Major hero Liang targets Thailand Open
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China's Liang Wenchong, still on a high after finishing equal eighth in the US PGA Championship two weeks ago, will attempt to win his third title on OneAsia when he tees-off on Thursday.
The US$1 million tournament starts tomorrow at Burapha Golf Club and although he is tired after a hectic schedule, he is now armed with even greater confidence.
"It was a huge learning experience. I always learn a lot from playing in the big events but the US PGA Championship gave me even greater experience. It was a great week playing with so many world class players. I was a little nervous in the final round, but again it is something I can learn from," said Liang.
He finished three strokes behind winner Martin Kaymer from Germany and now has the appetite to challenge for more Majors.
"It is difficult to say if I think I can win one. I just need to keep playing at this same level and then I may win a Major. I am feeling a little tired this week but once we get going this I am sure I will be fine," added the 32-year-old.
Liang won the Midea China Classic on OneAsia last year and claimed this year's season opening Luxehills Chengdu Open, also in China.
He also took second place in the Indonesia Open presented by Enjoy Jakarta.
In the first round Liang has been paired with Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant and New Zealander Michael Hendry, who won the Indonesia Open.
Thaworn has played at Burapha many times before in local events but the course set up this week is different and it is much longer.
"I think my chances are 50/50. It is long and I think some of the Thais will struggle apart from those like Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Chawalit Plaphol who hit it quite far," said Thaworn.
The veteran Thai has not won his national Open before but has claimed 11 titles on the Asian circuit.
He won the Singha E-San Open this season on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
In contrast to Liang and Thaworn's busy schedules one of the tournament's other star player, Shingo Katayama from Japan, has spent the last three weeks at home.
"I have been at home tidying my house as it needed a bit of a clean up. It's been nice but I am eager to start playing again," said Katayama.
He played his first OneAsia event in July in the Indonesia Open where he tied for 12th.
He is looking for his first win of the season and also his maiden victory overseas.
Katayama, Japan's number one on five occasions and the winner of 26 events on the lucrative circuit, has been drawn with Chawalit and Singapore's Mardan Mamat in another mouth-watering group.
"I have actually been playing well this year much better than 2010. I am not worried and I am not going to force it," said Katayama.
"I have been to Thailand only once before and that was for a holiday in Phuket. It is certainly a great place where I hope to play well," added the Japanese star.
The week's event will be showcased on OneAsia's television platform with live coverage for four hours a day across all four tournament days, and broadcast to over 260 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Full coverage of the event will be available across South East Asian and domestically on ESPN Star Sports, as well as internationally on Network Ten, Jupiter Golf Network, SBS Golf Channel, Fox International, Sky Sports NZ, ESPN3 & America One in the USA, ViaSat & Bloomberg Television among others in Europe.
This year's Thailand Open is being co-sponsored by Singha Corporation, PTT Public Company Limited, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Emirates, and CAT Telecom Public Company Limited.
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