CIMB Niaga Signs On As Indonesia Masters Title Sponsor

Jakarta, 29th March 2012 – CIMB Niaga has delivered a wonderful boost for golf in Asia by signing on as Title Sponsor of the Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS, Indonesia’s most prestigious international golf tournament sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

The tournament will be held from April 19 to 22, 2012 at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

The CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS, now in its second edition, will see English star Lee Westwood returning to defend his title together with Major champions Ian Woosnam of Wales and New Zealand’s Michael Campbell. Also joining them are three-time Asian Tour number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and local hero Rory Hie. The top-class international field of 156 players will compete for a total prize fund of US$750,000.


Lee Westwood on the Royale Jakarta Golf Course. More videos here..

“We are excited to be sponsoring the most prestigious international golf tournament in Indonesia. CIMB Niaga is making this major investment because golf has huge appeal among our key customer segments across the region. The title sponsorship of such a major event will help grow the CIMB brand further as golf is a very important part of our marketing programme,” said Arwin Rasyid, President Director, PT Bank CIMB Niaga TBK.

“Following the success of our international golf initiatives in Malaysia, I was asked many times if CIMB Niaga would eventually venture into golf sponsorship and therefore have been on the look out for an event that would add value to our brand and complement our existing initiatives. The opportunity to become Title Sponsor of this great tournament came along and and we took it.” Arwin continued.

“While this is CIMB Niaga’s first foray into sponsoring professional golf, it sits very well with the already existing international golf initiatives of CIMB Group. The international flavour of this tournament is a true complement to our current initiatives and is a sign of things to come. We will leverage the success that we have gained from our Malaysian initiative and ensure that the CIMB Niaga Indonesia Masters presented by PNTS continues to grow from strength to strength,” he finished.

Left to right: Mr. M. Syafei Asnap (PGA Indonesia), Arwin Rasyid (PT Bank CIMB Niaga TBK) and Mr. Irfan Hamid (Asian Tour) show the Winner's Cup

Meanwhile, Irfan Hamid, Senior Manager, Tour Development, Asian Tour extended his appreciation to CIMB Niaga for its title sponsorship, saying it will further raise the growing stature of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS.

“On behalf of our talented players, I would like to express our deepest gratitude to CIMB Niaga for its commitment to professional golf at the highest level in Asia. The Asian Tour continues to grow through the emergence of wonderful tournaments such as the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS and it is fantastic to see major corporations in Asia supporting the vision and mission of the Asian Tour.

“With a great line-up of international stars such as Lee Westwood, Ian Woosnam, Michael Campbell and Thongchai Jaidee competing against the best players from the Asian Tour, the second edition of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters certainly promises to be feast of world class golf to spectators and television viewers from around the world. Through our global television platform, Indonesia will be showcased to the world,” said Hamid.

The signing of CIMB Niaga as title sponsor comes as Indonesian World Class Energy Company, Pertamina and Salonpas by Hisamitsu also committed as partners to the event.

The partnership with Pertamina’s is a unique one. Together with the other sponsors of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters presented by PNTS, Pertamina will be initiating a clean water project to serve over 10,000 people in selected areas with a permanent clean water solution. The event’s charity partner Habitat for Humanity Indonesia will implement the initiative.

Sponsors and partners of the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters will enjoy widespread exposure via a strong local media platform and the Asian Tour’s global television platform, which reaches out to over 200 countries and 650million households on the Live, Highlights, Asian Tour Golf Show and Golfing World. Indonesia’s premier news channel, Metro TV, will also be broadcasting the event locally for 10 hours live and will be airing additional shows and features related to the event and the positive impact it has on the economy of Indonesia.

Other partners include the event’s Presenting Sponsor Pelayaran Nasional Tanjungriau Service (PNTS), Garuda Indonesia (Official Airline), BMW (Official Car), Coca-Cola (Official Drinks Partner), Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta (Official Hotel), Thiess Indonesia (Main Partner), Navigat Energy (Main Partner), Linc Group (Main Partner), Hush Puppies Golf (Official Apparel), San Miguel (Official Beer), Blackberry (Official Handset), Srixon (Official Ball), Ricoh (Official Office Equipment) and Casillero del Diablo (Official Wine).

Try The Indonesian Masters Course For 2 Weeks Only

For all you golfers wanting to compare your skills with the world's top pros, you have now the opportunity to play the course in the same set up that will be used for the Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club from 19-22 April 2012.
Take this opportunity from 1 until 15 April at these special golf rates:

MONDAY TO THURSDAY	Morning & Afternoon (18 holes)	With Founder	IDR 719.000
		Without Founder	IDR 899.000
FRDAY	Morning & Afternoon (18 holes)	With Founder	IDR 819.000
		Without Founder	IDR 919.000
SATURDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAY (AM)	Morning (18 holes)	With Founder	IDR 1.849.000
		Without Founder	IDR 1.999.000
SATURDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAY (AM) Sunday (AM & PM)	Afternoon (18 holes) Morning & Afternoon (18 holes)	With Founder	IDR 1.649.000
		Without Founder	IDR 1.799.000

For reservation or more information please contact the following numbers:
Phone (021) 999 55 888 / (021) 80 888 999 ext 112/113/114
Fax (021) 8087 8877

Reservations are open daily from 6.00 am until 6.30 pm.
Prices can be changed at any time without prior notice.

Courageous Maiden Pro Victory For Cullen In Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, March 25 – Australian Nick Cullen triumphed in the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open on Sunday following a brave performance that signaled the emergence of an exciting star of the future.

Left-hander Cullen shot a final round two-over-par 74 to triumph by a stroke from David Smail of New Zealand.

Smail, the leader after the first two rounds, closed with a 69 at Emeralda Golf Club.

New Zealand’s Michael Long, Japan’s Yoshikazu Haku, and American David Oh finished tied for third. They ended two shots off the pace with Long carding a 65 -- the lowest round of the week -- Haku shooting 68 and Oh a 71.

Sunday's victory was 27-year-old Cullen’s first as a professional and making his success even more distinguished is the fact that the event is jointly sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, and is the season opener for both.

“This means the world to me," he said afterwards.

"I have been practicing hard and playing well but I didn’t know what to expect when I came here. It is only my second time playing in Asia and it’s very different compared with playing at home particularly with a different climate and food.

Cullen finished with a four-round aggregate of nine-under-par 279 and earned a cheque for U.S. $172,000.

He was cruising to victory with a four stroke lead with five holes left, but he let the chasing pack back into the tournament when he triple-bogeyed the par-four 14th. He found trouble off the tee and had to chip back onto the fairway, but then overshot the green with his approach.

Over the closing holes he found himself tied for the lead on eight under with Smail, Oh and Haku.

However, on the par-five 17th he holed a career putt for birdie from 20 feet. It was a downhill right-to-left breaker, but the man from Adelaide picked his line perfectly to take the lead by one shot.

A playoff beckoned on the par- four 18th hole after Cullen's approach shot missed the green to the right, leaving him a difficult up and down. Showing maturity beyond his years, he chipped to five feet and valiantly holed the putt.

“I haven’t holed many putts all week so the last two putts where very timely,” said Cullen.

Cullen started the day with a four shot lead and was three ahead at the turn. A birdie on 10 appeared to wrap the title up for him before the set back on 14.

Cullen’s compact fast action swing and gutsy attitude eventually prevailed and has propelled him from obscurity to fame.

It is proving to be an outstanding year for the Australian as in January he qualified to play in this summer’s Open Championship.

Smail, a five-time winner on the Japan Tour, said he hadn’t realized how close it was until the 18th.

“Coming down the last I hadn’t really checked the scoreboard, but then I saw that Nick had come back to eight under," he said.

“At that stage I was quite surprised and couldn’t believe I had a chance.”

Still, Smail was pleased with his week and start of the year, although he would like a return to winning ways.

“I’d like to have a win,” he said. “I haven’t had a win for seven years now. To finally stumble home would be nice.”

For Oh, Sunday proved a long struggle that started with a bogey on the first and ended with one on the 18th.

“I was battling all day … but then Nick made a triple and all of a sudden I’m like ‘woah, man’ and was able to make big putts coming in -- on 15, 16 and 17,” he said.

"But but unfortunately that was it."

Indonesia’s number one golfer Rory Hie ended as the leading local player.

He finished second in this event last year and was delighted with another great tournament which saw him shoot a final round 68 and a tie for ninth place on five under with China’s Liang Wenchong, who carded a 69.

“I am really happy with the way I played today,” said Hie

“I struggled with my ball striking early on, but my short game was really good. I kept getting up and down and chipped one in for par.”

He nearly pulled out of the tournament with a foot problem earlier in the week

"I was wearing a shoe that was too big which caused problems with my left foot," he said. "I wasn’t able to put any weight on it especially on the follow through."

“Thankfully the physiotherapist here is really proficient … it healed the next day."

The Indonesian star made five birdies and one bogey.

“Overall it was a really good week," he said. "I am excited about things I am working on. My short game is great and I just need to fine tune my swing. I expect myself to play well this year."

Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand shot a 71 and finished two under in a tie for 17th.

The next event on OneAsia is the Volvo China Open at Binhai Lake Golf Club in Tianjin. The tournament will be played from April 19 to 22 as is joint sanctioned with The European Tour.

Leading final round scores

Par 72

279 - Nick Cullen (AUS) 72 66 67 74

280 - David Smail (NZL) 68 69 74 69

281 - Michael Long (NZL) 75 73 68 65, Yoshikazu Haku (JPN) 70 69 74 68, David Oh (USA) 72 67 71 71

282 - Satoshi Tomiyama (JPN) 71 70 74 67, Hu Mu (CHN) 73 68 71 70, Stephen Leaney (AUS) 72 70 67 73

283 - Rory Hie (INA) 73 70 72 68, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 69 73 72 69, Park Eun-shin (KOR) 74 69 69 71

284 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74 68 74 68, Kim Meen-Whee (KOR) 70 70 74 70.

285 - Naoto Nakanishi (JPN) 72 71 73 69, Jay Choi (USA) 71 72 71 71, Ashley Hall (AUS) 70 74 67 74

286 - Andik Mauludin (INA) 71 74 72 69, Masaya Tomida (JPN) 72 70 76 68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75 71 69 71, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 73 71 70 72, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 70 71 72 73

287 - Scott Laycock (AUS) 76 71 71 69, Mark Brown (NZ) 76 72 71 68, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 73 74 69 71, Mamo Osanai (JPN) 71 72 69 75

Selected:

296 - Ian Andrew (INA) 73 73 74 76, George Gandranata (INA) 73 72 75 76

Confident Cullen Seizes Lead In Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, March 24 – Australian left-hander Nick Cullen peppered the pins and pulled ahead after the third round of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open at Emeralda Golf Club on Saturday.

The unheralded golfer from Adelaide fired an impressive five-under-par 67 to lead on 11 under.

Cullen opened a four stroke lead over compatriot Stephen Leaney, in the season-opening event, which is jointly sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

Multiple-tour winner Leaney, bidding for a comeback in the game after illness, also shot a 67, while American David Oh carded a 71 and is a stroke further behind.

David Smail from New Zealand, the leader after the first and second rounds, slipped back with 74 and is five under. Two double bogeys on his card proved costly.

Cullen, the 27-year-old who turned professional in 2009, made six birdies and dropped just one shot, playing with a confidence and demeanor that suggests he is a seasoned competitor at this level.

But the Australian said there was no secret to his fine form.

“I am not even thinking about it I am just playing golf,” he said.

“I have been practicing hard and I have put in a lot of hours the last few weeks. As long as I put in the work before I come away for a tournament, I know I am ready.”

Earlier this year Cullen qualified for the Open Championship after making it through international qualifying on home soil and that form seems to be continuing as the year progresses.

“I hit it pretty solid but not as solid as yesterday, but I only missed a couple of fairways," said Cullen.

Cullen said he was giving himself chances to hole putts, but could do better.

"I think I am giving myself too many downhill putts. It is hard to hole downhill putts as you cannot be aggressive."

The relative newcomer to the game is being chased by one of his country’s most successful golfers.

Leaney has won seven times on the PGA Tour of Australasia and has been victorious on four occasions on the European Tour. In 2003 he hit the headlines after finishing second in the U.S. Open

Unfortunately in 2008 he was diagnosed with vertigo and he has struggled to recapture his best form since then.

The 43-year-old had three bogeys, but eight birdies -- including two over the last four holes -- giving him a great chance for an emotional comeback victory.

Oh was delighted to find himself in the top three having aimed just to make the cut ahead of the tournament.

“I’m a little bit nervous as I haven’t been in this position for a long time,” said the California native, making his first start of a season in which he aims to play as much golf as possible on OneAsia and the Japan tour.

Asked what his strategy would be for the final round, Oh said: “I just want to be as steady as I can. Obviously Nick has a good lead and I wouldn’t wish a bad round on anyone, but anything can happen on this course.”

Smail, a five-time winner on the Japan tour, started the day with a one stroke lead from Cullen.

However, he got off to the worst possible start with a double bogey seven on the par five first. He steadied the ship with birdies later on, but then suffered another double on the par-three 16th.

Indonesia’s top golfer Rory Hie continues to lead the local challenge after carding a 72 to lie one under for the tournament.

Hie, who finished second in this event last year, was in position to finish the day closer to the leader but disappointingly double bogeyed the final hole.

Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand is on the same score after returning a 69.

Leading third round scores (par 72):

205 - Nick Cullen (AUS) 72 66 67

209 - Stephen Leaney (AUS) 72 70 67

210 - David Oh (US) 72 67 71

211 - Ashley Hall (AUS) 70 74 67, David Smail (NZ) 68 69 74

212 - Park Eun-shin (KOR) 74 69 69, Mamo Osanai (JPN) 71 72 69, Hu Mu (CHN) 73 68 71

213 - Anthony Summers (AUS) 75 71 67, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 70 71 72, Yoshikazu Haku (JPN) 70 69 74

214 - Ryu Hyun-woo (KOR) 75 71 68, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 73 71 70, Jay Choi (US) 71 72 71, Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN) 70 73 71, Daniel Fox (AUS) 73 70 71, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 69 73 72, Kim Meen-whee (KOR) 70 70 74

Selected:

215 – Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75 71 69, Scott Strange (AUS) 73 73 69, Prom Meesawat (THA) 74 71 70, Rory Hie (INA) 73 70 72

217 - Andik Mauludin (INA) 71 74 72

220 - Ian Andrew (INA) 73 73 74, George Gandranata (INA) 73 72 75

Composed Smail Maintains Lead In Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, March 23 – New Zealand’s David Smail produced another polished performance on Friday to take the halfway lead in the US$1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open.

Smail fired a three-under-par 69, but the bulk of the field struggled to get to grips with Emeralda Golf Club’s demanding course -- where fast greens, narrow fairways and thick rough combined to make the cut plus five.

Smail leads with a seven-under-par 137 by one stroke from Australian left-hander Nick Cullen, who carded a 66 and the lowest round of the week.

A stroke further behind is American David Oh (67), Australia’s Jamie Arnold (68), and Yoshikazu Hazu from Japan (69).

The tournament is jointly sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO), and is the opening event of the season for both circuits.

Smail, a five-time winner on the JGTO, held the first round lead with 68 and again looked comfortable on the course on Friday.

“The score was good but I didn’t play as well as yesterday," said the 41 year old.

"I did not strike it as good although I hit a lot of good shots and had a few bad ones as well," he added. "Maybe there was a lack of concentration at times. I wasn’t quite as focused as yesterday."

The lanky Kiwi’s last tournament was in December last year, but he made five birdies and two bogeys to put himself on the threshold of a first victory since winning two titles in Japan in 2005.

"It would be nice to win again as it has been a while," he said.

"I have been knocking on the door quite a bit with a few seconds and thirds a few years ago. It would be nice to get one that is for sure,” added the six-time World Cup player.

Unheralded Cullen recorded an unblemished bogey-free round with two birdies on the front side and four on the inward half.

“I struck it pretty well today. I hit 14 fairways and 15 greens and I just kept it in play,” said the 27-year-old.

The Australian had three months out of the game last year with a back injury but says he has worked hard to get his game back into shape.

“I am normally a very straight hitter and that is very important around here," said Cullen.

"I was in the rough three or four times yesterday and you just can’t hit it when you get in there, but I kept it in play today."

That said, Cullen felt he left a few putts on the tricky greens.

"The longest putt I holed was a 10 footer,” he said.

Earlier this year Cullen quailed for the Open Championship after making it through international qualifying on home soil.

“I can’t wait. I am trying not to think about it too much," he said.

"I have 10 events before that so I don’t want to base everything around that. It is going to be an amazing experience and I am really looking forward to it.”

Japanese star Hiroyuki Fujita, an 11 time winner on the JGTO, came in with a 71 and is four off the lead.

China’s Liang Wenchong, the 2010 OneAsia Order of Merit winner and three-time winner on the circuit, shot a 73 and is five back.

Indonesia’s top golfer Rory Hie, who finished second in this event last year, carded a 70 and is one under for the tournament.

“I got lucky," said the home town favorite. "I had a problem with my left foot yesterday and I was afraid I would not be able to continue to play as it felt kind of strained.”

Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand returned a 71 and is two over.

Japan’s Shingo Katayama, the five-time winner of the JGTO Money List title, retired at the start of the day with a back injury.

Leading second round scores:

Par 72

137 - David Smail (NZL) 68 69

138 - Nick Cullen (AUS) 72 66

139 - David Oh (USA) 72 67, Jamie Arnold (AUS) 71 68, Yoshikazu Haku (JPN) 70 69

140 – Kim Meen-whee (KOR) 70 70

141 – Hu Mu (CHN) 73 68, Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN) 70 71, Satoshi Tomiyama (JPN) 71 70, Scott Arnold (AUS) 72 69

142 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA) 74 68, Stephen Leaney (AUS) 72 70, Liang Wenchong (CHN) 69 73, Masaya Tomida (JPN) 72 70

143 - Daniel Fox (AUS) 73 70, Rory Hie (INA) 73 70, Mamo Osanai (JPN) 71 72, Park Eun-shin (KOR) 74 69, Ryan Haller (AUS) 73 70, Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN) 70 73, Jay Choi (US) 71 72, Naoto Nakanishi (JPN) 72 71

Selected:

145 – Prom Meesawat (THA) 74 71, Andik Mauludin (INA) 71 74

146 – Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75 71, Scott Strange (AUS) 73 73

Smail Sets Pace At Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open

JAKARTA, March 22 – New Zealand’s David Smail showed no signs of rustiness following a three month break to take the clubhouse lead after the first round of the U.S. $1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open.

He fired a four-under-par 68 at Emeralda Golf Club, where the course is proving to be a stern test for the high-caliber field.

China’s Liang Wenchong, second in this event in 2010, and Australian Rohan Blizard carded 69s.

The tournament is jointly sanctioned by OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organization (JGTO) and is the opening event of the season for both circuits.

Six players were unable to complete their rounds as play was suspended at 6.15pm due to bad light.

Smail, a five-time winner on the JGTO, has not played in a tournament since last December’s Australian Masters, but the rest appears to have paid dividends.

“I haven’t played for a couple of months so I am delighted to have started so well particularly on what is a very tough golf course," said the towering Smail, who stands six feet five inches tall (1.96 m).

"You have to drive it well and I hit most of the fairways.”

The narrow fairways, thick rough and windy conditions turned Emeralda into a difficult layout, but Smail got the better of it making five birdies and dropping just one shot.

He started his round on the back nine with birdies on 10 and 11, and later repeated that feat with birdies on one and two.

His most recent victory in Japan came in 2005 and after a strong start today he is hopeful of an improved year.

“The last couple of years have not been that solid in Japan but I am hoping for a better season,” he said.

The round also marked a triumphant return for Smail as he last played at Emeralda in the 1995 Alfred Dunhill Masters, where victory went to his compatriot Michael Campbell.

Liang, meanwhile, made a birdie on his final hole for an encouraging finish.

“I am excited to be playing this week as I really want to win on the Japan Tour. I have been paying more attention to physical training in the winter and I am hoping that will pay off as the season progresses,” said Liang.

His second place finish in Indonesia two years ago, combined with victories in the Thailand Open and Luxehills Chengdu Open, helped him claim the OneAsia Order of Merit title.

Last year he was unable to repeat that kind of form, but he feels he feels his game is slowly returning.

He added: “I am not thirsty for results. I am just staying patient and enjoying playing each week.”

Japanese star Hiroyuki Fujita, an 11-time winner on the JGTO, finished two under along with compatriots Yoshikazu Haku and Kazuhiro Yamashita, Australian Ashley Hall and Koreans Kim Meen-whee, Lee Dong-min and Kim Seung-hyuk.

Indonesia’s Andik Mauludin ended the day as the leading local player with a 71.

Andik, who has won twice at Emeralda on the domestic circuit, made the turn in two-under-par 34 and moved into a share of the lead after birdies on 10 and 14. However, the wheels came off when he double bogeyed the 15th and then dropped a shot on 16.

“Honestly, I got too excited attacking the pins and forgot that the greens are quite hard today," he said. "The green speed and the thick rough also created some problems.”

His countryman Rory Hie, who finished second in this event last year, fired a 73 while defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant from Thailand shot 75.

New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, the winner in 2010, fell victim to a little-known golf rule and was disqualified.

The Kiwi golfer’s club caddie pulled the flagstick from the hole after he played a chip shot on the ninth green and the ball unerringly found the cup.

If Hendry’s ball had missed the cup no penalty would have resulted, but the ball could have struck the stick had the flag not been pulled.

Ordinarily the infraction would result in a two-shot penalty, but Hendry -- who won the title in 2010 and was joint second last year -- did not realize the error and signed for a three over par 75.

He was disqualified under rule 6.6, which deals with signing an incorrect scorecard.

Completed first round scores:

Par 72

68 – David Smail (NZ)

69 – Liang Wenchong (CHN), Rohan Blizard (AUS)

70 – Ashley Hall (AUS), Kim Meen-whee (KOR), Lee Dong-min (KOR), Kazuhiro Yamashita (JPN), Hiroyuki Fujita (JPN), Yoshikazu Haku (JPN), Kim Seung-hyuk (KOR)

71 – Andik Mauludin (INA), Jay Choi (USA), Mamo Osanai (JPN), Chawalit Plaphol (THA), Jamie Arnold (AUS), Park Jae-bum (KOR), Satoshi Tomiyama (JPN)

72 – Lee Seong-ho (KOR), Stephen Leaney (AUS), Huang Wenyi (CHN), Naoto Nakanishi (JPN), Scott Arnold (AUS), Masaya Tomida (JPN), David Oh (US), Masanori Kobayashi (JPN), Choi Ho-sung (KOR), Nick Cullen (AUS)

Selected:

73 – Rory Hie (INA)

74 – Prom Meesawat (THA), Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

75 – Kim Dae-hyun (KOR), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA)

76 – Shingo Katayama (JPN)

Thaworn Faces Tough Challenge In OneAsia Season Opener

JAKARTA, March 21 – Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant will have to get past a strong Japanese challenge as he begins his defense of the Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open title at Emeralda Golf Club on Thursday -- the opening event of OneAsia’s season.

The Thai ace with the unorthodox swing has long been one of Asia’s brightest stars, but he faces stiff competition this week from a field strengthened by the inclusion of Japan’s top players as part of an historic three-year tie-up between OneAsia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

The tournament is one of five national opens on the OneAsia schedule, which in its fourth season features 14 events and a total purse of over U.S. $16 million, making it the most lucrative regional tour in the Asia Pacific.

The involvement of the Japan tour means OneAsia -- founded by the China Golf Association, the Korea Golf Tour, the Korea Golf Association and the PGA of Australia -- has moved a step closer towards its goal of providing a viable regional alternative to the U.S. PGA and European tours.

The U.S. $1 million Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia Open is the richest event on the country’s sporting calendar and the archipelago of over 17,000 islands, home to the world’s fourth biggest population, boasts some of the most beautiful golf courses in Asia.

Thaworn will have little time to enjoy the scenery if he is to retain his title, with a stiff breeze and punishing rough providing a real test for the professionals at Emeralda, south of the capital, Jakarta.

“It is very difficult,” said Thaworn, who said on the eve of the tournament that he would be happy with a top 20 finish. “The conditions are very tough. You have to play very well to win here.”

Thaworn won last year by a shot from joint runners-up Choi Jin-ho, local favourite Rory Hie and Michael Hendry of New Zealand, the 2010 winner, and he hopes memories of that victory will spark life into his game – especially as he had recently conquered issues with his driver.

“All up here,” he said, tapping his head. “But it is much better now.”

Shingo Katayama, who with 26 titles and career earnings of $20 million leads a formidable Japanese challenge, also pinpointed the rough as being key to success this week.

“Very hard. You must stay on the fairway or you are in trouble,” he said.

Local favourite Hie, meanwhile, was thinking positive thoughts on the eve of his national tournament after a bogey on the final hole last year cost him the chance of becoming only the second Indonesian to triumph.

“I have learnt from that and I am looking ahead now,” he said. “I am focused on what needs to be done and I think I have grown as a player.”

The OneAsia season opener has brought out most of the stars who have shone since the circuit was established in 2009, including maiden Order of Merit winner Scott Strange of Australia and China’s Liang Wenchong, who triumphed the following year.

Kiwi Hendry, meanwhile, who won by seven strokes from Liang in 2010 and was joint runner-up last year, will also be a factor in a tournament he appears to relish.

"I've had great results in Asia and I've set pretty big goals,” he said earlier this week.