May 25, 2018: Australia’s Scott Hend hopes to bounce back into form and challenge for a 10th Asian Tour title at the US$300,000 Thailand Open, which gets underway from June 7 to 10.
The 2016 Asian Tour number one struggled with a back injury earlier this year but is determined to turn the corner when he returns to Thailand, the country where he has won three out of nine Asian Tour titles.
The big-hitting Hend will be part of a strong line-up of Asian Tour stars gathered at the Thai Country Club. He will be joined by Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, Xiao Bowen of China and 2017 Rookie of the Year Micah Lauren Shin of the United States.
The home challenge will be spearheaded by defending champion Rattanon Wannasrichan, Thaworn Wiratchant, the only player to win three Order of Merit titles, Pannakorn Uthaipas, Panuphol Pittayarat and Jazz Janewattananond.
Hend uncharacteristically missed five out of 10 cuts in 2018 but believes he is slowly rediscovering his form and ready to put up a title challenge at the Thailand Open, which will kick-start the second edition of the Panasonic Swing series.
“I had a little bit of back issues. My back’s getting better and it’s good to go now. After an extended break, it takes me a little bit more time to sharpen up again and try to win a tournament. I’m trying to fast track that a little bit and we’ll see how it goes,” said Hend.
His dip in form has seen him slip out of the top-200 on the Official World Golf Ranking but Hend is confident he will start playing his best golf again.
“I always try to finish the year inside the top-50 on the world rankings but my rankings have been slipping rapidly because I’ve not been playing well. But I hope to change that very soon,” said Hend, who enjoyed a tied sixth result at the Thailand Open last year.
Hend is one of the most successful international golfers on the Asian Tour. He became the first Australian to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit title and the fourth player to surpass US$1 million in earnings during a season in 2016. During the same year, he was also voted by his peers as the Players’ Player of the Year.
Asian Tour Release
