Thongchai looking to maintain six year winning streak at Volvo Masters

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee will have one last throw of the dice at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia next month to maintain his proud record of winning a title every year since 2000.

The former paratrooper is feeling confident ahead of the Asian Tour's grand finale at Thai Country Club from December 14-17, thanks to a welcome return to form which saw him challenge for the UBS Hong Kong Open title last week before settling for tied third place.

"I've got one more event in Thailand to try and maintain my winning streak," said Thongchai, who presently holds the longest winning run in the region.

"I enjoy playing at Thai Country Club very much. I've played on the course recently and the conditions are better than last year. But it will also play tougher. They've lengthened some holes and narrowed the fairways and the rough will also be longer than previously. The greens are very good. It'll be a good tournament."

Winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia in 2003, Thongchai, currently ranked third on the UBS Order of Merit, knows that another winning performance on home soil will also ensure that he finishes amongst the elite once more.

In the past five seasons, Thongchai, one of the region's most successful players with seven career titles, has been crowned Asia's number one twice, in 2001 and 2004, and has been ranked inside the top-three on three other occasions.

Another top-three finish will ensure his return to the lucrative WGC-CA Championship next year, which Thongchai is eyeing after posting a career first top-10 in the event, formerly known as the American Express Championship, in Ireland in October.

The winner of the Volvo Masters of Asia will also qualify for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

"I always enjoy playing in my home country. It's been a good year for me. I've played a lot in Europe and finished top-40 on the money list there and I also enjoyed a top-10 in a WGC event for the first time in my career," he said.

The top-60 players on the Asian Tour qualify to play in the Volvo Masters of Asia, which is offering a winner's purse of US$104,000. And Thongchai certainly hopes to live up to the old adage "Drive for show and putt for dough" when he tees up in three weeks time.

"My putting has improved. I like the Thai Country Club so I'm looking forward to it. At the start of the year, I was struggling with my putting. It was so bad that every week, there would be several three putts in my rounds.

"But two months ago, I regained my feel on the greens. I've gone back to my old putting technique and it's coming together for me," said Thongchai, who leads the Asian Tour career money list with US$2.2 million.

He also paid tribute to India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who will be crowned the new Asian Tour number one at the Volvo Masters of Asia as he has secured the UBS Order of Merit title.

"His form has been fantastic. For him to win the Volvo Masters in Spain, it was very good for the Asian Tour and it will make our players believe that they too can win big events.

"The Asian Tour is getting bigger. It's growing and the future looks good," said Thongchai.

India's Shiv Kapur will defend his title at the US$650,000 Volvo Masters of Asia.

November 23, 2006