Top Golfers Head for Thailand Open
After a hiatus of three years because of lack of sponsorship, the Thailand Golf Open is back, thanks to backing from Singha Beer, and will be played out on the Laguna Phuket Golf Course from March 5 to 8. For those who don’t mind standing in the sun for three more days, there is practice on March 2 and 3, and a pro-am competition on March 4.
Among the 150 pro players in the main competition, look out for Thai veteran Boonchu Ruangkit, who is eying a record third win in the US$500,000 competition (first place US$79,250). The 52-year-old grand old man of Asian golf has watched, caddied and played in the Thailand Open for more than four decades.
Also look out for hefty 24-year-old Prom “Big Dolphin” Meesawat, who hopes to emulate his father. Suthep Meesawat was the first Thai winner of the Open in 1991, when he birdied the final hole to beat the likes of Vijay Singh and David Toms.
The Thailand Open has a history going back to 1965, but there was no tournament in the past three years due to the lack of of sponsors. The tournament was last played in 2005 when New Zealander Richard Lee lifted the title in Phuket, at the Blue Canyon Golf and Country Club.
Entry for spectators is free. For more information see the official tournament website.
