Kuala Lumpur: Bangladeshi Siddikur may be small in physique but he is prepared to stand shoulder to shoulder alongside the stars of the game at the US$7 million CIMB Classic this week.

The 29-year-old will make his fourth successive appearance in the lucrative event at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s West course starting on Thursday where he will be aiming to improve on his best outing of tied 11th place in the inaugural edition in 2010.

With the CIMB Classic, which is sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and Asian Tour, counting towards the region’s premier Tour Order of Merit, Siddikur plans to enjoy a rewarding haul in the 78-man field which has no halfway cut.

“I think it is going to be an exciting race on the Asian Tour Order of Merit. There is a lot of money at stake at the CIMB Classic and a good finish or a victory might give you a huge jump on the Order of Merit,” said Siddikur.

“It is good that they have FedEx Cup points and the money count towards the Asian Tour Order of Merit this year. I believe the event is even better now because if I win it, then I will get a PGA TOUR card.”

Major champions Phil Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Ernie Els, Keegan Bradley, Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover will headline the elite field which includes the leading 10 available players from the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

Siddikur hopes to draw one of the top stars during the tournament rounds after enjoying the opportunity to play alongside Adam Scott of Australia, this year’s Masters Tournament champion, in the 2010 CIMB Classic.

“My best memory of the CIMB Classic was the first year because I had a good finish and I played with Adam Scott. He is a very nice guy and you gain extra confidence and motivation when you play with such a top player,” he said.

Siddikur, who rose from the caddie ranks to become Bangladesh’s first winner on the Asian Tour, will be in good form heading into the CIMB Classic following his tied seventh finish at the Venetian Macau Open, which concluded on Sunday.

Current Asian Tour Order of Merit winner Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand hopes a week’s break at home will spark his game to live at the KLGCC, which he won the Malaysian Open earlier this year.

“I think the CIMB Classic is a very important event on the Asian Tour. The event will be the key for any player who wants to win the Order of Merit. If any of the Asian Tour players win the CIMB Classic, then he will have a good chance,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the event. I’m very excited to return to the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club as I’ve won once this year. You need to place your ball at the right position. If you have a good tee shot then you will stand a good chance to make a good score.

“I do not want to be distracted by the stars playing in the event. I think it is very important to stick to my own game plan. Every time I play in an event, my goal is to play well and try to win the event.”