Bangkok, Dec 5 (IANS) Asian specialist Lee Westwood will bid for a third title in the Far East this year when he plays at the Asian Tour’s season-ending tournament, the Thailand Golf Championship next week.
World number three Westwood, winner of the Ballantine’s Championship in Korea and Indonesian Masters, will headline the $1 million event from Dec 15 to 18 alongside three of this season’s Major champions Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke.
Westwood has won over 30 international titles in his stellar career which includes victories in Macau, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Malaysia but has yet to taste success in Thailand, which is something he hopes to change at the majestic Amata Spring Country Club located on the outskirts of Bangkok.
‘I play in Asia a lot and it is a place I love playing. I haven’t been to Thailand for quite a while and I am looking forward to going back to Amata Spring,’ said Westwood, who won the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa Sunday.
‘It would be great to win in Asia again. I seem to be an Asian specialist but I have never won in Thailand and it will be nice to do so,’ he added.
Westwood, who was ranked world number one after winning the Indonesian Masters in April, albeit for a brief time, said playing around the globe has helped shaped his successful career.
‘I would like to think of myself as a global player. I have played in a lot of different conditions and I am one of the few players to win on the five different main Tours. It has made me become a better player and helped me adapt to different conditions,’ he said.
The Thailand Golf Championship will make its debut on the Asian Tour Schedule, being one of four new tournaments this season. The event is also helping to raise funds for flood relief in the country through an auction on EBay where players have donated signed golf items.
Westwood believes there is a bright future for golf in Asia especially with the emergence of immensely talented young golfers, who have the opportunity to harness their talents on the Asian Tour.
‘You have to see the amount of Asian players playing around the world now. Korean golf is very strong and there are a lot of Thai, Indian and Japanese golfers. That is because a lot of tournaments are being playing in Asia in the last few years,’ said Westwood.
Ryo Ishikawa of Japan will also feature in the event alongside many of Asia’s best golfers including Thai strongman Thongchai Jaidee, who is a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
The winner of the Thailand Golf Championship will earn a spot in the World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational 2012.
