Denwit’s Diary

May, 2024: searching for the spark

The month of May saw Denwit Boriboonsub spend two weeks in Japan preparing for a U.S. Open qualifier. It didn’t quite go his way but it’s all part of the learning process for 20-year-old star, who now has his sights set on making his first appearance in the Kolon Korea Open. Denwit was speaking to Asian Tour contributor and former Tour player Olle Nordberg.

Hello again! After last month’s diary I spent two weeks in Japan for a U.S. Open qualifier. I was in Osaka for a week and had a weekend in Omi Hachiman. I had a great time in Osaka, but I was only able to practice in a simulator for five days. I only got to practice outside when I got to Omi Hachiman – which was more in the countryside and where the qualifier was held.

It was a really hard two weeks. I don’t have an international driver’s license so I couldn’t rent a car. It was like the worst two weeks that I’ve had. I mean, I had to change my hotel to wait for an Australian friend to get a ride to the golf course for the qualifier, because it was so hard to find a taxi.

So, if I had to do it all over again, in-between the GS Caltex Maekyung Open and the U.S. Open qualifier, I would rather come back home than go early to Japan.
But playing the qualifier was a great experience. The chance to qualify for the three spots was really quite good, and the course that we played was quite easy. But I didn’t play that well, and it was a bit of a disappointing result for the 36 holes. I was even par for two rounds, some way short of the mark, which was eight under. Thirty-four players were competing for the three spots.

I mean, the game was solid the whole week, I had a practice round before the tournament rounds, and I played pretty well. But when it came to the tournament rounds, I just couldn’t make it. I couldn’t get my putts to drop. But overall, it was pretty good. It was more of a putting issue and stuff like that. Also, the course was pretty wide open, the greens were soft, and it was pretty short. I just couldn’t take advantage of that.

After Japan I came back to Thailand and hung out in Bangkok for a week and had a nice relaxing time.

Now I have a few weeks before the Kolon Korea Open, and I will have more of a strict practice schedule. I will also play the Singha All Thailand Championship on the All Thailand Golf Tour at Suwan Country Club before Korea. I’m a past champion of the event on that course, having won in 2022 . Yeah, I like that course a lot, so hopefully it will be like a confidence booster before going into Korea Open week.

I feel good about my game though. If I drive it well I think there’s nothing much to worry about because my irons are ok and my putting is good. It’s just like some days are good, and some days are not. I guess I am just searching for the spark.

If I can put it in the fairway off the tee, it’s gonna get me into contention. I got a new driver after Maekyung last month that I really like. I think the old one drew a little more than I wanted to, but the new one is good.

The driver I’m using now is a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond with 9+ degrees of loft, NS sleeve settings, a Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei 1K Orange 60 TX shaft and the Golf Pride MCC Align grip.
I also got a new three wood because I think the old one cracked in Korea. I just heard something weird in the hosel or sleeve, and the ball just started hooking on every shot. So, I called Callaway while I was in Japan and they brought a new one to Osaka, that was great service from Callaway. For my three wood I’m using a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 15 degrees with a Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X shaft.

It will be my first time playing in the Kolon Korea Open. I’ve heard a lot about Woo Jeong Hills Country Club and how difficult it is but I’m really looking forward to the challenge. My countryman Jazz Janewattananond won the tournament there in 2019 so I would love to add my name to the trophy!