Tarlac, Philippines: Jeunghun Wang of Korea is eager to repay the faith of Jeev Milkha Singh of India by winning the weather-shortened Philippine Open presented by ICTSI which starts on Friday.

The Korean rising star was selected by Singh as a Captain’s pick to represent Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM next year after enjoying a solid season which he hopes to end on a high note at the Luisita Golf and Country Club.

“Jeev called me and I was so excited to hear the news. It was a huge surprise to me,” said the 20-year-old. “I’m really happy to be in a team full of stars. I hope I can make them proud.”

Wang will feature in the US$300,000 event which was postponed to Friday and reduced to 54 holes due to persistent rainfall. He is among an elite field who include two-time Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand and defending champion Marcus Both of Australia.

Wang is one of the most promising stars on the Asian Tour. He enjoyed a stellar season in 2014 where he did not miss a single cut in 16 Asian Tour events.

He carried on his good form this season by posting one third place result and finished inside the top-20 on eight occasions to sit in ninth position on the Order of Merit.

The Philippine Open presented by ICTSI, which is the oldest National Open in Asia, will be a good opportunity for Wang to claim a first career victory as he lived in the Philippines for six years when he was a junior golfer.

“I feel very comfortable in the Philippines because I grew up playing here. It will be nice to win this week especially after being selected to represent Asia. It will be great if I can win. I want to win and show Jeev that I’m a winner,” said Wang.

“Team Asia is strong and I want to experience every moment of it with my teammates. I watched the EurAsia Cup last year on television and it was my goal to represent the team. I didn’t expect it to happen so soon,” he smiled.

The storied Philippine Open has celebrated many worthy champions in the past including Australia’s Peter Thomson, Lu Liang-huan and Hsieh Min-nan of Chinese Taipei, Mardan Mamat of Singapore and Filipino stars Frankie Minoza, Angelo Que, Larry Montes, Celestino Tugot, Ben Arda and Luis ‘Golem’ Silverio, who won as an amateur in 1966.