Bangkok: A power-packed line-up of stars, which consists of six Asian Tour Order of Merit champions and 48 Tour winners, will headline the fifth edition of the Thailand Golf Championship next week. 

A total of 19 players in the top 20 of the current Asian Tour Order of Merit will also be part of the elite 132-man field from over 32 countries vying for honours at the award-winning Amata Spring Country Club from December 10 to 13.

Home stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant will spearhead the local charge alongside recent Asian Tour winners Natipong Srithong and Danthai Boonma, aged 22 and 19 respectively, in the US$1 million event, which was inaugurated in 2011. 

American Bubba Watson, Sergio Garcia of Spain, Martin Kaymer of Germany, Ryder Cup and EurAsia Cup Captain Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland and Asia’s first Major winner Y.E. Yang of Korea will also lend their star credentials at the prestigious Thai showpiece. 

Defending champion Lee Westwood of England will return to his favourite hunting ground to challenge for a record third Thailand Golf Championship title, as well as a second win on the region’s premier Tour this season. 

Reigning Order of Merit winner David Lipsky of the United States, Australian Scott Hend, placed second on the current rankings, India’s Rashid Khan, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Chiragh Kumar will also feature in the Thailand Golf Championship. 

Other top draws will include Indian veteran star Jeev Milkha Singh, who will captain Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next month, Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang, Thomas Bjorn of Denmark and Victor Dubuisson of France. 

Thongchai, ranked 28th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), said: “I’m always happy to play at home. I want to play well in front of my fans, friends and family. We have a very good field and it should be a good week for the fans at Amata Springs Country Club.”

Clarke, who won The Open in 2011 and is one of six Major winners in the field, is also looking forward to his fourth appearance in the full field Asian Tour tournament.

"Amata Spring is certainly a layout that I enjoy playing, so I'm looking forward to enjoying a great time both on and off the course. I'm shooting some decent scores but I'm also throwing in the occasional high number, so if I can remedy that by the time I arrive in Thailand, I'll be in good shape," said the Northern Irishman.

An 18-hole qualifier will be held at the Siam Country Club Waterside in Chonburi on Monday for six players to earn coveted spots at the Thailand Golf Championship.

The Thailand Golf Championship, which also forms part of the Open Qualifying Series, will also offer four tickets to the game’s oldest Major in 2016. The leading four players, who finish inside top 12 and ties and who are not already exempted, will earn a place in The Open from July 14 to 17 next season.

In the event of a tie, the qualifying place(s) will go to the player with the highest position in the Official World Golf Ranking at the commencement of the event.

The Thailand Golf Championship is the penultimate event on the 2015 Asian Tour schedule. Players will be making a final push to boost their rankings on the Order of Merit and secure a place in the 2016 EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM which will be held in Malaysia from January 15-17 next month.

Team Asia will be selected as follows: the leading four available Asian players from the 2015 Asian Tour Order of Merit as of December 14, the leading four eligible and available Asian players from the Official World Golf Ranking as of December 14, and four captain’s picks.