Thaworn Looking Forward to Laos

April 30, Luang Prabang: Thaworn Wiratchant, the top-ranked player in South-East Asia, is excited about being part of history at the inaugural US$80,000 Luang Prabang Laos Open.

The veteran Thai jumped up the rankings to world number 161 after finishing second to England’s Lee Westwood at the Indonesia Masters.

Despite a busy schedule that has taken him from Malaysia to Indonesia and onwards to Korea in the past three weeks, Thaworn has committed to playing the opening event on the ASEAN PGA Tour at Luang Prabang Golf Club from May 3 to 6.

“This is the first professional tournament in Laos and I want to be part of it,” said Thaworn, who has won 12 times on the Asian Tour and twice 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 world-class venue located in Luang Prabang, which lies 425 kilometres north of the country’s capital Vientiane.  The city is also notable as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The club is only a 15-minute drive from the town centre and Luang Prabang International Airport.

“The Luang Prabang Laos Open is the first championship golf tournament in Laos which reflects the great cooperation between the government and the private sector. We have joined together to promote Luang Prabang City and also to help develop the golf industry in Laos to a world-class level. The tournament will be a good public relations activity as part of the 'Visit Laos Year’ in 2012,” said Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, Governor, Luang Prabang.

Thaworn, 45, is a wonderful ambassador for golf in the region and regularly plays on the ASEAN PGA Tour. He won the Heritage Melaka Classic in 2009 and the 2010 Singha E-San Open.

The Luang Prabang Laos Open is the first of eight events on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour schedule.