Thongchai eyes Cup glory for Thailand

Thongchai eyes Cup glory for Thailand

Kiradech happy with revised team format

Thongchai Jaidee won the French Open in July. Arep Kulal/Asian Tour
Thongchai Jaidee won the French Open in July. Arep Kulal/Asian Tour

Melbourne: Thongchai Jaidee believes he can combine effectively with Kiradech Aphibarnrat and produce the fireworks for Team Thailand to challenge for the World Cup of Golf which starts today.

Veteran star Thongchai, the only man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles, arrived at Kingston Heath Golf Club in confident mood ahead of his fifth appearance at the prestigious team event.

"We have played so much golf together over the years and we know each other's game so well. It's very exciting to be here as a team. I think it'll be fun. We are also playing for Thailand which is another proud occasion. It's a good chance for us to win the trophy. In this format, anything can happen. It's a matter of performing and putting together our game plan," said the 47-year-old, who won the French Open in July.

"There are a lot of strong teams here but we're not going to be thinking about them. We'll just focus on our own games and try to play our best golf. I think we always have a chance to win and it would be great if we can as there are so many top names on the trophy. When I enter a tournament, I always think we have a chance so this week is the same."

Thongchai's best outing in the World Cup of Golf was a seventh place finish in the 2008 edition and he is confident of surpassing his personal best achievement alongside Kiradech, one of Asia's most exciting talents to emerge in recent times.

"Kiradech drives the ball so well which is important here. Once he hits his tee shots, we'll have to work together on how we will tackle the holes especially for tomorrow's foursomes. His long game is so good that I'm going to be counting on him," said the former paratrooper.

Big-hitting Kiradech, who is 20 years younger to Thongchai, has always looked up to his illustrious teammate as a junior and believes they can go toe-to-toe with the likes of the United States, led by Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker, Australia's Adam Scott and Marc Leishman and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa.

"Thongchai is such an experienced player and he is one of the most consistent golfers in the game that I know I can count on him," said Kiradech.

"I've always looked up to him when I was growing up and it's nice to have a chance to play together in Melbourne. Some teams may struggle in this format if they don't play together often enough but Thongchai and I have spent so much time together that we know each other so well that I can count on him."

Kiradech finished tied fifth in the individual category at the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne in 2013 but is optimistic the revised team format which sees nations playing foursomes on Thursday and Saturday and fourballs on Friday and Sunday will benefit Thailand.

"Coming back to this city brings back a lot of positive memories. I've spent some time in Melbourne as my wife used to study here. Conditions could be challenging with the so we'll need to make sure our scoring is good especially in the foursomes. I'm looking forward to it," said Kiradech, whose team will play alongside South Korea's An Byeong-Hun and KT Kim in the first round.

With three wins in his last four starts including the WGC-HSBC Champions, world No.6 Matsuyama, who is the highest ranked golfer in the field, will be eager to maintain his winning form alongside Ishikawa as he prepares to take his World Cup of Golf bow.

"Tomorrow can't come fast enough," said the 24-year-old Matsuyama. "There're a lot of great teams, and so hopefully at the end, we're hoping to be at the top."

Team Japan arrived in Melbourne last Thursday to prepare early for the World Cup of Golf, an event the nation has won twice previously in 1957 and 2002. Ishikawa, who is making his second appearance, is hopeful of riding on his partner's hot form.

"Obviously Hideki is definitely one of the hottest players right now and I feel like he's definitely the best. I'm just coming in here trying to do my best and be able to compete with him because it's a definitely a great, great opportunity," said the 25-year-old Ishikawa, a 14-time winner in Japan.

Matsuyama attributed his rich vein of form to his hot putting, which many believe will be the key to unlocking Kingston Heath.

"I think at important times my putts have been going in, so I think that's been a huge key to my success," he said.

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