Thaworn hopes for happy homecoming at Volvo Masters of Asia

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant will have to overcome a hometown hoodoo if he is to win next week’s Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.

None of Thaworn’s record eight wins on the Asian Tour have been achieved in Thailand and the Bangkok native rarely plays well on local courses in front of home fans.

Thaworn did not finish in the top-10 at any of the three Asian Tour events played in Thailand this season with 13th place in the Bangkok Airways Open being his best effort.

“I do not know why but I tend to play badly in Thailand,” said the 38-year-old Thaworn. “There is a lot of pressure to do well when playing at home - that might be the reason.”

Thaworn has won four times during a spectacular season and heads the Asian Tour Order of Merit with just this week’s UBS Hong Kong Open and the Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club from December 8-11 remaining on the schedule.

He leads countryman and 2004 Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee by US$78,970 in the dramatic race which looks like going down to the wire at the US$600,000 Volvo Masters of Asia.

“I really want to be Asian number one and know that to achieve that I must play well at the Volvo Masters of Asia,” said Thaworn, who won the tournament’s forerunner, the Volvo Masters of Malaysia in 2001.

With the rough at the Thai Country Club being particularly difficult to hit out of, Thaworn may repeat his Indian Open trick and leave his driver at home.

Thaworn used his three wood and irons off the tee on his way to victory at the narrow, tree-lined Delhi Golf Club in October and is considering a similar approach in next week’s season-ending showdown.

“I did not want to be tempted into using my driver (during the Indian Open) so I left it in the hotel,” said Thaworn, who struggles at times with his driving. “It worked in India, a course which did not really suit my game, and I might do it again at Thai Country Club where the rough is thick and you must find fairways (off the tee).”

Thaworn will be playing his 14th tournament in a row at the Volvo Masters of Asia but says that fatigue will not be an issue. “I have been chasing the Order of Merit title and there has been no time for rest,” said Thaworn, who has a huge capacity for hard work.

“This is my one big chance to be Asia’s number one and I want to take it.” Thaworn’s singleminded quest has brought him victories at the Indonesian Open, a co-sanctioned event with the European Tour, Taiwan Open, Indian Open and Carlsberg Masters Vietnam and winnings of just under US$500,000.

The Volvo Masters of Asia, which is restricted to the top 60 players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, was won by Kevin Na of South Korea in 2002 and Thongchai triumphed two years ago at Bangkok Golf Club.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa, the 2002 Asian number one, beat Terry Pilkadaris of Australia in a thrilling playoff to win the title last year at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur.

December 1, 2005

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