Bangkok: Sweden’s Johan Edfors will be seeking a repeat victory at the venue which has brought him much success when the US$1 million King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin gets underway at the picturesque Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin from January 16-19, 2014.
Edfors will be joined by compatriots Daniel Chopra and Fredrick Andersson Hed as well as Germany’s Alex Cejka at one of Thailand’s most prestigious sporting events which had recently inked a five-year agreement with the Asian Tour.
The quartet is expected to face stiff challenges from Asian Tour players where a total of 13 Tour members currently occupy the top-200 on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Edfors will be buoyed by his return to Black Mountain as the 38-year-old lifted his second Asian Tour title at the Black Mountain Masters in 2009. A three-time winner in Europe, the big-hitting Swede has not replicated his success of 2006 where he triumphed three times.
However, a return to Black Mountain, where he owns a villa that overlooks the 11th hole, for the King’s Cup will serve as a timely boost to his confidence as he has not tasted success since his wire-to-wire victory at the stunning venue four years ago.
Andersson Hed will also be aiming to emulate Edfor’s success at the King’s Cup by targeting his maiden victory in Asia.
Having secured his only European Tour title in Italy in 2010, the 41-year-old Swede will be seeking to launch his 2014 season in flying fashion with a commanding performance in Thailand.
Like Andersson Hed, Cejka has yet to enjoy a win in Asia although he has won four times in Europe. A victory at the King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin would be a much cherished win that would add to his proud record.
The German veteran got off well in the opening rounds in Hong Kong and Thailand earlier this month but could not sustain his charge throughout all four rounds.
Having finished tied-12th in Hong Kong and tied-18th in the Thailand Golf Championship, the 43-year-old will be determined to roll back the years and make his return to the winner’s circle again.
Meanwhile Chopra will be looking forward to returning to the region which has brought him much success.
The 39-year-old, who is born to a Swedish mother and Indian father, earned his breakthrough in Asia when he won the Johor Open in Malaysia in 1993.
It was his first victory a year since turning professional and since then, Chopra has gone on to record a total of 14 victories including the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2001.
Although he is now focused on his career in the United States where he has won twice on the PGA Tour, Chopra will be will determined to win his first title of the year at the King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin.
While golf will undoubtedly be the attraction for the week, the King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin will further raise the profile of Hua Hin as a top tourism destination of choice.
For the first time ever, the King’s Cup Golf Hua Hin will be broadcast live, over four rounds on the Asian Tour’s global television platform which reaches over 180 countries and 640 million homes, ensuring extensive exposure for the popular beach resort town of Hua Hin, as well as the sponsors, and the Kingdom of Thailand itself.
