Thaworn Wiratchant hoping for home glory

Riding high on a string of triumphs this season, Thai star Thaworn Wiratchant will gun for a first title on home soil in the inaugural US$300,000 Double A International Open at St Andrews Hill (2000) Golf Club starting on Thursday.

Thaworn has been in terrific form, winning his third title of the year and seventh in his career at last week's Hero Honda Indian Open which strengthened his lead at the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

While the par-73 St Andrews Hill course, which boasts of a daunting 878-yard par six hole, is not favoured by the unorthodox swinging Thai, the 38-year-old is keen to add gloss to an impressive career by duplicating his overseas success at home.

“I was quite lucky with my win last week but I'm not too confident with my performance here,” said Thaworn today. "The golf course is very difficult and hilly, so it will be a challenge."

Thaworn is the master of understatement as he also professed his dislike at last week's venue in India where he won by two strokes. But with a magical short game and good course management, he has already earned US$448,225 this year, already a record for winnings in a single season.

The pressure is mounting on two-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand . Thongchai needs a win at the Double A International Open if he is to catch Thaworn in the race to become Asia 's top player.

“It is going to be very tough for me as I think the odds are leaning towards Thaworn to win the number one spot in the Order of Merit table. He has had a good year, winning three times and I'm happy for him,” said Thongchai, who trails Thaworn by US$94,505 with five events remaining.

Thongchai may compete in only a couple more events as he is attempting to win his US PGA Tour card at Qualifying School later this month. "If I make it through to the final stage of qualifying, I'm going to miss a few events. I would like to win the Order of Merit but Thaworn will be favoured as he is playing in many more tournaments," said Thongchai.

The reigning Order of Merit winner is however hoping that fond memories of St Andrews Hill where he won a local event here back in 2001 will drive him to victory.

“The course conditions are much better than the last time when I competed here as the green is in perfect condition,” said Thongchai. "My game feels good and I played well in the Volvo Masters in Spain last week (where he finished 22nd)."

The highly debated 878-yard par six fourth hole at St Andrews Hill remained a talking point in Thailand 's newest event. It is the first time a par six is being played on the Asian Tour, and it is also believed to be the first time on any major Tour.

Thaworn ran up a bogey during Wednesday's pro-am and said he was opposed to the idea of going against golf's traditions. "Ï am against this par six hole because it's too long. If I drive it too much to the left, I'll be in trouble and if the drive goes right, it will end up in the water,” said Thaworn. "I was in the water yesterday and was eventually on the green in six and one-putted for bogey. It's hard."

Singapore 's rising talent Lam Chih Bing, rated as one of the longest hitters on Tour, believes that distance is not the essence at St Andrews Hill. “At this golf course, it is more accuracy than distance. I was initially skeptical about the par six hole but after playing it, I am willing to take up the challenge on something new,” said Lam.

“It's an incredible hole, mind-boggling really. I hit two really good shots yesterday and still had 250 yards to the green!," he said.

The Double A International Open is the 23rd leg of this season's Asian Tour. Other top stars tipped to challenge include local sensation Prayad Marksaeng, who won the Crowne Plaza Open, Beijing , last month, and local youngster Prom Meesawat, who finished third in India last week.

Chinese Taipei's Lu Wen-teh will also cherish a return to Thailand as his last trip here three weeks ago ended with a victory in the Bangkok Airways Open.

There is added incentive for this week's winner of the Double A International Open as it will come with an exemption into next week's US$5 million HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai which will feature world number one Tiger Woods.

Double A is offering one million baht (US$25,000) as a hole-in-prize prize at the par three 17th hole this week. If more than one player shoots an ace on this hole, they will share the prize while Double A will also donate an additional one million baht to the education fund of the players' home country.

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