Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES 2007 UBS Order of Merit after the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open Order of Merit showdown in Bangkok Only Liang and Chapchai left in OoM race Chapchai earns high praise from Mickelson and Scott Liang closes in on Order of Merit crown Liang widens Order of Merit lead Chapchai's Order Of Merit charge halted Liang one step closer to Order of Merit Liang extends Order of Merit lead Contenders resume the Order of Merit race Jeev is tipping Liang for Order of Merit 2007 Asian Tour schedule & results ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Open: Pain for Choi as Harrington defends Open: Closing 74 gives Liang more major hopes Open: Tough Open makes Lam eye Asian success Open: Angelo Que means to learn and return Open: Late bogies mean early exit for Prayad IGF forms Olympic Committee with eye to 2016 Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Padraig Harrington hungry for more success Michelle Wie to play on PGA Tour again IGF forms 2016 Olympic Committee Greg Norman proud of achievement Ian Poulter impressive with second place Henrik Stenson happy with his best ever finish

Order of Merit showdown in Bangkok

The fight for the prestigious Asian Tour UBS Order of Merit crown reaches its climax at the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia this week with China’s Liang Wen-chong and Chapchai Nirat of Thailand locked in an intriguing battle.

Liang, the Merit leader since May, is dreaming of becoming the first Asian number one from China but Chapchai can deny him the accolade if he pulls off a home victory at Thai Country Club and Liang finishes outside the top three.

The US$750,000 Volvo Masters of Asia begins on Thursday and will bring the curtain down on a record-breaking Asian Tour season which includes an unprecedented 28 events with over US$27 million in prize money.

The Chinese star presently leads the UBS Order of Merit race on US$525,570, with the big-hitting Thai trailing by US$95,005 in second place.

A cheque of US$135,000 awaits the Volvo winner on Sunday and if Chapchai pulls off a triumph, Liang will need to secure third place, worth US$50,000, to stay ahead of his only rival for the Merit crown.

While the 24-year-old Chapchai is feeling the strain of competing in his ninth tournament in 10 weeks, he is ready for one final push for glory. He finished tied eighth at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open on Sunday and was victorious in the previous week’s stop in Hanoi.

“I will head back and get some much needed rest,” he said before departing Siem Reap last night. “Playing at home in Thailand is an advantage because I feel really comfortable with my game. I do not feel any pressure and I will be inspired to play well in front of my home fans,” added the Thai, who has two victories and seven other top-10s this year.

Chapchai knows he has an uphill task but is ready for the challenge. In 2005, the burly Thai finished tied seventh in the Volvo Masters of Asia and was equal 39th last season.

“I will be looking for a win at the Volvo Masters of Asia and with the support of the local fans, I’m confident of making it.

“It is the final event to what has been a great year for me. I won two tournaments and I know I have the game to make it three this week. It will be tough with the top players assembled here but I will stick to my game plan of making fairways and greens,” said Chapchai.

Liang is also in top form as he finished tied third in the Golf Nippon Series JT Cup in Japan on Sunday. Prior to that, he partnered Zhang Lian-wei and helped China finish joint 11th in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup for the country’s best finish in the team event billed as the “Olympics of Golf”.

All year long, Liang, who has won once and accumulated eight other top-10s, has spoken about his ambition of becoming Asia’s number one but knows he has some work left to do.

“I think it'll be quite special if I can achieve it as no Chinese player has done it before,” said Liang.

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee will defend his title at the Volvo Masters of Asia. The season finale also holds great significance for a number of players who are aiming to finish inside the top-three of the Merit list.

With third-ranked Anton Haig of South Africa being one of three players absent in this week’s field which is exclusive to the top-60 players on the UBS Order of Merit, Australian Scott Hend, Scotland’s Simon Yates and Thailand’s Prom Meesawat can grab third spot with a victory.

The top-three players from the UBS Order of Merit will gain spots into the lucrative WGC-CA Championship next year while the Volvo Masters of Asia champion will earn a ticket to the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Australian Keith Horne and Terry Pilkadaris of Australia are the other two players not competing in this week’s event.

UBS ORDER OF MERIT – TOP-20 (click here for the full Order of Merit)

Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)

1. LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 525,570
2. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 430,565
3. Anton HAIG (RSA) 427,685
4. Scott HEND (AUS) 346,026
5. Simon YATES (SCO) 295,933
6. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 294,225
7. Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 268,838
8. LU Wen-teh (TPE) 265,909
9. Gaurav GHEI (IND) 256,549
10. Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 245,154
11. Shiv KAPUR (IND) 230,021
12. Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 223,623
13. Iain STEEL (MAS) 209,063
14. Anthony KANG (USA) 208,279
15. Kane WEBBER (AUS) 182,617
16. Frankie MINOZA (PHI) 179,347
17. Chinarat PHADUNGSIL (THA) 174,959
18. LEE Sung (KOR) 174,907
19. Scott BARR (AUS) 173,782
20. Scott STRANGE (AUS) 162,338

December 3, 2007