KUALA LUMPUR - Oct. 5, 2004 - Thai star Thongchai Jaidee will shoot for a rare Malaysian double when he defends the US$550,000 Volvo Masters of Asia title, the Asian Tour's season-ending event, from December 9-12.
The Asian Tour number one claimed a famous victory in Malaysia's national Open in February, which was co-sanctioned with the European Tour, and success in the Volvo event at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club would provide a great ending to a superb season.
Last year, Thongchai stormed to a stylish victory in the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok which sparked an outstanding run of results for the Thai, which saw him break into the top-100 of the world ranking.
He won back-to-back titles in the Myanmar Open and Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February and finished in the top-10 of four other events including a tie for fifth place in the Dubai Desert Classic alongside Tiger Woods.
Thongchai, a five-time winner in Asia, said: "Malaysia has been good to me and I hope to come back and defend my Volvo Masters of Asia title successfully. It was a privilege to win the Malaysian Open in February which gave me a two-year exemption on the European Tour and it would be great if I can defend my Volvo title in December."
Currently top of the Asian Tour money ranking and 38th on the European Tour merit list, Thongchai is prepared to fly from the United States to Kuala Lumpur to play in the Volvo Masters of Asia, similar to what he did last December.
Then, he arrived in Bangkok two days before the start of the event following an unsuccessful bid to earn his US PGA Tour card at the Qualifying School Finals and with his heart set to compete in America, Thongchai has once again signed up for the Qualifying School where he is exempted into Stage Two in November.
"If I make it through to the Finals again, it will mean that I will have to fly across the world to be in Malaysia as I did last year. I remember I was very tired on the first day and shot even par but got stronger as the tournament progressed," said Thongchai, who shot a hole-in-one en route to tied 41st place in the WGC-American Express Championship in Ireland on Sunday.
Volvo Event Management President and Chief Executive Officer Mel Pyatt said that Thongchai's victory was one of the best performances that he has witnessed in Volvo-sponsored events.
"Thongchai is a class act and last year's triumph was well deserved. He had to overcome jetlag and subsequently shot rounds of 71, 64, 65 and 65 for a 19-under-par winning total with some breathtaking golf. It proved that he is indeed a great golfer," said Pyatt. "We look forward to his return to the Volvo Masters of Asia."
The top-60 players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit preceding the Volvo Masters of Asia will qualify for the season-ending tournament. The leading Malaysian performer will also vie for the Ali Kadir Memorial Trophy, established in 2000 following the passing of Malaysia's former number one. If no Malaysian player qualifies for the Volvo Masters of Asia, the award will be given to the winner of the Malaysian PGA Tour Order of Merit.
At present, Danny Chia is on track to qualify for the season finale. He is ranked 70th on the money ranking and needs to move up by 10 places by the end of November.
