Exciting talents Miguel Tabuena, K.T. Kim and long drive world champion Jamie Sadlowski will light-up the US$750,000 Leopalace21 Myanmar Open next week.
Filipino hotshot Tabuena, who finished a career high of fifth place on the Order of Merit last year, and Kim, a 13-time winner in Japan, will be among the elite cast at the Pun Hlaing Golf Club from January 26 to 29, 2017.
The big-hitting Sadlowski, a two-time long drive world champion, will also make his first appearance at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open alongside the leading stars from the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, a two-time Asian Tour number one and Yuta Ikeda, the reigning Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit winner, Poom Saksansin of Thailand and defending champion Shaun Norris of South Africa will also feature in the Myanmar showpiece.
The 30-year-old Kim, who represented Team Asia in the EurAsia Cup last year, hopes to continue his superb winning form where he claimed three titles in a memorable 2016 season.
After sharpening his short game in the off season, Kim is determined to contend for the prestigious Leopalace21 Myanmar Open title.
âLast year was my first time in Myanmar and I had a good tournament. It will be staged at a new course so Iâm excited. I rested for a month after the last event in Japan and Iâve been practising in Thailand and Singapore recently.
âIâve been focussing on my short game and I feel that my putting is better than last year. Iâm still struggling with my chipping though. Travelling to Myanmar is a bit different because the grass there is different so I need to adapt,â said Kim.
The Leopalace21 Myanmar Open will also welcome the exciting Asian Tour talents which include Nicholas Fung of Malaysia, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand, Chikkarangappa S. of India and Johannes Veerman of the United States.
Fung enjoyed a commendable season last year highlighted by two top-five finishes and two other top-10 results. He finished a career high hope 12th place on the Order of Merit and hopes to secure his first Asian Tour victory in Myanmar.
âIt will be an exciting event because it is sanctioned with the Japan Golf Tour. It gives me a chance to earn a Tour card in Japan. I will be spending the Lunar New Year in Myanmar so if I win, it will be my biggest âang powâ (red packet) ever,â laughed Fung.
âI came close to winning twice last year and Iâm feeling very confident in my game. I just need to stop thinking too much. I feel I that my win is coming soon. I just need to stay patient,â he added.
The Leopalace21 Myanmar Open will enjoy global television coverage for the first time in its history as the event will be broadcast live to over 180 countries with a potential reach of 750 million households.
