Bangkok: 2012 Masters Tournament champion Bubba Watson and former world number two Sergio Garcia will return to contest this year’s Thailand Golf Championship at the stunning Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, from December 12 to 15.
Famed for his flamboyant playing style known as ‘Bubba Golf’, the left-handed Watson, currently ranked 22nd in the world, is aiming to go one better this year following his runner-up finish in 2012 to South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel, who also recently confirmed he will return to defend his title on the Asian Tour.
“I played well last year, and the course at Amata Spring suits me really well,” said Watson. “Charl was phenomenal last year. He was on a roll and it was hard to stay with him but I feel this is a tournament I can win. I feel I’ve been hitting the ball great all year, but I haven’t been able to get it over the line. I would love to end my season with a big win in Thailand.
“I had a great experience last year. The tournament was really well organised and the staff and volunteers were awesome. Thailand is fantastic and Bangkok is one of my favourite cities in the world, so I can’t wait to go back this year,” he added.
Ranked 17th in the world, 33-year-old Garcia will returns to The Thailand Golf Championship for the third time following a very respectable fourth place finish last year:
“The Thailand Golf Championship is a tremendous tournament with a top class field at one of the best kept golf courses in the world. The Thais also know how to look after you and I always enjoy myself there and that is why I am going back for the third time in as many years. I have had a fairly good season, finishing fourth last month in Boston and have had a few top 10 finishes so I feel like I’m coming into some good form. Playing the Thailand Golf Championship is a great way to end the year and I’d love to sign off 2013 with a win.”
The Spanish star has 24 professional wins on his resume, with his most recent coming in December 2012 when he won in Malaysia on the Asian Tour. After something of a career downturn, Garcia returned to form in 2011 and has enjoyed considerable success over the last three years, including playing a key role in Europe’s phenomenal Ryder Cup win at Medinah Country Club last year. One of the most charismatic players in the game today, El Niño, as he is fondly known, has had a consistent 2013, finishing tied eighth at The Masters in April and making the cut in all but one tournament he has entered.
With a total prize fund of US$1 million, the prestigious Thailand Golf Championship aims to help develop professional golf within the region and promote Thailand as an international sporting destination and regional event hub. In 2012, the tournament was broadcasted live to over 180 countries and 640 million homes.