2006 Bangkok Airways Open

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee returns to action on home soil at the Bangkok Airways Open on Thursday gunning to end a title drought which feels too long for his liking.

The two-time Asian Tour number one headlines the US$300,000 event at the challenging par-71 Santiburi Samui Country Club alongside reigning Order of Merit winner Thaworn Wiratchant, whom he battled with doggedly for supremacy last season.

Chinese Taipei veteran Lu Wen-teh is also back to defend his title which ended a seven-year winless run last October while other top names in the field include this season's winners Mardan Mamat of Singapore and Prom Meesawat of Thailand.

Thongchai last tasted success at the Malaysian Open 16 months ago and he is itching to board the winner's flight once more. It will be especially pleasing for the former paratrooper to sparkle in Samui, a holiday isle, as Bangkok Airways is one of his sponsors.

"I'm now back in tournament mode. I took a month off from mid-April but I'm looking forward to playing again after featuring in two events in Europe the past two weeks. I would like to play well here because of my association with this week's main sponsor but it's been a while since I last won a tournament. You'll never know, it could be this week, or next week," said Thongchai, who has finished second and third this season.

During his break, the 37-year-old launched his own Academy in his hometown in Lopburi, north of Bangkok last month. He has 11 teenaged golfers, aged between 13 and 15, under his wing and Thongchai is passionate of his interest with the youngsters.

"I got help when I picked up the game and now that I have the opportunity, I want to help young kids to become great golfers," said Thongchai, who is fifth on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit. "They go to school in the morning and then practice at the academy and stay in our hostel."

Thongchai finished tied 42nd in the Celtic Manor Wales Open at the weekend, making up for his missed cut at the BMW Championship in Wentworth Club, the European Tour's flagship event. He arrived in Samui severely jetlagged but is ready to throw in his challenge.

"I was tired in the pro-am yesterday but I feel better now. On this course, you must be thinking all the time and be confident with the tee shots as you can't miss it right or left. The jungle around here can kill your game."

Thaworn, who won a record four titles last year en route to becoming Asia's number one, is also brimming with confidence ahead of the third edition of the Bangkok Airways Open after finishing a creditable joint 35th in Wentworth.

He was delighted with his outing in the rain and cold, conditions he dislikes, and was thrilled to prove a thing or two to his English caddie that week. "I had a practice round on the morning that I arrived and after shooting one par in the opening 10 holes, my caddie sarcastically asked where I Monday qualified from," said Thaworn, who holds a winner's exemption in Europe after his win in the co-sanctioned Indonesia Open last year.

"But after I shot a 71 on the first day, he doubled his caddie fees and at the weekend, he asked for a five per cent cut from my earnings! But I was happy with the way I performed."

Thaworn wasn't surprised to see Lu winning the title here last season and said that the undulating course, which has elevation changes from between 30 meters to 190 meters above sea level, suits the Chinese Taipei players.

"The Chinese Taipei players hit it straight and can handle the winds here well," said Thaworn.

Lu arrived in Samui wondering if a niggling knee injury would prevent him from teeing up. He missed two events in Korea and missed the halfway cut at the Macau Open last month, hardly ideal preparation for his title defence.

"When I walk, there is a bit of pain in the left knee and it is also affecting the swing," said the 43-year-old. "It's nice to come back to a place where you've won but one year seems to go by so quickly."

Last year's runner-up Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand, who lost in a play-off to Lu, is also in the field this week including promising Korean Park Jun-won, who was second in the recent Philippine Open.

The Bangkok Airways Open is the 16th leg of this season's Asian Tour, which takes its traditional summer break after the conclusion of this event before resuming again from mid-August.

June 7, 2006

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