Jyoti Randhawa defends his US $600,000 Volvo Masters of Asia title this week at Thai Country Club in a far better prepared manner than his last Volvo event.
Two weeks ago the Indian played the first two rounds of the Volvo China Open using borrowed clubs and wearing trainers as his luggage arrived late following a long trip from the World Cup in Portugal.
He handled the situation extremely well by opening with rounds of 71 and 67 to be in the hunt, and on the eve of this week's Volvo event quipped: "This time my clubs have arrived on time so I am starting with a handicap!"
Randhawa finished equal seventh in the Volvo China Open and having played in all four rounds of last week's UBS Hong Kong Open he will tee-off at the magnificently manicured Thai Country Club on Thursday in confident mood.
The Volvo Masters of Asia is the season-ending Tour Championship on the Asian Tour and features the top 60 players from the Order of Merit.
"Playing amongst the top 60 and coming out on top is never an easy task. I will play it shot by shot and whatever the end result is, I'll take it," said Randhawa, who beat Australian Terry Pilkadaris in a sudden-death play-off to win last year.
The Indian is presently ranked third on the Order of Merit with winnings of US$260,835 and has no chance of winning the Merit title, which is now a two-horse race between Thailand's top ranked Thaworn Wiratchant and his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee.
Said Randhawa: "I am just going to go out there and play my game, try the best I can. Every week is the same but it's the top 60 guys here this week so it would be great if you can go out and win the tournament."
He last played at the Thai Country Club in 1997 at the Asian Classic, when American Tiger Woods triumphed, and is looking forward to striding its fairways once again.
"It is a great golf course and one of the best courses I've played in Asia. I remember playing here in 1997 with Tiger Woods and back then there were no trees and open light. Now the trees have grown and the roughs up," added Randhawa, who has won five times on the Asian Tour and claimed the Order of Merit title in 2002.
Randhawa started the year well by finishing second in the Malaysian Open but struggled in the middle part of the season with injury.
"This is the season ender so it will be great if I can go out and win the tournament if not I will go out there and try my best," added Randhawa, who partnered Arjun Atwal to ninth place in the World Cup.
While Randhawa will be hoping to record his first win of the year, Thaworn and Thongchai will be looking to add to the titles they have won this year and secure the number one position on the Merit list.
The two Thais have been paired in the final group tomorrow with Thaworn leading Thongchai by US$53,530 on the Merit list.
The odds are stacked against Thongchai as he cannot finish lower than second place if he is to retain his mantle as Asia's top player.
A top cheque of US$108,000 is available for this week's winner while second place is worth US$69,000. If Thongchai produces a win, Thaworn must finish second to win his first ever Merit title.
Should Thongchai comes in second, Thaworn needs to finish no lower than seventh place on his own to end his terrific season which already includes four titles.
"It's going to be tough competing against the top 60 so I have to wait till the final day to predict an outcome. It is nothing new playing alongside Thongchai as my main focus is on my game," said Thaworn, who has won the Indonesia, Taiwan, and Indian Open titles plus the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam.
"I hope to adjust my game and ensure that I keep the ball on the fairway. The condition of the course is awesome but the winds can be a problem as it may cause some golfers to over club if they are not careful," he added.
Thongchai won the Malaysian Open earlier this year for the second successive time and always revels playing in front of his home fans.
"Congratulations to Thaworn for a superb season and I am very pleased to see a fellow countryman leading the Order of Merit table. Both of us will play our own game and encourage each other but whenever there is an opportunity, one of us will have to grab it," said Thongchai, who won the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok in 2003.
