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Event preview
 Thailand's
Thaworn Wiratchant (pictured) can overhaul compatriot Thongchai Jaidee
at the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit when he competes in this
week's US$500,000 Maekyung Open.
Second-ranked Thaworn is only US$3,865 behind the money leader and
a strong finish at Nam Seoul Country Club will dislodge Thongchai,
who is playing in Europe, from his perch.
A week's break has also recharged Thaworn's batteries and returning
to Korea will be a huge confidence booster as he has often performed
well in the Land of Morning Calm, with a fourth place finish at the
recent SK Telecom Open being his latest achievement.
“To win the Order of Merit is a big goal of mine. At the moment
Thongchai has the lead, but maybe if I keep playing well, I can catch
him. If I can continue my good play I think I can have a shot of winning
the Merit title," said Thaworn, who has earned US$264,955 mainly
due to his victory in the co-sanctioned Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered
Indonesia Open in March.
After a run of five events in succession which started with him being
a part of Asia's victorious team that won the Visa Dynasty Cup over
Japan last month, Thaworn took a week's break at home to rest and
work on his game.
Five other members of the Asian team, Singapore's Mardan Mamat, Thai
veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, India's Amandeep Johl, Filipino Angelo Que
and Korea's Mo Joong-kyung will also be challenging for honours at
the Maekyung event, which is the 14th leg of this season's Asian Tour.
Singapore's Mamat, who recently qualified for the British Open at
St Andrews in July, will be looking to rediscover some of his winning
form after missing two cuts from his last three events.
India's Johl (pictured) will be another player determined to shine
as he had weekends off in three events after the Dynasty Cup success.
Johl was runner-up in the Maekyung Open two years ago, finishing behind
Korea's Chung Joon who is also competing this week.
At 49, Boonchu is showing no signs of slowing down. At last week's
Philippine Open, he challenged for honours before settling for sixth
place after a disappointing final round of 76.
Australian Terry Pilkadaris, currently seventh on the Asian Tour Order
of Merit, can be expected to throw in his challenge at Nam Seoul while
American Edward Loar, the reigning Korean Open champion, is widely
tipped to contend after two recent top-10s in the Macau Open and the
SK Telecom Open.
Korea's challenge will also come from two-time Asian number one Kang
Wook-soon, winner of the Maekyung Open in 2000 while Korean-born New
Zealander Eddie Lee will also relish a return to Nam Seoul as he won
the event in 2002 while he was still an amateur.
The 21-year-old recently ended a disappointing run of seven straight
missed cuts with a superb fourth-place finish at the BMW Asian Open
in Shanghai last month and had the pleasure of playing with eventual
winner Ernie Els in the third round.
Scotsman Simon Yates, a perennial contender in Korea with one win
and two runner-up finishes, makes a return after a two week break
from injury. New Zealand's Richard Lee and Australian Scott Barr,
both presently ranked in the top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit,
are also in this week's field.
May 25, 2005
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