In-form Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand will be a man on a mission when he competes in his second British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England next week.
The Asian Tour star, who won twice in Japan last month and sprinkled two other top-three finishes during a five-week purple patch, wants to make up for his US Masters misery when he withdrew from the second round with a back injury.
“I’m hoping to make up for the Masters,” said Prayad. “I am determined to do better at the British Open.”
The 41-year-old has emerged stronger than ever after securing his first two wins in Japan and coming close at the Bangkok Airways Open and Singha Thailand PGA Championship on the Asian Tour before finishing third on both occasions.
His rich vein of form comes at the best possible time ahead of the year’s third major. Prayad is keen to take another crack at links golf after a cold and bitter experience in his maiden outing at Carnoustie in 1999.
“I’m surprised with my recent wins as I’m over 40 now. But I guess I can control my emotions better on the golf course. I’ve got more experience and I’m feeling mentally strong,” said Prayad.
“I feel stronger now compared to nine years ago. This will be my third major and I’m ready to give it a go this time. I’m going to play my best and try to make something happen.
“In 1999, I didn’t have any experience on a links course. After qualifying, I didn’t prepare well at Carnoustie and conditions were really tough. But I’m a totally different player now,” added the stocky Thai, who is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour.
He credited meditation and a putting tip from his young sons for turning his fortunes around after the Masters disappointment. For long, he was tagged the “nearly man” in Japan as he had finished second on numerous occasions.
As part of his meditation process, Prayad counts slowly from one to eight in various blocks before his round to clear his mind while his two sons simply told him to slow down his putting routine.
“Whenever I was in contention, I felt something was blocking me from winning. But since I started my meditation exercises, I can clear any problem. I feel confident and I’m never afraid. I know what I have to do to win and I can control my mental game better. I’m only thinking of winning when I’m in contention these days,” said Prayad.
“My two boys, aged 10 and 13, have been reminding me about my putting. They saw me on TV and asked ‘Papa, why are you putting so fast?’ I never thought about this previously and I’ve slowed down my routine and it has helped.”
Prayad hopes to use the British Open as a launchpad to break the world’s top-50. Currently ranked 71st, he said it is also his goal to make another attempt at qualifying for the US PGA Tour this year.
“My goal will be to get into the world’s top-50 and to remain there consistently. I plan to enter the PGA Tour qualifying school as well after missing out by several shots in the final stage two years ago.
“Since I’ve got my exemptions in Asia and Japan, I want to give it a shot in the US. I feel like I can play well on American courses and they seem to fit my game,” said Prayad.
Prayad will be part of a strong Asian Tour contingent who will feature in the year’s third major next week. Joining Prayad at Royal Birkdale include Malaysia’s Danny Chia, Angelo Que of the Philippines, China’s Liang Wen-chong, who is the reigning Asian Tour number one, Singaporean prospect Lam Chih Bing, Japan’s Yoshinobu Tsukada and Australian duo Scott Strange and Adam Blyth.
In-form Prayad Marksaeng of Thailand will be a man on a mission when he competes in his second British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England next week.
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