Sweet-swinging Pagunsan hopes to extend his rich vein of form by winning the inaugural $1-million event at the impressive Amata Spring Country Club.
Since last month, he has enjoyed top-10s in Taipei and Hong Kong as well as a runner-up finish at the lucrative Barclays Singapore Open which pushed him to the Merit summit.
World No. 3 Lee Westwood, this season’s Major champions Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel, Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, American John Daly and Korea’s Kim Kyung-tae are amongst a stellar lineup of stars who have gathered for the Thailand Golf Championship.
“It is a big honor to play in the Thailand Golf Championship as the new Asian Tour Order of Merit winner,” said Pagunsan.
“I try to win every week so I’ll try my best again this week. It is a tough field but I’ll try my best. To be honest, the feeling of winning the Order of Merit has not sunk in yet. It still feels like a normal tournament to me.”
Pagunsan insisted he would keep both feet on the ground despite his recent Merit success.
“Nothing has changed in my life yet. It is a huge accomplishment but I don’t think it will change who I am. My family has been really supportive throughout my golf career and it is nice to win this for them,” said the 33-year-old.
Meanwhile, Miguel Tabuena is preparing for the biggest test in his young golfing career as he tries to earn full Asian Tour card in the season-ending event.
The 17-year-old Tabuena, the youngest member on the Asian Tour this year, is currently three spots outside the top-61 of the Order of Merit which is the cut-off for players to secure full playing rights for the 2012 season while Thanyakon is on slightly safer ground in 58th position.
With a $1-million purse on offer in the star-studded inaugural event headlined by world No. 3 three Lee Westwood and Major champions Charl Schwartzel and Darren Clarke, Tabuena admitted the pressure is on at the Amata Spring Country Club as he seeks to ensure a successful rookie season on Asia’s elite circuit. —Asian Tour News
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