Singapore: The race to qualify for the lucrative CIMB Classic in Malaysia and WGC-HSBC Champions in China later in October will intensify at this week\u2019s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.<\/p>\n
The Mercuries Taiwan Masters will be the final tournament for players to qualify for the US$7 million CIMB Classic while the CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi in Korea, which is slated to take place from October 10 to 13, will be the last counting event for players to fight for available places at the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions.<\/p>\n
Thai star Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who is currently 14th on the Merit list with US$118,975, will be looking to secure one of the 10 Asian Tour spots available for the CIMB Classic which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from October 24 to 27.<\/p>\n
Pariya, who claimed his second career victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia in June, was disappointed not to have finished strongly at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan over the weekend. He struggled with a closing six-over-par 77 to finish tied 22nd after holding the halfway lead.\n<\/p>\n
The affable Thai hopes to recover quickly from the setback. \u201cMy tempo was a bit off. Playing with these guys, they walk and do things pretty quick. So I\u2019m starting to do things too quick as well! I needed to slow down. In the first two rounds, I took my time. I guess those are the consequences when you rush things,\u201d said Pariya.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a bit disappointing but I am happy that I made the cut. I can\u2019t complain too much. I think I tried to push myself a little too hard during the weekend rounds. It is a lesson to learn and hopefully I can play better this week. My iron play is still very sharp and I hope to carry that on,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The 29-year-old is looking forward to the Mercuries Taiwan Masters where he secured his maiden Asian Tour victory in 2010. However, he prefers to keep his expectations low. \u201cI have no expectations for the tournament. I think you just need to have a good short game around that golf course and give yourself a lot of opportunities,\u201d said Pariya.<\/p>\n
Thailand\u2019s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who uncharacteristically missed the halfway cut in Japan, continues to lead the Order of Merit with a season\u2019s haul of US$679,999 while India\u2019s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australia\u2019s Scott Hend are second and third respectively on US$279,193 and US$273,128.<\/p>\n
The Asian Tour returns to Chinese Taipei for the US$600,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters which starts at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club from Thursday.<\/p>\n
Likely contenders at the richest Asian Tour event in Chinese Taipei include Philippines\u2019 Angelo Que, Bangladesh\u2019s Siddikur, Thailand\u2019s Prayad Marksaeng, Pariya, Kiradech and Bhullar.<\/p>\n
Asian Tour Order of Merit Top-20 Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) <\/span>$679,999.36<\/span><\/p>\n 2 Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) <\/span>$279,193.59<\/span><\/p>\n 3 Scott HEND (AUS) <\/span>$273,128.13<\/span><\/p>\n 4 LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) <\/span>$250,318.35<\/span><\/p>\n 5 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) <\/span>$238,391.48<\/span><\/p>\n 6 BAEK Seuk-hyun (KOR) <\/span>$196,268.97<\/span><\/p>\n 7 Wade ORMSBY (AUS) <\/span>$188,266.45<\/span><\/p>\n 8 Anirban LAHIRI (IND) <\/span>$148,085.24<\/span><\/p>\n 9 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) <\/span>$141,758.44<\/span><\/p>\n 10 Shiv KAPUR (IND) <\/span>$129,934.57<\/span><\/p>\n 11 KIM Gi-whan (KOR) <\/span>$127,417.70<\/span><\/p>\n 12 Berry HENSON (USA) <\/span>$125,616.15<\/span><\/p>\n 13 Angelo QUE (PHI) <\/span>$122,655.05<\/span><\/p>\n 14 Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) <\/span>$118,975.72<\/span><\/p>\n 15 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) <\/span>$116,134.62<\/span><\/p>\n 16 Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) <\/span>$114,431.49<\/span><\/p>\n 17 SIDDIKUR (BAN) <\/span>$113,533.93<\/span><\/p>\n 18 Rikard KARLBERG (SWE) <\/span>$104,457.59<\/span><\/p>\n 19 Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) <\/span>$94,429.51<\/span><\/p>\n 20 Bryce EASTON (RSA) <\/span>$86,159.05<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Singapore: The race to qualify for the lucrative CIMB Classic in Malaysia and WGC-HSBC Champions in China later in October will intensify at this week\u2019s Mercuries Taiwan Masters.<\/p>\n The Mercuries Taiwan Masters will be the final tournament for players to qualify for the US$7 million CIMB Classic while the CJ Invitational hosted by KJ Choi in Korea, which is slated to take place from October 10 to 13, will be the last counting event for players to fight for available places at the US$8.5 million WGC-HSBC Champions.<\/p>\n Thai star Pariya Junhasavasdikul, who is currently 14th on the Merit list with US$118,975, will be looking to secure one of the 10 Asian Tour spots available for the CIMB Classic which will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club from October 24 to 27.<\/p>\n Pariya, who claimed his second career victory at the Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters in Malaysia in June, was disappointed not to have finished strongly at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan over the weekend. He struggled with a closing six-over-par 77 to finish tied 22nd after holding the halfway lead.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-isn-front-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n
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