Thongchai focuses on big goals at Singapore Open

text size

Badz/PGA TOUR

Thongchai Jaidee has a lot on the line at this week's Barclays Singapore Open, where he will face a tough, international field.

SINGAPORE -- Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee will be playing for the highest stakes of his season at this month's $5 million Barclays Singapore Open as he seeks to become the second consecutive Asian winner of the star-studded tournament.

A victory would see him crowned the Asian Tour's No. 1 for a record third time, consolidate his position in the money-spinning top 15 in the European Tour's Race to Dubai and charge up the Official World Golf Ranking, resulting in starts in all four majors next year.

It would also be an early birthday present for the former paratrooper, who turns 40 on Nov. 8.

The Barclays Singapore Open, which is being co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour for the first time, will be staged at Sentosa Golf Club from Oct. 29-Nov. 1.

Thongchai's form has been sky high all season, with wins at the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open and the Ballantine's Championship in Korea, followed by a noteworthy tie for 13th in the British Open.

Those results have helped him open up a $475,000 gap over Anthony Kang at the top of the Asian Tour's Order of Merit and establish himself as a leading player on the European Tour, where he is in line for a share of the end-of-season bonus pool if he remains in the top 15 spots.

He believes that staying injury free has boosted both his confidence and his play.

"This year, my body is stronger than last year. The key this year has been my health. If I feel strong, I can play well," he said. "I played well in a couple of majors, and it has given me a lot of confidence."

Thongchai knows that he will have to be at the top of his game if he is to take the first prize of $833,330.

"The course is very tricky, but my swing is better than last time. I am confident of playing well because my driver and irons are working well," said Thongchai, who recovered from a disappointing, opening 76 last year to finish 13th.

"You need to drive the ball well around there and hit the fairways. It's not an easy course to score on. The greens are firm, and the rough is very thick. Some holes, you have to hit away from trouble."

Thongchai will be pitting his skills against major winners Phil Mickelson, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els, who all know their way around the The Serapong Course but feels that an Asian can triumph again after Jeev Milkha Singh's victory last year.

The left-handed Mickelson was ninth in 2008, while Els and two-time British Open champion Harrington shared second place behind Singh.

"The tournament is in Asia, so there is good chance for an Asian to win," said Thongchai. "We have very strong players who (regularly) play well in the tournament.

"It's a good field in the Barclays Singapore Open. But the weather in Asia favors Asian players. Europeans always struggle in the heat, so it's an advantage for our players.

"I've not won three tournaments in a year before, but this year I have a very good chance."