Thaworn Wiratchant to launch new season at Zaykabar Myanmar Open
He finished tied 11th in last year's edition and hopes his fine-tuned short game will lead him to an unprecedented 16th Asian Tour victory.
Thai hero Thaworn Wiratchant is keen to start the new 2013 season from where he left off as the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion sets his sights on winning the Zaykabar Myanmar Open presented by Alpine next week.
The 46-year-old star, who brilliantly won three times to become the oldest Asian number one last year, returns to action at the US$300,000 Asian Tour at Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.
"Everybody wants to win as soon as he can, including me. I played pretty averagely in Myanmar last year. We will be playing at the same golf course and I hope to perform well. Other players are also fresh, so I have to be ready too," said Thaworn.
He finished tied 11th in last year's edition and hopes his fine-tuned short game will lead him to an unprecedented 16th Asian Tour victory.
"The course is not so long. I didn't chip and putt well last year so it was difficult to make a good score. The greens are quite hard but if I can put my ball on the green, I will turn it into a birdie," he said.
Ranked 72nd on the Official World Golf Rankings, he hopes to break into the top-50 but admits that it won't be easy because of the immensely talented cast of young guns breaking through on the Asian Tour.
"I plan to be inside the top-100 of the world rankings or better. My schedule will be a bit different from last year and it will not be easy to stay as the winner of Order of Merit. Anyway I will play as many events as I can on the Asian Tour," said Thaworn.
"There are more young guys coming up and the Asian Tour is a great platform for them. I'm still learning when I play on the Asian Tour so I hope I can continue playing here," added the Thai.
Courtesy of his Merit triumph which was the second of his career, Thaworn will make a return to The Open Championship and also play in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship in the United States.
"I've been working with all my equipment to be ready for 2013. I will play in some events in the U.S. and need to perfect my long irons like because the golf courses there are very long and does not suit my game. I also have to work on my fitness and learn to adjust to the weather and time change," said Thaworn.
Due to his magnificent success on the Asian Tour last year, Thaworn has been invited to play in the year's first Major, the Masters Tournament, in April.