May 17, 2017: Korean-American David Lipsky hopes to stretch his lead on the current Order of Merit by putting on a strong showing at the US$300,000 Thailand Open, which gets underway on Thursday.
A victory at the Thai Country Club this week will move Lipsky closer towards his goal of becoming only the fourth multiple Order of Merit winner on the Asian Tour. He was previously crowned the Order of Merit champion in 2014.
Lipsky, who is making his debut appearance in the historic event, will be vying for honours alongside Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Prayad Marksaeng, Thaworn Wiratchant and reigning Order of Merit winner Scott Hend of Australia in the storied event.
“I started my career on the Asian Tour and won the Order of Merit in 2014. I am in a good position again now. There are a lot of good guys out here and to be part of this class means a lot to me, especially coming from Asian descent.”-David Lipsky
Hend will be looking to continue his affinity with Thailand after claiming three victories in the Kingdom, including two in 2016. He is chasing for a 10th Asian Tour title this week.
Singaporean Mardan Mamat marked another career milestone by playing in his 400th Asian Tour event at the Thailand Open. He is only the second player after Thaworn to achieve this feat.
Other notable players in the field include Indian duo Shiv Kapur and Gaganjeet Bhullar, Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat and Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who sits in fourth place on the current Order of Merit.
The Thailand Open, one of the oldest National Championship in Asia, is returning onto the Asian Tour schedule following an eight-year lapse.
Did you know?
- Lipsky came in runner-up at the lucrative Maybank Championship in February to lead the current Order of Merit with earnings of US$333,330.
- Lipsky won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2014 and is chasing to become only the fourth multiple Order of Merit winner on the region’s premier Tour following Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (2001, 2004 and 2009) Thaworn Wiratchant (2005 and 2012) and India’s Jeev Milkha Singh (2006 and 2008).
- Lipsky is making his debut appearance in the Thailand Open, which was inaugurated in 1965.
- Hend is the first Australian to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
- Mardan, hailed as the most successful golfer in the Lion City, is the first Singaporean to win on the Asian Tour in 2004. He holds a total of five Asian Tour titles and one Asian Development Tour (ADT) title.
- Lu is a five-time winner on the Asian Tour. He is also a former winner of the Thailand Open in 1990.
- In 2016, Lu claimed two victories on his domestic Tour at the age of 53.
Asian Tour Release
