World record-holder Chapchai Nirat of Thailand will be amongst the marquee names to headline the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters from August 5 to 8.
The Thai star has entered the RM1 million (US$300,000) Asian Tour tournament at Seri Selangor Golf Club along with fellow winners Noh Seung-yul and Bae Sang-moon of Korea, Filipino Angelo Que and India's rising star S.S.P. Chowrasia.
Chapchai, nicknamed 'King Kong' for his long driving abilities, made headlines around the world earlier this year when he won the SAIL Open in India in record-breaking fashion.
He set new scoring records on the Asian Tour for 36, 54 and 72 holes while his stunning winning score of 32-under-par 256 established a new world mark as it was the lowest amongst the six major international Tours.
Chapchai's third career victory has pushed him into 14th position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$86,377.77 but the burly 26-year-old will be looking to improve on his ranking when he tees up at the par-71 Seri Selangor course.
"The win (in India) has given me a lot of confidence and I think I will now be able to take this momentum forward and hopefully win two to three more tournaments this year," said Chapchai.
Teen sensation Noh will return to Malaysia with the aim of concluding some unfinished business. He left the crowds at the Maybank Malaysian Open in awe with a splendid first round performance where he shot a sizzling 62 before eventually tying for 11th place.
The 18-year-old Korean was named Rookie of the Year last season after winning the Midea China Classic and chalking six other top-10s. This year, he has already registered three top-10s and much is expected from him at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters.
Noh's compatriot, the 23-year-old Bae will be another player to look out for. He has already won three titles on the Asian Tour, including the GS Caltex Maekyung Open on home soil in May.
Bae competed in his first major at the US Open in June alongside Filipino Angelo Que and they will be eager to put the experience to good use at Seri Selangor. Que, a two-time Asian Tour champion, enjoyed a tied eighth outing at the inaugural Black Mountain Masters in Thailand.
India's Gaganjeet Bhullar, who competed in the British Open last week, is amongst a new breed of rising stars to emerge from the sub-continent. The 21-year-old has already registered three top-10s at the Singha Thailand Open, SAIL Open and Black Mountain Masters in March this season and is determined to claim a maiden Tour victory.
Chowrasia, who captured his first Asian Tour title at the Indian Masters where he beat a studded field which included Ernie Els, will look to build on his tied fourth finish at the Singha Thailand Open in March.
Defending champion Ben Leong and 2002 Taiwan Open winner Danny Chia will spearhead the Malaysian challenge alongside 2007 Pakistan Open winner Airil Rizman and Iain Steel.
A total of 156 players will compete in the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters which will include 36 Malaysian players, 112 Asian Tour professionals and eight invited players.
(Asian Tour July 20, 2009)
