The Asian Tour will welcome back its finest players when the 2009 season kicks off with the return of the Asian Tour International in Thailand this week.

The Asian Tour International, which starts on Thursday, will be the first full-field and Order of Merit counting event to be played at the highly rated Suwan Golf and Country Club.

The US$300,000 event, which celebrates its second edition this week, will boast a stellar field which includes title holder Lin Wen-tang of Chinese Taipei, Thai golf legend Boonchu Ruangkit, home heroes Thaworn Wiratchant and Prayad Marksaeng, Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing, winner of the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok in December and talented Australians Rick Kulacz and Adam Blyth.

Asian Tour’s Executive Chairman, Kyi Hla Han expects the new season to once again thrill golf fans around the globe with world-class performances from the many tournaments staged across Asia.

“Throughout the season, I’m confident our talented players will perform at their very best and produce memorable performances that will captivate golf fans and television viewers. Fans will certainly witness the drama, tension and excitement that will be played out to the large galleries across Asia once again,” said Han.

“Our players have proven over the years that they are able to match up against the very best in the world and our 2009 schedule will provide them with the stage to showcase their talent and abilities,” added Han.

The players tipped to sparkle on the Asian Tour this season include Indian star Jeev Milkha Singh, the reigning Order of Merit champion, Chinese number one Liang Wen-chong, New Zealand’s Mark Brown, Australian David Gleeson, Korean American Anthony Kang, Malaysia’s Ben Leong, Korea’s Noh Seung-yul, Filipino duo Angelo Que and Juvic Pagunsan, promising Welshman Rhys Davies, Japan’s Taichiro Kiyota and Tetsuji Hiratsuka.

Han said: “The Asian Tour represents a myriad of top international players from across India to Indonesia, Malaysia to Japan and Korea to Australia. The game continues to grow in Asia and our players will have every opportunity to show to the rest of the world what they are capable of.”

The return of the Asian Tour International to Thailand is also a growing reflection of Thailand as a popular destination of choice among the players.

“We are very excited that the Asian Tour International will herald the start of yet another exciting season for the Asian Tour. Thailand has always been a popular country among our players and it is wonderful that they are coming back here for our season-opening event,” said Han.

“I had a great season last year and will always remember finishing strongly in last year’s edition. It was a great experience and I believe I’ve learnt a lot from my rookie year on the Asian Tour,” said Korea’s teenage prodigy, Noh who ended the inaugural event in second place behind Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang.

“I always enjoy coming back to Thailand and I look forward to another wonderful week and also the season ahead,” added the 2008 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year.

The Suwan Golf and Country Club will be the perfect platform to tee off the 2009 season with its 18-hole championship course offering a hilly layout and sloping greens. The Suwan Golf and Country Club is located 45 minutes away from Bangkok.

Source: Asian Tour.

(China.org.cn Feburary 4, 2009)