Thongchai refreshed and ready for Phuket challenge

A refreshed Thongchai Jaidee is primed for a charge at the US$2.44 million Johnnie Walker Classic starting on Thursday where he hopes to end the region's title drought in the prestigious event.

The former paratrooper, a two-time Asian Tour number one, enjoyed a week off after playing in six straight tournaments but with his batteries recharged at home, he is feeling confident at Blue Canyon Country Club.

Thongchai takes on many of the world's best including Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Adam Scott, all former winners of the Johnnie Walker Classic and top-10 players in the world.

Other big guns include Ryder Cup star Paul Casey, former Masters champion Mike Weir, eight-time European number one Colin Montgomerie, India's Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit champion, and Filipino legend Frankie Minoza.

Surprisingly, this is Thongchai's first visit to Blue Canyon but he is feeling right at home with the magnificent layout. "Last week's break was very good, I had a good rest. I didn't touch the clubs for two days and then I put in some practice with my juniors. I arrived here on Monday and this is a very good course. It's a very good design and the greens are perfect," said Thongchai.

"I have played too much golf of late … played six weeks in a row and that was too much. But I've recharged my batteries to full again."

Scott, the world's number four, picked Thongchai as a man to watch in the US$2.44 million event. "I think Thongchai is a fantastic player and I expect him to play well in front of his home crowd."

Thongchai has come close in previous Johnnie Walker Classic appearances, finishing tied fourth in the 2004 edition in Bangkok and equal 10th in 2002 in Perth. Since the inaugural event in 1990, no Asian has won the tournament, which is tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia.

"We get strong players and big names here. However, I enjoy playing in big tournaments especially when it's at home. You can never know who will win in golf," said Thongchai, an eight-time winner in Asia.

Current UBS Order of Merit leader Minoza did not enjoy the luxury of a week's break as he featured in a domestic event, taking his tournament run to an energy-sapping six in a row. The 47-year-old Filipino admits feeling his age but hopes to ride on his new-found confidence which has produced a victory in his home Open and a second place at the Enjoy Jakarta Astro Indonesia Open.

The laid-back Filipino is also happy to be in Blue Canyon as he finished tied eighth in the 1994 edition and equal 23rd in 1998 when the event was staged here.

"I'm getting tired. I'll just keep going and see what happens. It's a big event and I'm looking forward to it. I don't know how my body will react though," he said.

"They've added some length on the course. You can make easy birdies or easily make bogeys. If you lose your mind here, you can hit over par easily. I will try to play good golf and aim for a top-five finish," he said.

Minoza has been one of the stars so far this season, winning on home soil and then coming agonisingly close in Jakarta where his title hopes vanished with a double bogey on the back nine to finish one behind Mikko Ilonen of Finland.

"I made a poor drive on 14, you can't do it in this game. I got over that quickly. This is another week, that's finished already," he said.

February 28, 2007

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