Niall Turner at Panasonic Open [Courtesy Asian Tour]
Niall Turner of Team Ireland returns to action this week at the inaugural US$750,000 Indonesian Masters following his top twenty finish at the Panasonic Open [India) two weeks ago and joins Lee Westwood at Royale Jakarta Golf Club, who will be the firm favourite to win the event.
Westwood had an outstanding 2010 season when he won twice around the world and posted seven other top-fives but with victories previously in Malaysia, Japan and Macau, he is confident of challenging for the Indonesian Masters title when he heads to Asia.
“I am looking forward to it very much. I have been coming to play in Asia for many years now although I have only played in Indonesia once before,” he said. “I’ll be doing everything I can to win”.
“I think everything has improved (in Asia). The golf courses have improved, the standard of Asian players has improved and overall everything is better. Now there are Asian players contending against the rest of the world.”
Westwood dislodged Tiger Woods from the top spot on the Official World Golf Rankings at the end of 2010 before being overtaken by Germany’s Martin Kaymer last month. He believes an Asian player would occupy the lofty position in the near future.
“I think Asia has a very a good chance. I mean you have the likes of Noh Seung-yul (the reigning Asian Tour number one) and Ryo Ishikawa and other young players.
The Asian players have a lot of chance and the people in Asia will be watching these young people and if they don’t get to be world number one, then hopefully some of these young kids watching these players will do so one day,” he said.
“I am sure I will face tough competition (at the Indonesian Masters). I mean the Indonesian players and the Asian Tour players are not going to be easy to play against. It’s not easy to come and play in different places so I have to be in top form.”
Westwood first visited Indonesia in 2007 for the Indonesia President Invitational where he finished equal third and hopes to soak in more of the country this time around.
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee, the first man to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit titles, Chapchai Nirat, who holds the world scoring record for 72 holes, and India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar will star in the Indonesian Masters.
