Augusta, Georgia, April 7: Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng has a point to prove when he competes in his second Masters Tournament this week.
The Asian Tour star is determined to put on a solid showing at Augusta National after last year's bitter memories where he was forced to withdraw from the second round with injury.
"My health is good now. To play well on this this course, the iron play and putting will be very important. Last year I hurt my back before arriving for the Masters and it affected my game and I couldn't perform," said Prayad, who is the third Thai to play at the prestigious event.
"This week, I have to prove that I can play well at Augusta National. I'm focusing very hard and will give it everything. Last year, people looked down on me after I withdrew so I was determined to play my way back into the event."
Prayad earned his place in the elite field by breaking into the world's top-50 two weeks ago following a superb tied second finish at the Black Mountain Masters in his hometown.
At the halfway stage of the event, Prayad languished in the middle of the field and was given a ticking off by his ailing mother to buck up. "She asked why I was only shooting two under for the round. I'm glad that I managed to come back strongly," said the 43-year-old, who is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour.
"I actually dreamt during the week of the Black Mountain Masters that I was playing in the Masters. And my dream came true."
Confidence will not be lacking for Prayad as he has enjoyed a strong start to the season. The smooth-swinging Thai finished second in the Maybank Malaysian Open and posted a tied 13th outing at the WGC-CA Championshp in Doral where he was the joint first round leader.
Such was Prayad's impressive form in Doral that it caught the attention of world number one Tiger Woods, whose mother is Thai.
Woods said: "I've seen him a bunch of times in Europe, and anytime I've gone over to Asia, we've been not really paired together, but usually in front of me or behind me. So I tell you what, he's done well from where he's come from and what he means to all of the people in Thailand; obviously my mom talks highly of him. It's pretty incredible he's been as successful as he has been considering his starting point."
Prayad's only regret is that his family is unable to join him for his second Masters appearance but hopes to fix it by getting back to Augusta National in 2010.
"I would have liked my family to come with me but it was tough to get the visas done in time after qualifying so late for the Masters. So maybe this will also push me to keep playing well and get back here again next year and then they can come with me," he said.
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About the Asian Tour
As the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, the Asian Tour leads the development of golf across the region, enhancing the careers of its members while maintaining a commitment to the integrity of the game. The Asian Tour, through its membership of the International Federation of PGA Tours, is the only recognised pan-Asian professional golf tour in Asia. This unique feature positions the Asian Tour at the pinnacle of professional golf in Asia; providing its events with Official World Ranking status. Tour Partners include Carlsberg (Official Beer), ESPN Star Sports (Official Regional TV Broadcaster), Pin High (Official Apparel Partner), Ricoh (Official Office Solutions Provider) and Srixon (Official Ball). Sentosa, Singapore's premier island resort getaway, is the Home of the Asian Tour.