Thongchai has point to prove at Laguna
Thongchai Jaidee has an old score to settle with Laguna National Golf and Country Club, venue of this week's Singapore Masters.
The Thai star, a two-time Asian Tour number one, enters this week's US$1 million event as one of the favourites after a rich vein of form that has included top-three finishes in his past two tournaments.
However, Thongchai is not taking anything for granted because he missed the halfway cut here last year after finding the water that protects the Laguna National Masters Course on four occasions en route to rounds of 77 and 75. The Thai missed only two cuts on the Asian Tour last season.
'I feel good,' said Thongchai, who was runner-up in his defence of the Malaysian Open and tied for third in the Indonesia Open last week. 'I have come close over the last few weeks, my form is good and my swing feels better now. If I can drive and putt well here, I will have a good chance.
'I still remember that I missed the cut here last year. The course is very challenging and unfortunately, I was in the water on four occasions. So my main goal this week is to stay away from the water.'
Thongchai's fine run of form has fuelled his ambition to push for a place in next month's Masters at Augusta, the year's first major. He needs to either play his way into the world's top 50 or earn a special invitation. His strong finish in Indonesia moved him up three places to 86th in the world rankings and Thongchai reckons he needs two victories in as many weeks to break into the top 50.
'To qualify for the Masters, I have to win this week and possibly next week,' said Thongchai, who is second on the Asian Order of Merit.
One man who has tasted the magic of the Masters is Zhang Lian-wei and while he will be happy to see Thongchai play his way to Augusta National, the Chinese is thinking of victory himself in the Lion City.
It was at Laguna National in 2003 that the 40-year-old Zhang produced his greatest win when he beat South African star Ernie Els with a gutsy birdie on the 72nd hole. Those memories are still very fresh in his mind.
'It is great to be back. Three years ago, I beat Ernie and I'm looking forward to it. Indonesia was a hard week with the poor weather and I got sick with the flu. I know the course here and I'm hoping to play well,' said Zhang, a five-time winner on the Asian Tour.
Nick Dougherty returns as the title holder of the Singapore Masters, an event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour. The young Englishman, seventh on the European Order of Merit, is brimming with confidence and refreshed after a three-week break.
'It's great to defend your first win. You only get one chance and it means a lot to come back here,' said Dougherty.
