The regionāsĀ best players will lend their star power to the US$750,000Ā CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters presented by Enjoy JakartaĀ Golf when it teesĀ off next week.
No less than 25 Asian TourĀ champions which include heavyweights such as ThailandāsĀ Thaworn Wiratchant, Philippinesā Angelo Que and IndiaāsĀ Arjun Atwal will grace theĀ fairways of the Royale Jakarta Golf Club from AprilĀ 23-26.
They are expected to makeĀ Indonesiaās premier golf tournament a hotly contestedĀ affair which will also feature the likes of former worldĀ number one Lee Westwood of England,Ā Asiaās first Major winner, Y.E. Yang of Korea andĀ Denmarkās Thomas Bjorn in its star-studdedĀ line-up.
At 48, Thaworn is the mostĀ decorated golfer in the Asian Tour history with 18 TourĀ victories.
The Thai veteran, who stillĀ regards himself as a āyoung boyā, is an exceptionalĀ athlete who is ever relentless in his pursuit for moreĀ glory.
āGolf is my life and I take eachĀ tournament I play in seriously. The CIMB Niaga IndonesiaĀ Masters is one of them and Iām looking forward to do wellĀ in Jakarta,ā saidĀ Thaworn, ahead of his challenge at the IndonesianĀ showpiece.
Having finishedĀ tied-22nd last year, the Thai veteran believesĀ his affinity with the Royale Jakarta Golf Club would beĀ advantageous for his title bid at theĀ CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters.
āI like the course. I feel thatĀ the layout and conditions suit me, even though there areĀ some long holes. The fairways are not wet after it rainsĀ either and itās a fairĀ golf course,ā said Thaworn.
Meanwhile Que, who enjoyed hisĀ best career finish on the Order of Merit in 2014 when heĀ finished in sixth place, will be eager to extend his richĀ vein of form.
The father-of-two picked up hisĀ first domestic win of the year last month and is now seekingĀ to end his five-year title drought on the AsianĀ Tour.
Despite making the early exit lastĀ year, Que remains confident of a better showing this timeĀ around.
āI finished tied seventh andĀ fifth in 2011 and 2012, but I missed the cut last year whichĀ again was down to the fact that we just welcomed a new baby.
āThis year, Iām happy with myĀ game and Iām looking forward to challenging for the titleĀ as this is a tournament which Iāve enjoyed some measure ofĀ success there,ā saidĀ Que, who has posted two top-10s in the 2012 and 2013Ā editions.
Atwal revived his career with hisĀ eighth Asian Tour victory in Dubai last year following aĀ four-year winless streak and looks poised to weave his magicĀ again.
Based in the United States now,Ā the former Asian Tour number one is the first Indian to winĀ on the PGA TOUR in 2010 and will be looking forward toĀ another triumphantĀ return to the region which has brought him muchĀ success.
āI always like coming back toĀ the Asian Tour and like I have always said, itās theĀ friendliest Tour in the world and I love it,ā said theĀ former Asian number one.
Sanctioned by the Asian Tour andĀ the PGA Tour of Indonesia, the CIMB Niaga Indonesian MastersĀ Presented by Enjoy Jakarta Golf will feature 24 IndonesianĀ golfers, 20Ā professionals from the PGA Tour of Indonesia and four ofĀ Indonesiaās top amateurs who will compete in the 150Ā player field over 72 holes of individual stroke play.
For more information on the CIMBĀ Niaga Indonesian Masters Presented by Enjoy Jakarta Golf visitĀ http://www.indonesianmasters.
