Shanghai: Thai maestro Thongchai Jaidee has targeted a top-10 finish as he seeks to close the gap on the world order at the US$8.5million WGC-HSBC Champions which starts on Thursday.

The EurAsia Cup captain, who also holds an unprecedented three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles and 13 titles on the region’s premier Tour, is banking on his rich form of vein to steer him towards his goal at the Sheshan International Golf Club this week.

“I’ve never finished inside the top-10 on this golf course before and I really hope to do it this year, especially with the form I’m in now.

This is a very challenging golf course and it’s important to get your ball onto the fairways. The rough is quite thick and the greens will be fast. It’ll be a good test for all of us,” said the world number 42.

It has been a sensational year for Thongchai having won his second title on European soil in Sweden along with seven top-10s.

“This is one of the best years of my career and I’m having the time of my life. If I can finish the year inside the top-50 again like I did last year, I’ll be happy,” said Thongchai.

While his aim is to strengthen his own position on the official world golf rankings, the Thai also expressed his delight with the emergence of Asian golfers in recent times.

“There are a couple of us (Asian players) this week but we’re definitely moving up the ranks. Players like Anirban are in-form at the moment and I hope everyone including myself will play well to show everyone what we’re capable of,” said Thongchai.

The final World Golf Championships event of the year will feature 40 of the top 50 players in the world including Australia’s Adam Scott, Germany’s Martin Kaymer as well as Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson of the United States.

The leading four available players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit that includes David Lipsky and Jason Knutzon of the United States, Filipino Antonio Lascuna and India’s Anirban Lahiri will feature in the Chinese showpiece which is the only country outside the United States to currently be hosting a one of the four prestigious World Golf Championship events.

The WGC-HSBC Champions is one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organised by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour. The other World Golf Championships include the WGC- Match Play, WGC-Cadillac Championship and the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.