Asian Tour stars face "Samui Beast" in Bangkok Airways Open

Samui, Thailand: It won't be a stroll in the park when Asia's best players compete in the US$200,000 Bangkok Airways Open at the challenging Santiburi Samui Country Club starting on Thursday.

Thai legend Boonchu Ruangkit warned that only the fittest will survive the week, saying the elite field faces their 'hardest walk' of the season while others have labelled the course the 'beast of Samui.'

Boonchu has tipped last year's Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee to shine this week.

"It's a very hard golf course to walk," said Boonchu, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour and the club's resident professional. "The elevation changes are quite dramatic but it means that it favours the strong and fit players."

Opened for play some 18 months ago, Santiburi Samui is fringed by forests on the idyllic Samui resort island and the elevation ranges from between 190m to 30m above sea level. "This is the kind of course that will suit players like Thongchai (Jaidee) or Prayad (Marksaeng). You need to hit it straight and you need to have the power to sustain the whole week."

The Bangkok Airways Open made its debut last year as a domestic Thai Tour event before joining the Asian Tour Schedule. It  is the 21st leg of this season's Schedule and the winner on Sunday will also gain an exemption into the HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai next month.

Last year's winner, American Andrew Pitts agreed with Boonchu's assessment. "Stamina will be a big factor," said Pitts. "This course poses a different kind of challenge to the players with the elevation changes throughout the course. Accuracy will be premium, you can be strolling along and before you know it, you'll be shooting a big number by making only marginal mistakes."

Thongchai, last year's number one but currently second behind compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant on the money ranking, is raring to tee up despite still feeling jetlagged after returning from the WGC American Express Championship in San Francisco.

The former paratrooper said his hopes of a third Order of Merit crown will be restricted as he is slated to play in the Double A International Open and season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia, both on home soil. In between those events, he will concentrate on the US PGA Tour qualifying school.

"This is the hardest golf course I have walked in Asia," said Thongchai. "The back nine is very hilly … you need to be strong. But the course is in very good condition and the greens are perfect," said Thongchai, Asia's number one in 2001 and last season.

He reckons Thaworn has a strong chance of bagging the Order of Merit title this year. "I'm playing in only a few more events so I think Thaworn will be favourite as he'll have a few more events than me to play in. But if I somehow win three tournaments, you'll never know," said Thongchai.

India's Digvijay Singh, for one, won't be surprised if Thongchai pulls the rabbit from out of the hat. Thongchai arrived in Samui on Tuesday afternoon after taking more than 20 hours to reach home from the US but went straight out for a nine-hole practice round.

"That's why he's number one in Asia. You'd think that he'll be resting after a long trip," said Singh, who finished joint third at the recent Crowne Plaza Open, Beijing.

Malaysia's Danny Chia, currently 58th on the Order of Merit, is hoping that switching back to the belly-putter will enhance his prospects of finishing inside the top-60 and secure full playing privileges for next season.

He suffered the heartbreak of not qualifying for the Algarve World Cup in Qualifying last week in Kuala Lumpur, lamenting poor putting for his near miss. "I've gone back to my old putter where hopefully I can get back some confidence. It's simple to use and I don't have to think too much of the mechanics of the stroke with the belly putter.

"I'm trying to not look at the Order of Merit and not think about my position but you can never help it. However, I'm quite confident of finishing inside the top-60 as I'm striking the ball okay. It's just the putting that needs to be worked on," said Chia.

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