Tournament ambassador Thongchai Jaidee is aiming for a successful week on and off the course as he looks to utilise home advantage at the True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain.
The 45 year old, who with six victories is the most successful Thai golfer in European Tour history, is attached to the host Black Mountain Golf Club.
And Jaidee expects players from the co-sanctioning Asian Tour to pose a threat to the likes of Thomas Bjørn and Miguel Angel Jiménez.
As well as Jaidee, Thailand will be represented by European Tour winners Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Chapchai Nirat and Thaworn Wiratchant.
“Thai players should do pretty well but it will all depend on the timing and opportunity,” said Jaidee, who won his first four titles in Asia before adding victories in Wales and, last year, Sweden.
“It will be a good test; there are many talented players from The European Tour side and it will be fun tournament.
“I think a Thai player has a chance to win this week. This is a co-sanctioned event so there are many talented players from both The European Tour and Asian Tour.”
Jaidee has been in solid form on this season’s Race to Dubai, finishing no lower than 35th in his four starts.
That has moved him to 23rd in the early rankings, but the former paratrooper hopes to better last season’s 22nd-place finish.
“I have played pretty consistently, but I haven’t been in top form yet,” he added. “I am trying to do my best this week to move up on The Tour ranking.
“I just want to do better than I did last year; I will try my best.
“The course condition is superb this week. The greens are super fast, so people who are good putters have a good chance of winning this tournament.”
It is not only the Thai players with a “home” advantage this week, with Swedes Johan Edfors and Rikard Karlberg also attached to the Hua Hin venue.
This week represents a particularly important one for Edfors, as the three-time European Tour winner lost his card after a disappointing 2013 campaign and narrowly missed out on regaining his playing rights via last year’s Challenge Tour.
“It’s been my winter home for the last six years now, so it’s great to have a European Tour event here,” said the 39 year old.
“We’ve had a few Asian Tour events and a Royal Trophy, so it’s going to be great to show the place to The European Tour guys as well.
“It’s a bit different, because I’ve never lived on the course before during a tournament! I’m really looking forward to it. The course is looking great and I’m hoping there will be some big crowds as well.
“It’s been a couple of rough years, mainly off the course and I’ve had a few injuries as well so I had a long break.
“I played some Challenge Tour events towards the end of last year and started playing a bit better, so I’ve got some kind of status this year at least. Hopefully I can get the game back on track.”
