Prom promises fighting display at Volvo

Prom Meesawat’s bold bid to become the youngest ever Asian number one may have fallen just short but there is still plenty at stake for Thailand’s budding star at the Volvo Masters of Asia later this month.

The prodigiously talented 22-year-old currently lies second on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit with countryman Thongchai Jaidee, Australia’s Andrew Buckle and Charlie Wi of Korea in hot pursuit.

Prom, who has won US$365,471 during a fantastic season highlighted by his breakthrough victory at the SK Telecom Open in Korea, needs a good finish at Thai Country Club from December 14-17 to keep ahead of the fast-charging trio.

A runner-up spot in the money list behind newly crowned Asian number one Jeev Milkha Singh of India will earn the ambitious Prom a place in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship next year.

“I had a chance to catch Jeev but he was in top form at the UBS Hong Kong Open and sealed things there (with a joint third place finish),” said Prom, who leads third-placed Thongchai by just under US$25,000.

“It has been a great season for me especially with the win and I want to finish with the number two ranking. It means a lot to me.”

Putting is Prom’s Achilles heel and the beefy youngster knows that he will have to be in red hot form on the slick greens at Thai Country Club to grab a significant slice of the US$650,000 prize money and hold off his challengers.

“Thai Country Club is a good course but it is not one of my favourites,” admitted Prom, a disappointing joint 11th last year after opening with a sparkling 67, “There is a lot of emphasis on putting - if you can make the putts you are in with a chance. I will have to putt well that week.

“Some events I did not play well this year and that was mainly down to putting. Last month I hit my driver good but I could not make any putts.”

Prom, affectionately known as the ‘Big Dolphin’ due to his hefty 110-kilogram physique and because he hails from the coastal town of Hua Hin, has a growing army of fans in Thailand and wants to put on a good show for them at the Volvo Masters of Asia.

“I like to play good in Thailand in front of the home fans,” said Prom, who has golf in the genes his father Suthep being the first home winner of the Thailand Open. “I will be going for a win.”

Prom turned professional in 2004 on the advice of Fijian star Vijay Singh and he reckons his career is right on track with the US PGA Tour the final destination.

He took a huge step towards fulfilling his ambition by winning his card for the 2007 Japan Tour with a joint seventh place finish in the final qualifying stage which finished on Monday. He put together rounds of 71, 69, 70, 70, 69, 69 for a total of 14-under-par 418.

“I wanted to win this year and I have achieved that - my career is on track,” said Prom, ahead of the Japan Tour Q-School. "I want to try and get my card for Japan and then play on the PGA Tour in America. That is my goal.”

The US$650,000 Volvo Masters of Asia is the Asian Tour's season-finale with the winner taking home US$104,000.

December 5, 2006