HANOI, Vietnam – Oct. 27, 2004 – Current Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee will make a welcome return to Asia next week and compete in the inaugural Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam.
The Thai star's late entry into the $200,000 event at Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club will ensure a mouth-watering battle with Scotsman Simon Yates, who has chipped into Thongchai's lead in the race for the Order of Merit title in recent months.
Thongchai has not played on the Asian Tour since March but in six appearances, he won twice and finished in the top-10 on three occasions to lead the money ranking with $332,375.
With five more events remaining, including this week's Sanya Open in China, before the season concludes, Thongchai is eager to secure his second merit list title following his success in 2001. Yates has also been going great guns, scoring a victory and four straight top-10s since late May to move up to second place on the Order of Merit with $285,488.
Thongchai, who has played most of his golf in Europe and the United States this year, said: "I'm looking forward to my trip to Hanoi for the Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam. It's been a while since I played on the Asian Tour and I hope to do well."
In fact, the former paratrooper hopes to land a Carlsberg double as he won the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, jointly sanctioned with the European Tour, in February. It gave him a card to Europe and he performed admirably to qualify for the season-ending Volvo Masters Andalucia, which is restricted to the top-60 players on the money ranking.
"I enjoyed my spell in Europe and the US and believe I have become a better player. My other aim is to secure my US PGA Tour card from Qualifying School this year. But in the mean time, I would like to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit again.
"Playing well in Hanoi could go a long way in helping me realize this goal. Simon has played really well this year and I'm sure it will be a close battle," said Thongchai, who has won six titles in Asia.
"It is tremendous news that Thongchai has committed to play in Hanoi. With his star appeal, I'm sure he will help ensure the success of our first event. Thongchai is well known across Asia and we hope Vietnamese youngsters will try to emulate his footsteps," South East Asia Brewery’s, General Director Henrik J. Andersen, the company which produces the two well-known Carlsberg and Halida Beer in Vietnam.
Thongchai's compatriot Thammanoon Srirot, winner of the Tianjin TEDA Open Presented by Rolls Royce in August, has also signed up as a late entry for the Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam. The talented Thai, who holed the putt that clinched the inaugural Visa Dynasty Cup for Asia in 2003, will be tipped to challenge for the top prize.
Yates can hit the magical $1 million mark in career earnings with a victory at the magnificent Chi Linh Star, located on the outskirts of Hanoi. He has won $974,261 since 1995.
"I know I'm not far behind Thongchai in the Order of Merit and it will be nice to catch him. If I play great, the Order of Merit will take care of itself. I didn't realise that I'm close to hitting one million dollars in career earnings. It would be nice to do it."
This season's winners, Korea's Charlie Wi, Thai duo Boonchu Ruangkit and Thaworn Wiratchant, India's Rahil Gangjee, American Jason Knutzon and Australian Terry Pilkadaris, are also in the field for the Carlsberg-sponsored event.
Former US Open winner Corey Pavin will also feature in what is the 19th leg of the Asian Tour.
The inaugural Carlsberg Masters 2004 Vietnam will be the 19th leg on the Asian Tour. The US$200,000 tournament is title sponsored by Carlsberg, one of the largest brewery groups in the world as well as in Vietnam. The tournament's main sponsors are Chi Linh Star Golf and Country Club, Thai Airways as the Official Carrier, Hilton Hanoi Opera as the Official Hotel, GM Daewoo as the Official Car, Canon as the Official Office Suppliers and Aquafina as the Official Drink. Event partners include I-Golf, Hospital Francais De Hanoi, LG Electronics, Pepsi, the European Plastic Windows, Vinausteel, Nippon Paint, Somerset Grand Hanoi, Vietnam Partners LLC and High Performance Technology Joint Stock.
