Rattanon out to pip Kapur in title chase
OSAKA: Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan hopes to upset the odds by making a last-ditch effort to win the Panasonic Swing series with a victory at the Panasonic Open Championship which starts today.
Rattanon still has an outside chance of pipping India’s Shiv Kapur to the Panasonic Swing title and he holds the belief that anything is possible at the Ibaraki Country Club this week.
The 22-year-old was in commanding form when he romped to a wire-to-wire victory at the Thailand Open, which marked the start of the Panasonic Swing series in his home country last May.
He aims to reproduce that similar form again when he takes on the best players from the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO) this week.
“There’s a lot at stake this week. There are extra points for the Panasonic Swing and it’s going to be interesting. The first thing that I would try to do is the make the cut first. After that, I’ll focus on making it into the top five and if I can do that, I’ll try to go for that win,” said Rattanon, who finished tied for fifth in Myanmar for his best result on the Asian Tour so far this year.
“I’m very relaxed now and I’m not giving myself any pressure. I have not made the cut in Japan before and I hope to change that this week. I’ve been working on my
drivers a lot during the break as it’s important to get all your shots onto the fairways here in Japan. I’m doing well and I’m looking forward to a good week.”
India’s SSP Chawrasia is also hoping to get back to his winning ways after enjoying a refreshing break from golf at home.
Chawrasia, a six-time Asian Tour winner, has missed the cut twice in his last three starts.
Australia’s Scott Hend is also eyeing similar fortunes after a lacklustre start to the year where he has missed all three cuts on the Asian Tour.