Kuala Lumpur: Reigning Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee believes the inaugural CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia will be a good stepping stone for Asian stars to broaden their horizons.The decorated Thai, holder of an unprecedented three Order of Merit titles, will spearhead a strong Asian Tour line-up which includes countrymen Thaworn Wiratchant, Pariya Junhasavasdikul and Kiradech Aphibarnrat at the US$6 million event starting at the Mines Resort and Golf Club on Thursday.While Thongchai has enjoyed success abroad, he knows there is room for improvement especially when Asian Tour regulars compete against the likes of Major champions Ernie Els and Retief Goosen of South Africa, Australian Robert Allenby and Luke Donald of England, ranked eighth in the world.“It is very important to have big events in Asia. It isn’t easy to have such a big tournament here and we have to thank the sponsors (CIMB Group) as it allows the Asian Tour players to gain more experience of playing alongside the top players,” said Thongchai.“This is a good learning curve for me because we get to observe and learn from the PGA Tour players on their preparation and their game,” he added.This season, Thongchai enjoyed a strong start to the year, finishing tied seventh and ninth place at the Malaysian Open and Ballantine’s Championship in Korea respectively. He also produced an impressive outing at the WGC-Accenture Match Play before losing in the quarter-finals to eventual winner Ian Poulter.
His game hit a quiet patch but after notching a top-10 in Europe two weeks ago, he reckons he is close to his best form and ready to emulate his back-to-back Malaysian Open victories in 2004 and 2005.“I’m back to Asia and I prefer the weather here because it feels like home. I have played in Malaysia on many occasions and I’m feeling excited. There are only 40 players this week without any cut and that makes it easier for a player to come out and win it,” said the former paratrooper. Thongchai lavished praise on the par-71 Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course, which was built on a former tin mine. “The course set up is fantastic. It is in great shape. This is probably the fastest greens I have played on in Malaysia,” he said.Pariya, who broke through with his maiden title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters earlier this month, is relishing the opportunity of competing alongside the big guns in the tournament which is offering a cool US$1 million first prize.
“This is a big week for me to gain more experience. There are a lot of big names like Ernie, Retief Goosen, Robert Allenby and many others. These guys are my role models and I look up to them,” said the 26-year-old.“I’m trying not to think about the prize money. I have yet to see how the big boys do it but hopefully I can catch up with them,” added Pariya who is eighth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.Like many, Pariya found the Mines Resort challenging. “The course is pretty tough. It is nothing like what I have played on before and the greens are running really fast. Honestly, I did not expect that in Malaysia. “They have prepared the greens to be really fast and soft and it is running probably at 11 or 12 (on the stimpmeter). The course is kind of narrow and it will be a challenge,” he added. The title sponsor of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic, Malaysia is CIMB Group. CIMB Group is one of Southeast Asia’s leading universal banking franchises. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur with key offices across South East Asia, CIMB Group offers a full suite of financial services.
About Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include J.Lindeberg (Official Apparel Partner), Ricoh (Official Office Solutions Provider), Inetol Headwear (Official Headwear Supplier), Royal Selangor (Official Trophy Supplier), Singha Beer (Official Beer), Pan Pacific (Official Hotel) and Srixon (Official Ball).
About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.In 2010, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 34 states and in 12 countries outside of the U.S. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 225 countries and territories and in 30 languages.Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2009, tournaments on the three Tours generated $108 million for local charitable organizations. The TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions is approaching $1.5 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the company is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
About Professional Golf Association of Malaysia
The PGA of Malaysia is the governing body of professional golf in Malaysia with a membership of 280 touring and vocational pros.
About Mines Resort & Golf Club
The Mines Resort & Golf Club is a proprietary Club beneficially owned and operated by the Mines Excellence Golf Resort Berhad.Established in 1993 through the vision of its founder, Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, and the expertise of legendary architect, Robert Trent Jones Jr., it was transformed from the world’s largest open cast tin mine into an international championship standard 18 Hole golf course in 1993. The green was left to mature for a year with maintenance of the highest standards.The award-winning 246 acre, Par 71 course has hosted numerous international championships such as the World Cup Golf in 1999, the Women’s World Cup Golf in 2000 and soon, the upcoming CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia, Southeast Asia’s first PGA TOUR sanctioned event, from 28 – 31 October 2010.With a by invitation only policy, its membership profile consists of Royalties, Cabinet Ministers, Captains of Industries and principally, the nation’s elite. The Mines Resort & Golf Club provides world-class facilities together with uncompromised personalised services thus possessing the singular distinction of being the most celebrated golf destination in Malaysia for the elite, the exclusive and the eminent – Asiantour
