Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley will lead an impressive field at next month's Thailand Open, organisers announced yesterday.
Paul McGinley
The OneAsia event will be co-sanctioned by the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) for the first time and held at Thana City Golf and Sport Club from March 14-17.
The US$1 million tournament features 156 players, led by Harrington, who won the British Open in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship in 2008, and his Irish compatriot McGinley, who will captain Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup side.
Other stars include defending champion Chris Wood, 10-time Japan Golf Tour winner Yuta Ikeda, Shingo Katayama, Yoshinori Fujimoto and Kim Kyung-tae.
The Thai contingent will be spearheaded by Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant, who will be aiming to become the only third Thai to win the tournament after Suthep Meesawat (1992) and Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004).
Rungsrid Luxitanonda, president of the Thailand Golf Association (TGA), said this year's tournament will boast one of its strongest ever fields.
"It will be great to see Harrington make his debut in the Thailand Open," Rungsrid said.
"We are thrilled that he has taken time out of his busy schedule to join our event.
"The tournament has re-emerged as one of the region's premier national Opens, particularly with it now being joint-sanctioned with the JGTO."
Thana City Golf and Sport Club has secured a three-year contract to host the event starting this year. The lay-out, designed by Greg Norman, previously organised the Thailand Open in 1993 and 1994.
Padraig Harrington
Representing the club, Rangsin Kritalug said: "With our experience in hosting many international golf events, we are confident the course and its facilities will satisfy the participants.
"The course is now ready to welcome the golfers."
JGTO executive director Andy Hiro Yamanaka said he was happy to see members of his tour play abroad, particularly in Thailand.
He said the event should have about 60 Japanese players, who would be cheered by a large number of their compatriots working in Thailand.
"Four Japanese players have won the Thailand Open. I hope we win it again this year," he said.
The four Japanese champions are Tadashi Kitta (1966), Tomoo Ishii (1967), Tohihiro Hitomi (1974) and Yurio Akitomi (1977).
This year's favourites among the Japanese contingent will be Ikeda and Fujimoto.
The 23-year-old Fujimoto won his maiden title in Japan last year and was a member of Asia's Royal Trophy-winning side in Brunei last year.