Thongchai Jaidee will be spurred on by the memory of one of his best ever rounds when he defends his Ballantine's Championship crown in Korea next month.
The Thai ace battled through unusually cold and windy conditions last year to triumph in a dramatic three-way playoff for the biggest win of his career. It means he cannot wait to return to Pinx Golf Club on the holiday island of Jeju for the 2010 edition of the €2.2 million showpiece from April 22-25.
"I'm really looking forward to going back to defend my Ballantine's Championship title because I have very special memories of my win there last year," he said. "I felt good going into the week because I'd been playing well and was building up some momentum.
"Then on the final day I played one of my best rounds because, even though the conditions were tough, I hit 17 greens and only made one bogey with a three putt."
Jaidee compiled a masterly two under par 70 on the final day to enter a play-off against Spain's Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and local hero Kang Sung Hoon. He then sank a six foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to claim his fourth European Tour title.
"It was a great feeling to win and it was nice to get a big cheque at the end, but I didn't buy myself anything with it - I just put it in the bank, to keep my wife happy!" he laughed.
"More importantly, the win moved me up the Race to Dubai and the world rankings, and helped me get into tournaments like the World Golf Championships and hopefully the Masters.
"It gives you great confidence when you win and I've carried that into this season. If I qualify for the Masters and play well there, it should give me the confidence to go and win again."
Jaidee is currently 43rd in the world rankings and on target to play in the Masters Tournament, to be held two weeks before the Ballantine's Championship. He has enjoyed an excellent start to 2010 with three top ten finishes in six European Tour events, including third place in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and joint fifth in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.
He will face another world class field in Korea. Three-time Major winner Ernie Els will arrive at the tournament on a high after his brilliant victory in last week's WGC-CA Championship in Miami.
Also in the line-up will be Korean hero Y E Yang, who became Asia's first ever Major winner when he captured the US PGA Championship last year. In addition, US PGA Tour star Anthony Kim, World Number Henrik Stenson, 16 time European Tour winner Miguel Angel Jiménez and the tournament's 2008 champion, Graeme McDowell, have all been confirmed.
Jaidee admitted he would have his work cut out. "I won the Malaysian Open two years in a row, so it would be great to do the same with the Ballantine's Championship, but it won't be easy because there are a lot of good players appearing, including Ernie and Henrik.
"So it's a really strong field, which is great for the fans and also great for me, because I enjoy playing with the best players in the world.
"It's a lot of fun - I don't really feel pressure because playing golf is easy compared to what some people have to do for a job. It's the best job in the world, so I never complain - I always try to play with a smile on my face."
