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Big names eye victory at RI Open
Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, two-time European Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal of Spain and Asian Tour hero Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand will be vying to win the 2013 Indonesia Open, which will tee off at the Pantai Indah Kapuk golf course from Nov
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wo-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, two-time European Tour winner Pablo Larrazabal of Spain and Asian Tour hero Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand will be vying to win the 2013 Indonesia Open, which will tee off at the Pantai Indah Kapuk golf course from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1.
'I am looking forward to playing in Indonesia, back in Asia, as the season comes to a close. It has been a long year, a pretty consistent one for me, but I haven't quite managed to finish in the winner's circle and would like to do it in Indonesia. The weather conditions suit me and I have been playing well, so I feel I definitely have a genuine chance,' Jaidee, who won the prestigious tournament in 2009, said in a press statement.
Meanwhile, Goosen, who returned in January from a five-month layoff due to a back surgery, would make a comeback in Jakarta.
'I haven't played too much this year due to an injury, but I am back on the course now and believe my game is in a good place. So I hope I will be among the leaders and have a chance of winning the title,' said Goosen, who has four Asian Tour titles.
The Indonesian Golf Association (PGI), which endorsed the US$750,000 tournament, expected to see more local talent joining the event.
'We hope we can add more spots for local players from the current six to at least 10 golfers,' PGI chairman, Arifin Panigoro told a press conference on Thursday.
He said that aside from Rory Hie, who is Indonesia PGA's number one and 2011 and 2012 Player of the Year, there are also some junior golfers that will compete in the event.
'There are four [junior golfers] that have been selected for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games [SEA Games] who will also compete in the event,' he said. The four are William Syabudin, Jordan Irawan, Sukrijal and Kevin Akbar.
Arifin had hope that the Indonesia Open tournament would be a good tryout for the golfers before they compete at the SEA Games in Myanmar from Dec. 11 to Dec. 22. The PGI is targeting to win two gold medals at the biennial event.
