Skilful Harding hopes to taste success at Royal Cup
PATTAYA: Newly-crowned Asian Tour winner and member Justin Harding of South Africa is hoping to ace another stern test with his intelligent game plan at the Royal Cup, which begins tomorrow.
The Royal Cup is the Asian Tour’s fourth stop in Thailand this year and is held in honour of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun, who celebrates his 66th birthday on Saturday.
Harding, 32, clinched his maiden Asian Tour title two weeks ago in Indonesia and is hoping to continue that winning run after surviving a long-haul flight that finally brought him to the Phoenix Gold Golf and Country Club.
Harding will spearhead a strong international challenge in the 156-men field with 32 other Asian Tour winners including Malaysia’s Danny Chia and Australia’s Todd Sinnott who are determined to end their lean spells this season.
Chia, a two-time Asian Tour winner, has had a long history with battling injuries, after a shoulder injury in 2013 nearly ended his career.
The Malaysian revealed he is suffering from a hip injury this year due to his busy schedule on the Japan circuit and the Asian Tour but will keep his head high and rely on his course knowledge to put up a good showing at the US$500,000 event.
Sinnott has also been juggling his time between several tours this season and has yet to enjoy a top-10 finish on the Asian Tour this year.
The 26-year-old, who won his maiden Asian Tour title in Myanmar in his rookie season last year, plans to stay positive despite enduring a frustrating start to his season.
Other contenders include defending champion Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar, both from India, Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Prom Meesawat and American John Catlin, the first player to win twice on the Asian Tour this season.
“This is my first visit to Thailand. I have only been to Asia once before I played in Indonesia. It was the travelling back and forth that was the toughest part. The grass is a little different in Asia and is probably the trickiest part of the game that I have had to adjust to,” Harding said.
“Adjusting to the heat in Asia was a challenge, coming from cold weather back home and then back to humidity. I’m just trying to keep myself hydrated and exert as little energy as possible.”