Thirteen Asians among World top 200

December 17, 2013: As the race to for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro heats up, the top Asians line up to enhance their Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The elite 60-man field will be decided based on the world rankings.

Currently, thirteen members of the Asian Tour have notched position within the top-200 on the OWGR. The list includes three Indians as well. Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand is the highest ranked Asian on 46th position.

Thongchai, a three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, ensured that he finished the year inside the top-50 bracket following his tied 10th result at the star-studded Thailand Golf Championship.

The Thai was ranked 80th at the end of 2012 but made huge strides on the OWGR after claiming nine top-10s around the globe including two runner-up finishes at the BMW Masters in October and Volvo World Match Play Championship in May.

[highlight] Anirban Lahiri of India moved up to 111th position after finishing tied fourth at the Thailand Golf Championship, is the highest ranked Indian on OWGR [/highlight]

By finishing inside the top-50 in the world at the end 2013, Thongchai earned the opportunity to play at the Masters Tournament in April next year, his third appearance in the year’s first Major event.

Following the footsteps of senior Thai, is compatriot Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, is ranked 59th in the world courtesy of his victory at the Maybank Malaysian Open in March.

He also notched seven other top-10s including a commendable tied third finish at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour, as well as a tied fifth result at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf in Australia.

Liang Wen-chong of China, winner of the Resorts World Manila Masters last month, is ranked 104th in the world.

Anirban Lahiri of India moved up to 111th position after finishing tied fourth at the Thailand Golf Championship, is the highest ranked Indian on OWGR.

Meanwhile Scott Hend of Australia, winner of three Asian Tour titles in 2013, is placed 123rd while Asian Tour honorary members K.J. Choi of Korea and Vijay Singh of Fiji occupy 134th and 135th positions respectively.

Among the other Asian Tour players ranked inside the top-200 include Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, who is ranked142n.

Shiv Kapur of India is positioned  at 143rd after some consistent performance in 2013. While, Gaganjeet Bhullar follows him at 148th after winning of the Indonesia Open title.

Another seasoned Thai, Prayad Marksaeng  is 160th in the world ranking , Japan’s Masanori Kobayashi is 163rd and  star golfer of Bangladesh, Siddikur Rahman is placed 166th.

With the inaugural EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM looming, the Asian Tour players will also jostle for a spot in Team Asia, which is captained by Thongchai, through the Order of Merit or their rankings on the OWGR.