Hong Kong: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee hopes to break into the top-50 in the world at the US$2 million UBS Hong Kong Open, an event where he has enjoyed solid results in the past.
Thongchai, currently ranked 52nd on the Official World Golf Ranking, has not finished outside the top-20 in the last nine times he has featured in the prestigious event. His most notable finish was tied second in 2009 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.
With the UBS Hong Kong Open being the final event of the year, Thongchai is determined to finish inside the top-50 in the world to qualify for all the Major and World Golf Championships in 2017.
Also read: About Hong Kong Open 2016
“I've been here many years. Nothing has changed on the course. You have to find the fairway and put the ball in play to have a chance to score. I’ll try my best this week to gain more world ranking points. Hopefully I can finish inside the top-50 in the world so I can play in The Masters next year,” said Thongchai.
“I’m struggling with putting and feeling a bit tired. I’ve only had five days off in 12 weeks and last week I hosted my own tournament (ADT Thongchai Jaidee Foundation). But I like coming back here. I have a lot of confidence playing on this course,” he added.
Thongchai, the only player to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit crowns, hopes to end the year on a high note in a season where he won the 100th Open de France in July and represented his country in the Olympics and World Cup of Golf.
“I'm really happy with the year. It is difficult to stay inside the top-50 in the world but this is a very, very good year. I won one big event but didn’t get too many top-10s. But I feel that I have a chance to win this week,” said Thongchai.
Korea’s Jeunghun Wang aims to sweeten the year with a victory at the UBS Hong Kong Open. The 21-year-old won twice in 2016 and was eventually named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year on the European Tour.
“I just want a good finish in 2016. I don't have any like pressure in this tournament. So I think it's going to be a great tournament and a great tournament for me,” said Wang.
“Yeah, I love to play this course, yes. I play like two or three times already. So it's really -- I know the course, so maybe I can score more. I can make more birdies,” he added.
He said playing in the EurAsia Cup, a match-play event between Team Asia and Team Europe, earlier this year helped shape an incredible season for him.
“I learned from that event. I think my luck start from there because I was the captain's pick. I learnt a lot by playing with Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher, all great players. I learned a lot from them, like chipping and putting too. So that was a really a great experience for me,” said Wang.
