THONGCHAI FAVOURITE AT BLACK MOUNTAIN MASTERS

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Hua Hin, Thailand: Thai star Thongchai Jaidee hopes that good things come in pairs when he bids for a second straight victory at the Asian Tour’s season-finale Black Mountain Masters starting on Thursday.
Three days after notching a record 13th career title in Cambodia , the decorated Thai will be odds-on favourite to top a stellar field in the US$600,000 showpiece at the magnificent Black Mountain Golf Club.
Over the past two seasons, the 41-year-old has won twice in a year and he is looking to extend the impressive streak despite facing leading names including title-holder Johan Edfors of Sweden, countrymen Alexander Noren and Pelle Edberg and Mikko Ilonen of Finland .
Eight of the top-10 players on the current Asian Tour’s Order of Merit will also headline the Black Mountain Masters, which celebrates its second edition this week.
But all eyes will be on Thongchai, a three-time Order of Merit champion.
“I’ve been playing well since Hong Kong and last week was nice. My performance is coming back now. My iron play is very good and my putting, which had given me trouble this year, is also becoming better. If I putt well again, I will have a good chance here,” said Thongchai, who owns a luxurious villa at Black Mountain .
“I changed my putting stroke a little bit. Previously I was a bit too quick on the back swing but I’m taking the putter head back slower now which has given me more consistency and control. When I’m too quick, I’m pushing my putts.”
The Cambodian win, his second in three years there, pushed him up to 67th in the world rankings and with this week’s Black Mountain Masters designated as the Tour’s flagship event for the year, a minimum 20 world ranking points is at stake for the winner, including a top cheque of US$95,100.
“I need to finish in the top-50 of the world rankings (to get into the Ma jo rs and World Golf Championships in 2011). If I win again, it’ll be a big help,” said Thongchai.
“The course is in very good condition, it’s fantastic from tee to green. This week, my family is here with me. I want to play well.”
Australia ’s Marcus Fraser and Rikard Karlberg of Sweden , currently ranked second and third on the Order of Merit respectively, will have their own mini battle as they slug it out for second place on the rankings which comes with an invitation to the lucrative WGC-CA Championship in the United States next year.
“This is my eighth tournament in a row and I’m feeling a bit tired. It is also an important week as I hope to finish second and I see that Rikard is in good form as he won in India two weeks ago,” said Fraser, who leads Karlberg by about US$14,000.
Qualifying School graduate Karlberg, who won for a second time this season in his rookie season, is hoping to end his year on a high note.
“Finishing second on the Order of Merit is one of my goals this week. Of course my first goal is to win but if I do get to overtake Marcus, I will be very satisfied. After all my success this year, I try to set new goals for myself and that keeps me motivated,” said Karlberg.

After missing the cut in his first visit to Black Mountain last year, European Tour regular Ilonen, winner of the Indonesian Open in 2007, is determined to make a bigger impression despite a lack of play recently.
“I’m keen to go but obviously, the swing is not where I want it to be it. Obviously, it’s always fun to win any where. That’s what Thongchai is thinking and that’s what I’m thinking. You just want to give yourself a good chance,” said Ilonen, whose last tournament was in late October.
With the top-61 players on the Merit list keeping their Tour cards for next year, there is plenty of anxiety for those around the bubble such as Guido Van Der Valk of the Netherland (61st), Lin Wen-hong of Chinese Taipei (62nd) and Korea ’s Mo Joong-kyung (63rd). Another Korean, Young Nam, ranked 71st, said the Tour hopefuls will have to go out with all guns blazing from the get-go.
“I’m sure there will be pressure out there, especially knowing that I have to finish top five or top six to keep my card out here. I’m trying to keep my goals high this week,” said Nam .
“You can’t be tentative, you just have to go for it and post a score. You’ve got to take the gamble and go for it. The course is in such great shape and there are a lot of birdies out there.”
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