. Now you’ve been there, how’s it been?

TK: It’s been great. Lots has happened, but overall, it’s been great. I’m really happy with Stanford.

ON: What’s the experience been like, I mean your first time going overseas to go to school and everything? What happened from the beginning when you got there and how was it?

TK: Right, so I actually got there very early. I’ve been there since the end of June because I had to do a summer quarter, we do quarter systems at Stanford and when I say quarter I just mean term or semester. So I was there since June, did summer quarter and fall quarter, so I’ve actually done pretty much two whole quarters. But it’s just been great, I’ve settled in fine. The golf is great, the weather has been really nice, and the facilities are obviously awesome. So, I’ve really enjoyed it so far.

Ratchanon Chantanuwat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

ON: How are your classes going and how’s it been to transition to university from high school?

TK: Classes haven’t been too hard yet, but to be fair, they’re very, very different. I mean, the subjects I’m taking are very different, they’re also university subjects having lecture style classes. And to be fair it’s been fine in terms of score just because I’m taking relatively easy classes, but next quarter is when things are going to start becoming legit. Like I’m going to be doing Economics and potentially some sort of engineering class, so that’s going to be pretty tough. But I’m looking forward to it, at least I’m going to like what I’m doing, so I’m going to be interested. My two main classes this past quarter were Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Communications. I mean, I really enjoyed both but it’s just, I mean, an intro class is always going to be relatively easy. And actually, in the summer I did intro to Political Science, so I’ve had a really broad spread so far.

ON: How is campus life?

TK: Campus life is amazing. Stanford is huge, you can probably lock me up there for six months and I won’t even voice a single complaint, it’s really nice. Like, the way I live my life is actually pretty similar to how I lived back home. Like most days it’s just golf and school, but when I’m not golfing or studying, that’s when it’s the best. Like, instead of sitting at home for two or three hours just doing nothing on my own, I get to hang out with my friends, my teammates. We play pickleball, maybe just go eat, just do whatever. It’s just like you’re living with your friends.

ON: You’re staying in dorms on campus too right, so do you have a roommate?

TK: Yeah, I’m staying in the dorms, and I actually have two roommates. My dorm is like one of the best, because it used to be an upperclassmen dorm, but now it’s a freshman dorm, so there are so many two room doubles, meaning two rooms. I got one of the only one room triples in the entire dorm. I can’t complain, my room’s really nice and it’s huge. I have basically a penthouse view and I’m on the third floor. My roommates are super nice and very understanding and really smart. So that’s really cool, we get along well.

Ratchanon Chantanuawat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

ON: Who are you rooming with, some guys from the golf team?

TK: No, actually so many people have asked me that question, but as a freshman you can’t choose your room or your roommates, and Stanford has a rule where athletes can’t room with athletes, so they actually put all the freshmen male golfers in one dorm. So, I’m in the same dorm as the other two freshmen, which is perfect, but I’m not rooming with an athlete or anyone on the golf team. My roommates are from all over the place, one of them is from Idaho, and the other from Mexico/So Cal, but I mean, there’s internationals, there’s people from everywhere in the dorm.

ON: How’s the experience been transitioning to college golf, I mean you’re still an amateur, but you have been playing a lot of professional events. Going to more of a team atmosphere, how’s that been?

TK: It’s definitely been super different, like in terms of competing, it’s obviously still very individual, the team scores are just individual scores added up. But in terms of having a team, that’s the best thing ever. Like, I’m close with all eight of the other guys in the team, we’re really, really close. We’re even close with the girls, like Stanford golf is just a really friendly program. I get along with everyone and it’s really cool being with them. At the top it’s still very competitive, but in terms of depth and environment, it’s so different compared to professional events. Especially a field like this week, the PIF Saudi International, where there’s LIV guys, like so many Major winners, it’s definitely very different.

ON: How has your game been during this time, because you’ve had a lot of other things going on, like settling into school, finding your way around campus and everything else? It’s not only all about golf now, so how’s your game been so far?

TK: To put it plainly, I’ve played not good at all. Like, I’ve started all the tournaments, which is good, right? But even my best week was like a very below average week compared to how I used to play on tour. I mean, you’re right, like settling in, it’s like starting a new life. So, I’ve accepted the fact that I haven’t had a great fall, but did it go to waste? No, because it’s like an experiment. It’s just like when I first came on the Asian Tour, I’m not gonna start performing well straight away. I mean, I kind of did … [laughing].

ON: I would say you did, right?

TK: Actually, I definitely did. I wish I could have done the same with college. But yeah, my point is, it’s just like moving countries. This quarter, golf wise, not the best, but I’ve learned so much. I think I have a good idea what I’m doing, I know what my priorities are, I know what I want to do, and I have a better idea of how I’m going to do it. So, I’m really, really looking forward to winter.

Ratchanon Chantanauwat. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

ON: Do you feel like you’re more back in the environment that you know when you come here to play on the Asian Tour? I know this week’s course in Riyadh is one of your favourites?

TK: Oh 100%, I mean, it’s probably a debate as to how competitive college golf is compared to pro golf, but the Asian Tour is great, especially this week and big events like the PIF Saudi International. I definitely feel at home. I mean, I’ve grown up playing pro golf, I’ve done nothing but play Asian Tour events for the past two and a half years, so to come back here is just super nice. Like I said, I know what a good week for me looks like here, so coming back here I have something to compare myself to, and I can use that to go back stronger next year.