2009 King's Cup - Event Preview: Thongchai targets third title

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee plans to complete a career milestone by claiming his third Asian Tour title of the season at the King’s Cup starting on Thursday.

With a record third Order of Merit title safely in his grasp, Thongchai is determined to end the year on a winning note at the US$300,000 event which is his final tournament of the Asian Tour season.

He will contend with a bevy of Thai stars including multiple Asian Tour winners Thaworn Wiratchant, Chapchai Nirat and Prayad Marksaeng at the par-72, 7,546-yard Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club, which is northeast of the capital city of Bangkok.

Chinese ace Liang Wen-chong, who will end the year in second place on the rankings, Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, India’s C. Muniyappa, Scotsman Simon Yates and Lee Sung of Korea will also compete in the King’s Cup presented by Singha and Sports Authority of Thailand.

Thongchai has never won three tournaments in a single season and the decorated Thai is hoping to add another feather to his cap, especially when the event is staged to commemorate the King of Thailand’s birthday which falls on Saturday.

“I have never won three times in a season. I will try but you never know because we have quite a strong field this week,” said Thongchai, who triumphed in the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea earlier in the season.

The King’s Cup will be his sixth tournament on the trot and the former paratrooper is aware that he needs to be at his best form to prevail in front of his adoring fans. If he can pull off a win, he will also raise his season’s earnings beyond US$1 million, joining last year’s number one Jeev Milkha Singh as the only other player to achieve the feat.

“I am a bit tired but it is fine because it is always nice to play in your home country,” said the Thai, who holds the most number of victories in Asia with 12 titles.

“This week is a very important tournament for Thai players and it would be great if a Thai player can win. The King’s Cup is a big event because the trophy is by the King. I won this tournament two years ago when it was a local Thai event, so hopefully I can do it again.”

Chinese stalwart Liang is tipped to be Thongchai’s chief rival. The 2007 Asian number one has come close to winning on several occasions this season but settled for second place finishes at the Panasonic Open in Japan and Barclays Singapore Open.

Victory this week will also maintain his streak of winning one title a year on the Asian Tour since 2007. “Overall I am quite happy with my performance because I came close on several occasions. I think the best thing that has come out from 2009 is the experience that I have taken back,” said Liang.

A recent tied 11th place finish at the UBS Hong Kong Open followed by a joint 16th outing in Dubai is proof that his game is presently in fine shape. “I think the most important aspect that has raised my game is my mental strength,” he said.

Big-hitting Chapchai, who set a new world scoring record with his 32-under-par 256 winning total at the SAIL Open in India earlier this season, is hoping a two-week break will spark a return to form.

“My form isn’t really up there at the moment. I have been practicing on my short game so hopefully it will hold up and keep me going,” said the three-time Asian Tour winner.

As the final event of the year, the focus is also on players fighting to finish in the top-65 of the Merit race which will guarantee a Tour card for next year.

Australia’s Mitchell Brown, currently ranked 68th, knows the King’s Cup will be make or break. “I played pretty poorly this year. I haven’t been happy with my swing and at the start of the year I was sick. I didn’t play well in the second half of the year again because of a sore back. I’m just going to go out and try my best,” said Brown.

India’s Gaurav Ghei sits one rung above Brown and while he has the luxury of the career earnings category to fall back on, he wants to maintain his status in the top-65 as he has never been outside the bracket since 2002.

“I definitely would like to have a good week and get into the top-65 and keep my full card. It is always a good feeling even though I have had a horrible year so it will be nice to finish it off in a good way,” said Ghei.

The par-72 Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club is unique because the water from Singha Corporation Khon Kaen Brewery, which is a stone’s throw away from the golf course, is treated and recycled to water the golf course as part of its environmental-friendly programme.

December 1, 2009

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