BANGKOK, 4 Dec 2015, (HK Golfer News Wire) - South Korea’s two highest-ranked players, world number 31 An Byeong Hun and the number 58-ranked K.T. Kim, will be joined by Japanese superstar Shingo Katayama for the Asian Tour’s showcase event and are relishing the challenge ahead.
“As professionals we have to maintain our game at the highest level because golf is all about consistency,” said the 24-year-old An, who won the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship in May. “That’s especially the case when you are facing a field of the world’s top players like we will see at the Thailand Golf Championship. I’ve had a great year so far, I’m feeling good about my game, and I can’t wait to get over to Amata Spring.”
Waiting for the South Korean will be a Thailand Golf Championship field loaded with talent and boasting two-time winner Lee Westwood, the 2013 champion Sergio Garcia, last year's runner-up Martin Kaymer, and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.
In-form Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat will lead the charge for the Asian Tour, having both enjoyed stellar seasons.
The same can be said about the 29-year-old Kim, who is number one on the Japan Golf Tour money list after five victories this season, and hoping to end 2015 ranked in the world’s top 50 and thereby secure an invitation at the Masters at Augusta in April.
Places in the Asian Tour’s EurAsia Cup in January are also up for grabs for the region’s best players at Amata Spring, adding even more intrigue to the season-ending event.
“There is much to play for at the Thailand Golf Championship, with its prestige, the prize money, and the world ranking points on offer as 2015 comes to an end,” said Kim, whose wins this year included the Diamond Cup Golf, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour.
“It should be a fantastic week for all of us out on the course as well as all the famous Thai hospitality we know helps makes the tournament a great way to end the season.”
For the 42-year-old Katayama, the Thailand Golf Championship will bring the curtain down on a year that has included an incredible 29th Japan Tour title, a victory that moved him to sixth on that Tour’s list of all-time winners.
“It’s been a great year for me and victory at the Thailand Golf Championship would be the perfect way to finish,” said Katayama.
“Looking at the players who are heading to Amata Spring, I know this will be a very hard tournament to win but that’s why we play this game – because it’s always such a challenge.”