Thaworn keen to be part of Lao golf history
Thaworn Wiratchant, the top-ranked player in Southeast Asia, is excited about being part of history at the inaugural US$80,000 Luang Prabang Laos Open which starts on Thursday at Luang Prabang Golf Club.
The veteran Thai jumped up the rankings to world No 161 after finishing second to England’s Lee Westwood at last month’s Indonesia Masters.
Despite his busy schedule, Thaworn has committed to playing the season opener on the Asean PGA Tour.
“This is the first professional tournament in Laos and I want to be part of it,” said Thaworn, who has 12 wins on the Asian Tour and two on the Asean PGA Tour. “I have played a lot of golf recently but it is exciting to be involved in something like this.
“The organisers are breaking new ground with this event. It would be a good title to win.”
Luang Prabang Golf Club is a new worldclass venue located in the Unesco World Heritage town, which lies 425 kilometres north of the country’s capital Vientiane.
“The Luang Prabang Laos Open is the first championship golf tournament in Laos and reflects the great cooperation between government and private sector. We have joined together to promote Luang Prabang city and also to help develop the golf industry in Laos to a worldclass level. The tournament will be a good public relations activity as part of the ‘Visit Laos Year’ in 2012,” said Luang Prabang governor Khampheng Saysompheng.
Thaworn, 45, regularly plays on the Asean PGA Tour, with wins at the Heritage Melaka Classic in 2009 and the 2010 Singha ESan Open.
The Luang Prabang Laos Open is the first of eight events on this year’s Asean PGA Tour schedule.
