CHAPCHAI EARNS DREAM DRAW WITH SCOTT AND MICKELSON IN BARCLAYS SINGAPORE OPEN

    Chapchai said he was surprised to earn a shot at eclipsing two of the world's top players in the star-studded US$4 million Asian Tour event at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong Course.

    "I am really excited about the Barclays Singapore Open. It is a big thrill for me and I hope I can play well (in their company)," said Chapchai.

     Scott will bid for a third straight title in Singapore while Mickelson, the world's number two, will be making his debut at the Barclays Singapore Open.

     The 24-year-old Thai, nicknamed 'King Kong' by his peers for his big-hitting game, has fond memories of Singapore as it was at this event two years ago that he came to prominence.

     He jointly shared the first round lead before going on to finish tied 11th and finished runner-up in the following week's Taiwan Open. Since then, Chapchai has broken through on the Asian Tour, winning a maiden title at the TCL Classic in China this season and posting six other top-10s. He is presently fourth on the UBS Order of Merit.

    "I have good memories of the Singapore Open. I was tied for the lead after the first round (with an opening 67) and finished 11th. Last year, I was sick and did not play well but I'm hoping to do better this week.

    "I have had a good year and my aim is to finish in the top three of the Order of Merit. I could make a big move with a good performance this week," said Chapchai.

     While he is one of the longest hitters on Tour, Chapchai will be keeping his driver very much in the bag all week to negotiate the revamped Serapong Course. "The course has changed a lot, there are a lot more bunkers and the greens have changed. I do not think I will be using driver at all - I can hit my three wood 280 yards and I will be using that from most of the tees.

    "My aim is to make the cut and then play more aggressively at the weekend to progress up the leaderboard," he said.

     Current number one Liang Wen-chong of China will play the opening two rounds with world number four Ernie Els of South Africa and US Open champion Angel Cabrera of Argentina.

     Liang, fourth here last season, said he was treating the Barclays Singapore Open just as any other event to keep the self-expectation down.

     "I am treating this week just as any other week. I'm hoping to get the same feelings as I do in the other events. I've not changed anything in my routine, I'm doing the same things like I would do elsewhere. When you think that it's a big or important tournament, the pressure will get to you. I'm trying to do this although it's difficult," said Liang.

     The Chinese star will be hoping to sweep to a Singapore double as he claimed a win at the Singapore Masters earlier this year.

     "Maybe I've been lucky. I enjoy coming to Singapore as I have a lot of friends here who come out to support me. I didn't think I could win the Singapore Masters and when I was preparing for the last putt, I was thinking that at worst, I would still finish second. I've finished second many times in Asia and Japan so it was good to finally win one. I didn't put too much pressure to win that week even when I was in that position," he said.

    With so much to play for this week, Liang knows he needs to keep his focus on his own game as he chases the dream of becoming the first Chinese player to win the UBS Order of Merit.

     "I just want to concentrate on my own game. You can't control what the others will do. I'll just play my own game. There are big name players here and I've played with some top stars previously. Of course there will be pressure but I can only play my own game,"

     To help him keep calm, Liang will put the yoga lessons that he has learnt from swing coach Kel Llewellyn to good effect. "I've started doing a bit of yoga, especially the breathing aspect of it which helps me to relax on the golf course."