Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee will start his 2013 campaign at the Volvo Golf Champions in South Africa today.
The 2 million tournament, featuring 35 champions from last year's European Tour, will tee off today at Durban Country Club.
There are seven Major winners in the elite field, including South Africans Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Louis Oosthuizen, Irishmen Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington, Scot Paul Lawrie and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.
Italians Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari, Swedes Peter Hanson and Henrik Stenson and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts add to the international flavour for the tournament.
Thongchai is eligible for his debut in the event thanks to his victory at the Wales Open _ his fifth European Tour title and first on European soil _ last year.
He will tee off alongside Bernd Wiesberger of Austria at 3.40pm, Thai time.
The 44-year-old said he would still focus on the European Tour this year but might play fewer tournaments because of his age.
"I have to consider my schedule carefully so that I can stay competitive," he said.
"Last year, I played too many events and felt so tired."
The Lop Buri native took part in 24 European Tour events last year. He finished 27th in the Race to Dubai Ranking to earn a berth for this year's British Open.
Currently ranked 80th in the world, Thongchai must get off to a flying start to stand a chance of reaching the top 50 by the end of March to qualify for the Masters in April.
After the Volvo Golf Champions, Thongchai will play at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship (Jan 17-20), Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (Jan 23-26) and Omega Dubai Desert Classic (Jan 31-Feb 3).