The Open Championship 2005

Reigning Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee will lead the region's push for glory at the British Open at St Andrews , Scotland next week, hoping to emulate Lu Liang-huan's famous runner-up finish some three decades ago.

Chinese Taipei's "Mr" Lu, well known as well for his pork-pie hats, came closest to being the first Asian winner at the world's oldest Major in 1971 when he lost to American Lee Trevino by one stroke at Royal Birkdale.

With golf in the region making giant strides and the Asian Tour showing tremendous growth – it will stage a record 28 events with an unprecedented US$20 million in total prize money this season – Thongchai knows the timing is perfect for Asians to shine on the world stage.

Several other Asian Tour members will join the Thai star at the Old Course of St Andrews from next Thursday, including Danny Chia, Malaysia 's first player to qualify for a Major, Singaporean Mardan Mamat and another Thai, Thammanoon Srirot.

"It'll be important for Asians to play well," said Thongchai, who jointly holds the most number of titles, seven, on the Asian Tour. "The first aim will be to make the halfway cut and then hopefully win the title. We must try our best."

It will be Thongchai's second foray at the Open and he will be seeking for Major redemption as his maiden outing in 2002 ended in despair. Playing at Muirfield, the former soldier played his opening round with a sore back and stumbled to an 80. He later withdrew from the second round.

"I fell asleep on the hotel bed and woke up with a sore back," recalled the Thai, who normally sleeps on the floor. "There will be no more beds for me at St Andrews . I was very disappointed in 2002 but this year, everything is perfect. I will try to do something."

Currently playing in the Barclays Scottish Open where he shot a fine opening 66 for tied sixth place on Thursday, Thongchai is one of Asia 's best bets for honours. He successfully repeated as champion at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February, an event jointly sanctioned with the European Tour, and is presently ranked 77th in the world.

A recent month-long break in Bangkok recharged his batteries and Thongchai is also confident of tackling the venerable Old Course after three previous visits for the Dunhill Links Championship. "I feel I'm swinging it good now and I recently changed putter which feels better. The pot bunkers at the Old Course are the main challenges. I've played St Andrews a few times and shot a 68 in 2003. I know the layout well," said the Thai, who was also Asia 's number one in 2001.

A combination of lengthy hours at the range, yoga and refining his swing under the watchful eye of coach Kel Llewellyn has Mardan, the only Singaporean player to feature in the Open, believing he has done his homework for his second career Major test.

"To qualify for one of the biggest events in the world, especially at the Home of Golf, is every golfer's dream," said Mardan, who missed the cut at Royal Troon in 1997. "The first time that I played at the Open, it was a great experience and it taught me a lot of things which I've been working on for this trip. I think I'm quite well prepared for next week."

The 32-year-old Chia, who wept tears of joy after earning his ticket to the British Open through qualifying in Malaysia in April, is riding on new-found inspiration, thanks to Scottish golf magazine, Bunkered.

In its July edition, it ran an article with the title "Who might be next?" where journalist Bryce Ritchie wrote that the last two Opens had produced shock winners in Ben Curtis and Todd Hamilton and tipped four players as rank outsiders. And Chia was amongst them.

After an initial laugh, Chia, who is in good form with two recent top-10s on the Asian Tour, said: "John Daly won the US PGA Championship back in 1991 as the 11th alternate and Jason Gore contended in the recent US Open despite his low ranking. That's the beauty of this game, anyone can win. I'm not setting any expectations but whenever I tee up, it is always my intention to win.

"This is a big step in my career. To qualify for the Open, it has made me realise that I can be better in my career. I'm proud to represent Malaysia and to be the first from our country to do so."

Other Asian Tour members who will grace the fairways of St Andrews include Australian Richard Moir and England 's Simon Dyson. Asian stalwart Korea's Choi Kyung-ju, who now plays regularly on the US PGA Tour, will also battle for honours alongside compatriots Hur Suk-ho and Yang Yong-eun, who qualified through the Japan Tour money ranking.

Last year, Choi finished tied 16th for his best result in five outings in the British Open and was also third in the US Masters in 2004. Sweden 's Daniel Chopra, who plied his trade in Asia several years ago and won the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, qualified through the international qualifying held in the United States where he plays his golf these days.

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