Pic: Danny ChiaDANNY Chia is no stranger to the Maybank Malaysian Open, and has seen his name at the leader-board on two occasions, only to falter after the cut-off.
And he is eager to prove himself again, when he tees off at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (KLGCC) alongside 21 other Malaysian hopefuls.
The fact that no Malaysian has won this national cham pionship since 1962, has made him more determined.
“I came close in 2008 and 2009, only to crumble under pressure. However, I have taken it as a learning curve, and as always, will aim to make an impression at the KLGCC,” said Chia.
He has had a lousy start this season, as he was bogged down by a wrist injury, but he has amassed over US$600,000 in The Asian Tour since 2004, He was also the first Malaysian to win on the Tour, when he triumphed in the 2002 Taiwan Open.
Chia was in contention in the Maybank Malaysian Open in 2008, and was the halfway leader in the 2009 edition before finishing in tied 11th.
“I have recovered from the injury, well almost 90 per cent, and after playing a round this morning (yesterday), I feel the greens at KLGCC are much better than last year.
“The greens have matured, unlike last year when the course was newly refurbished, and I believe it is going to be a better Open for me as well as the other Malaysians,” said Chia.
Among the other local hopefuls are Iain Steel, Ben Leong, Shaaban Hussin and S. Siva Chandhran.
While Chia currently sits in 64th place on the Asian Tour career earnings, his compatriot Iain Steel lies as the highest ranking Malaysian in 57th place with earnings of US$664,246.
Steel holds the distinction as the first golfer from the country to play in the British Open and is highly regarded as the most consistent golfer on the Asian Tour where he has kept his Tour card since 2006.
An elusive Asian Tour title continues to elude Steel, whose father is Scottish, but it would be a fitting occasion should he win the elusive Seagram Trophy next week.
On the other side of the spectrum, Ben Leong will be eager to make his first cut in the Malaysian Open after five attempts.
The young Malaysian was victorious in the 2008 Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters, which saw him beat Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand in an epic duel and he has gone on to enjoy fruitful results on the Asian tour.
However, with the world No 1 Martin Kaymer of Germany and newly crowned Masters champion South Africa’s Charl Schwartzel also on the same course, it will be a mammoth task for a Malaysian to sweep the elusive title.
