Harrington eyes Malaysian Open crown

Padraig Harrington makes his first appearance of the year at the US$1.21 million Carlsberg Malaysian Open, looking to land the elusive title after several narrow misses.

The Irishman, ranked eighth in the world, has finished runner-up twice in Malaysia previously including a play-off loss to current world number one Vijay Singh of Fiji in 2001 at Saujana Golf and Country Club, this week's venue.

Admittedly, Harrington's eight-week end-of-season hiatus will lead to some rustiness in his normally razor-sharp game but he is counting on his familiarity with Saujana's Palm Course to carry him through when he begins his campaign tomorrow.

"I've been practising during winter and did some work. I am very happy with where my swing is at. Obviously, coming into my first event, I am going to be a bit rusty," said Harrington, who was also tied fourth at Saujana in the 1999 edition and joint second in 2000 at Templer Park.

"I'm on familiar territory on a golf course I have played well on in the past. I like the tournament, I like coming to KL and I'm hoping all these factors will get me over being a little bit rusty and that I will contend this week. I have done well in Asia, won quite a few events out here and on a course like this that I like, I hope I can win out here as well," said the Dubliner, who has registered wins in Taipei and Hong Kong previously.

The event, jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, will see some of Europe's heavyweights back in the fray from winter hibernation. Cigar-chomping and pony-tailed Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, who spectacularly won five times last year including three titles in Asia, will be looking to 'switch on' his best golf again.

"The feeling is a little strange. I wasn't really comfortable with the golf club a few weeks ago. I was saying to my brother on the golf course "Hey, I'm supposed to be same guy when I left the course last year." But when I picked up the club for the first time, the feeling is gone, it didn't feel the same. I'll try to do the same thing. I'll try to enjoy myself on the golf course," said Jimenez, tied sixth here last year.

"It's a nice course and I really feel at home. I like the heat. I had a nightmare on the golf course yesterday in the Pro-Am. But today, it was a lot better. I hit the ball better but I'll need to practice a bit more. For five weeks I didn't hit a golf shot. I didn't watch golf on TV, I just switched off. Now, I'm switching on again."

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee defends the first of his two titles won en route to winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season and will play alongside Jimenez in the opening two rounds. Other top Asian Tour stars in the field include Zhang Lian-wei of China and India's Jyoti Randhawa.

With the weather having stayed generally dry so far this week, Thongchai believes he will need to shoot lower than last year's 14-under-par total to regain his crown.

"It could take two shots lower to win it this year as the fairways are running because of the dry weather," said Thongchai, the first Thai to win a European Tour event.

Korean maestro Kang Wook-soon, a two-time Asian number one, will write a new chapter in his illustrious golfing career as his appearance in this week's event is his 100th tournament across the region.

A legend in his own right, Kang, whose seven career wins is the most by a single player in Asia, has battled a back injury in recent months but is looking forward to a career milestone.

The Carlsberg Malaysian Open is also the penultimate event to count towards the qualifying race for the eight automatic places for the Asian Team in April's Visa Dynasty Cup clash against Japan at Mission Hills in China.

India's Randhawa, last December's Volvo Masters of Asia winner, currently sits in the last qualifying position and amongst those jostling to move up the ranking include Indian Amandeep Johl, Thailand's Thammanoon Srirot, who holed the winning putt against Japan two years ago, and Chinese Taipei's Chang Tse-peng.

Other top names in this week's field include Kiwi star Michael Campbell, Irish Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley, Dane Thomas Bjorn and last week's Holden New Zealand Open champion Niclas Fasth of Sweden.

Malaysia's Danny Chia, the former Taiwan Open champion, will lead the local challenge in the championship which is still awaiting a first local winner in the event's history.

February 16, 2005

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