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Prayad and Strange enter world top 100

Australia’s Scott Strange and Thai star Prayad Marksaeng leaped up the Official World Golf Rankings after their wins in Europe and Japan respectively on Sunday.

Strange, who is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, broke into the top-100 in the world thanks to his success at the Celtic Manor Wales Open to be ranked 81st while Huan Hin-based Prayad enjoyed his first ever win in Japan at the Mitsubishi Diamond Cup and rose to 85th spot.

Strange earned his full playing rights for the first time in Europe when he finished 106th on the money list last year. The Perth-born star is also enjoying a steady run on the Asian Tour chalking up one runner-up finish and two top-20 finishes this season.

Prayad, with six wins under his belt on the Asian Tour, enjoyed his breakthrough in Japan after numerous near misses. It was a pleasant return to the winner’s circle for Prayad who has been suffering from a back injury which had forced him to pull out from The Masters Tournament in April.

Tiger Woods remained firmly on top of the rankings while Korean stalwart Choi Kyung-ju was in ninth place with Asian Tour honorary member Vijay Singh of Fiji a spot below.

New Zealand’s Mark Brown, the current Asian Tour’s Order of Merit leader, remained in 66th place while India’s Jyoti Randhawa was in 72nd spot.

The other players in the top-200 on the world rankings are Sweden’s Daniel Chopra in 80th position, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh (90th), James Kingston of South Africa (96th), Englishman Simon Dyson (99th), China’s Liang Wen-chong (110th), Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei (112th), Thai star Thongchai Jaidee (144th), American Kevin Na (151st), Korea’s Charlie Wi (174th), Arjun Atwal of India (188th), Indian youngster S.S.P Chowrasia (191st), Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh (192nd) and Scotsman Simon Yates (194th).

June 2, 2008