Chachoengsao: The Thailand Open is primed for a compelling week of top-notch golf action at the Thai Country Club.
The US$300,000 event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Thailand Golf Association, which begins on Thursday features 144 players from 20 countries.
Defending champion Panuphol Pittayarat and rookie Kosuke Hamamoto will lead the local challenge.
Panuphol won by one shot for his second Asian Tour title last year and became the fifth Thai player after Suthep Meesawat (1991), Boonchu Ruangkit (1992 and 2004), Prayad Marksaeng (2013) and Rattanon Wannasrichan (2017) to win the prestigious tournament.
Panuphol will try to become the first player to successfully defend the title at the Thailand Open.
The 26-year-old said it was an honour to win his country's national Open.
"I feel really excited. I am looking forward to defending my title this week," he said.
Panuphol turned professional in 2007 when he was just 14 years old and has never finished outside the top 60 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit since coming through the qualifying school in 2011.
Qualifying school graduate Kosuke will be making his debut in the Thailand Open.
"It's my first time playing the Thailand Open. I am very excited because it's my national Open," said the 20-year-old Japanese-Thai star.
He said he was confident he would get a good result.
"The game's been good. I know I just need to keep giving myself chances and stay patient," he said.
American John Catlin, who claimed three victories in 2018, will aim for more glory in his first Asian Tour event since May.
The 28-year-old said: "I am excited to get back to the Asian Tour. Thailand has been my home for three years now so to be back for the national Open feels awesome."
Other notable players in this week's field include India's SSP Chawrasia and Shiv Kapur, who claimed his first Asian Tour victory at the Thai Country Club in 2005, Indonesia's Rory Hie and Miguel Carballo of Argentina, who have both secured their maiden wins on the Asian Tour this season.
Meanwhile, Bangkok-based Kim Joo-Hyung of South Korea will have a point to prove when he makes his second straight appearance at the Thailand Open.
Kim, the youngest player in the field at 17 years old, won his third Asian Development Tour (ADT) title this season at the Pakistan Open two weeks ago to earn playing rights for the remainder of the 2019 Asian Tour season.
"I moved to Bangkok last year with my family, for golf reasons really. There are a lot of good Thai players here and I think it's a good base in Asia to travel around and work on my game. The practice facilities here are good too," he said.