Veteran Thaworn Wiratchant and young star Arnond Vongvanij will lead Thailand’s challenge at the Queen’s Cup which tees off today at Santiburi Samui Country Club.
Thaworn Wiratchant
Thaworn, who has won a record 16 Asian Tour titles, said yesterday he was satisfied with the course conditions and that the wind and rough could pose problems.
The 47-year-old has not been in good form this year. In his first six tournaments of the season, he had only one top-10 finish at the Philippines Open last month.
However, he is looking forward to winning in Samui to regain his confidence.
‘’I am ready for this week’s challenge after a rest,’’ he said. ‘’But my game is not that good and I am not happy with my iron play.’’
Arnond, who is currently the only Thai in the top-10 in the Asian Tour money rankings, has been in fine form and finished second in the Philippines.
But the 25-year-old is cautious about the course set-up and weather.
“I am more experienced and more patient on the course and that is the key here,” said Arnond, who won his maiden Asian Tour title at the 2012 King’s Cup in Khon Kaen.
“You’re going to miss some greens because it’s windy and the elevation changes a lot.
“I also need the putter and short game to work well. It would be very special if I can win both the King’s and Queen’s Cup tournaments.”
Among 67 Thais in the 144-player field are Chawalit Plaphol, Prom Meesawat, Chinnarat Phadungsil and Chapchai Nirat who won the Singha Championship in Nakhon Nayok two weeks ago.
Chapchai has won three Asian Tour events but has not since his success at the 2009 SAIL Open in India.
Meanwhile, Indian star Anirban Lahiri hopes marital bliss will spur him to victory at the Queen’s Cup and earn a ticket to the US Open.
The current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, who tied the knot with sweetheart Ipsa Jamwal last week, can qualify for the year’s second major with a triumph in the Asian Tour tournament.
Following one victory and three other top-10s this season, the 26-year-old will start as one of the favourites as he also has an impressive track record here with four previous top-10s at a venue nicknamed the “Beast of Samui”.
Lahiri is determined to enjoy the week with his wife on the holiday isle of Samui.
“It’s nice to have her accompany me. Off the course, it’s a lot of fun. It’s very relaxing and it keeps me fresh and motivated on the course,” said Lahiri.
“I think I probably need a win to get in [to the US Open] but I can’t get into an event thinking of trying to win for any other reason. I’ve not played much golf coming in, so I’m happy and have no expectations.”
Lahiri claimed his fourth Asian Tour victory at the Indonesian Masters in April after a stunning final-hole eagle and currently sits in 72nd position on the Official World Golf Ranking.
A victory in Samui, worth 14 world ranking points, should get him into the top-60 which is the cut-off to get into the US Open in Pinehurst next week.
After the merriment of getting hitched, the talented Indian was happy to get back to his day job in the US$300,000 event.
“It was a happy week, a busy week and a hectic week. Indian weddings are complicated affairs!” smiled Lahiri, who contributed two points in Asia’s dramatic draw with Europe in the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia in March.
“I was organising a lot it myself, with my friends and relatives helping out. Hardly had any time to breathe, haven’t had much sleep in the last 10 days. I’m looking forward to the afternoon tee offs here.
“This was the first cut I made outside of India back then. Since then, I’ve kind of settled in well in Samui and have enjoyed many top-10s. I love the place and it’s nice to be back. Hopefully we can get it done this week.”
Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh will be putting his close friendship aside with his EurAsia Cup partner Lahiri as he bids to win the Queen’s Cup, which is sponsored by Bangkok Airways and Sports Authority of Thailand.
“My career started in Samui. Before I won in Brunei in 2010, I had my first top-10 on the Asian Tour here. I started to believe in myself that I could go far and won my next tournament in Brunei,” said Siddikur, whose straight-shooting game has earned him three top-10s in the Queen’s Cup.
“I’m happy with how my game has progressed. This year, I’ve had two runner-up finishes but also had two missed cuts. My game is there and I’m happy with where it is. This course suits my play. I like tight courses but the rough is up. It’s tougher than the past few years,” added the Bangladeshi who defeated Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher 4 and 3 in the EurAsia Cup singles.
Thai-based Korean Baek Seuk-Hyun, fifth on the Order of Merit, hopes to overcome his fear of the Beast of Samui where he has missed two cuts in four appearances.
“The views are nice although it’s a hard course to play on. It’s uphill, downhill and it’s so narrow. Then there is the wind to deal with as well. My record here is not really good but I’m always trying,” said Baek.
“I’m happy with my game. After my ankle injury in Malaysia, my swing is back. My confidence is also coming back,” added the 23-year-old, who is seeking a first victory on the Asian Tour.
Malaysia’s rising star Nicholas Fung hopes that using the new putting method of ‘Aim Point’ which is used by current world No.1 Adam Scott will see him contending in the Queen’s Cup where he finished equal 12th last season.
“It’s quite a complicated method and I’m still learning how to use it. It teaches you how to read the lines better.
"I think it can help but I need to master it. Adam Scott has been using this and Marcus Both used it to win in the Philippines,” said Fung.
“This course suits me as it’s not long. If I can putt well, I can do well. I’ve been hitting it great but my putting hasn’t been good.” Bangok Post/afp