Mahan, Fowler among stars booking Thai trips

World No 26 and two-time World Golf Championships (WGC) winner Mahan was a key member of the US squad that beat the International team at last weekend’s Presidents Cup in Ohio. The 31-year-old recorded a couple of satisfying wins that included a win in the Four-Ball with team-mate Brandt Snedeker over Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. Mahan is excited about returning to Chon Buri to challenge for the Thailand crown.

With eight career tour wins and two top 10 finishes in Majors this year, Mahan has had a solid year and is looking forward returning to Thailand to improve on his tied-22nd finish last year: “It has been a good year for me. I have had some great results and a number of top-10s, but I am still looking for my first win. Amata Spring is a beautiful course and one that suits my game very well. It would certainly be a great place to finish the year with a victory. I am definitely up for the challenge.”

Ranked No 33 in the world, 24-year-old Fowler is one of the most electrifying young players in the game today. After a stellar amateur career, the precocious American turned professional in 2009. He was crowned PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2010, representing USA in the Ryder Cup in his debut professional season. Fowler has two professional wins to his name, the most recent being the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship where he beat former world No 1 Rory McIlroy into second place. 

An edgy and larger-than-life character with a Japanese grandfather, Fowler will be making his debut at the full-field Asian Tour event. With his colourful dress sense and aggressive approach on the course, the young Californian is a crowd favourite and is eagerly anticipating his first visit to Thai shores.

“I am really excited about my first trip to Thailand as I’ve heard so many great things about the country. I love to travel and guys on the Tour who have played in Thailand, like Bubba Watson and Hunter Mahan, have told me how much they love it so I thought it was about time I came to see for myself. I’m looking forward to the food and the famous Thai hospitality and of course the wonderful golf.”

The third edition of Thailand Golf Championship will also host defending champion and 2011 Masters winner Schwartzel, 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose and 2012 Masters winner Watson, as well as Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson, who recently claimed both the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup crowns.

With total prize money of US$1 million, the prestigious Championship aims to help develop professional golf within the region and promote Thailand as an international sports destination and regional event hub. In 2013, the tournament will be broadcasted live to 200 countries and 800 million homes worldwide.