Defending champion Lee Westwood of England is hoping to repeat his extraordinary start to last year’s Thailand Golf Championship when he tees up at Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi next week for the 2012 edition of the Asian Tour’s flagship event.
In 2011, Westwood went bogey-free over the first two days to equal the Asian Tour’s 36-hole scoring record of 20-under par, giving him an unassailable lead of 14 shots at the halfway mark. Westwood looked on course for a magical 59 on day one but eventually signed for a career low 60 after 18 holes.
“Let’s put it this way – I’ll be more than happy if I can emulate my start of last year,” said the current world number four when asked about his chances next week. “In fact I probably played better the second round than I did when scoring 60 in the first. I think I was something like 20 under par for the first two rounds. As for a 59… you never know.”
However, Westwood will face stiff competition for the coveted Thailand Golf Championship title from a host of top-class international golfers including 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, fellow South African Louis Oosthuizen and this year’s US Masters winner Bubba Watson.
Tickets for spectators cost 300 baht for the first 2 days (Dec. 6-7), 400 baht on Saturday, Dec. 8, and 500 baht on Sunday, Dec. 9. A four day pass costs 800 baht. Children under 16 and seniors over 60 can gain free admission.
In addition the tournament will be shown Live on the Golf Channel and local TV media outlets.
For more information, go to www.thailandgolfchampionship.com.
