HUA HIN : The Asian Tour all-star brigade, led by more than 30 champions, will light up the 2013 season-ending King's Cup Golf Hua Hin at the Black Mountain Golf Club this week.
Arnond Vongvanij
Order of Merit winners Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines and Jyoti Randhawa of India will headline the US$1 million Asian Tour event alongside a plethora of exciting talents from Jan 16-19.
Scott Hend of Australia, ranked second on the Order of Merit courtesy of three victories, Rikard Karlberg of Sweden, Anirban Lahiri of India, Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman and defending champion Arnond Vongvanij of Thailand will also feature in the King's Cup.
Sweden's Johan Edfors, who won the 2009 Black Mountain Masters, Fredrick Andersson Hed and Alex Cejka of Germany, a four-time winner in Europe, will be among an international cast gunning for glory at the event which recently inked a five-year agreement with the Asian Tour.
Unfortunately, Thai duo Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat will not play in the event.
The big-hitting Hend has enjoyed a sensational season and will be determined to equal Thaworn's record in 2005 where the Thai won four titles in a single season.
"Some people tell me it is an excellent or great season, not just a good season," Hend said.
"To win three times anywhere is good especially with the competition we have on the Asian Tour. I have a one more tournament to try and win so we will see how that works out."
Siddikur won his second Asian Tour title at the Indian Open in November and hopes to end his 2013 season on a winning note.
The Bangladeshi, ranked third on the Order of Merit, will also be aiming to seal his place at the inaugural EurAsia Cup in March as the top four Asian players on the final money list will earn a place in Team Asia that will face against Team Europe in the Ryder Cup style event.
"It is definitely my goal to qualify for the EurAsia Cup," he said.
"I think it is going to be an exciting event. I hope I will be able to play. It looks like I'm in a good position to qualify."
Lahiri credited his solid 2013 season to his mental fortitude, which he hopes to use to his advantage and capture his first Asian Tour victory outside of India. The talented Indian was victorious at the SAIL-SBI Open on home soil and also claimed three other runner-up results.
"I think this is probably my most consistent season," he said.
"I've played really solid golf. My game has become much sharper than it was.
"In terms of my ball striking, I think it's been on and off. It comes and goes.
"I'm not tired mentally anymore. That is something that would have been the case two or three years ago but now mentally, I think I'm a much stronger person and not just strength but endurance."
Currently fifth on the Order of Merit, Lahiri needs to maintain his position to earn his place in Team Asia for the EurAsia Cup as the top four Asians on the ranking.