Thailand’s Prom Meesawat is hoping to better his result when he returns to the starting tee for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth which begins on Thursday.

The Thai led the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth after 54 holes at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club last year but fell at his first hurdle when he lost to Australian Min Woo Lee, who won 2-Up against the Thai in the second round of the knockout match play.

Having welcomed his baby boy three months ago, the father-of-two is enjoying the time of his life now and is hopeful of carrying forward his domestic bliss onto the golf course this week.

India’s Viraj Madappa, a one-time Asian Tour winner, is ready to get his season underway in his debut appearance at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth.

Despite missing the cut at the Asian Tour season-opening event in Singapore last month, Madappa believes he has grown in maturity and confidence since his breakthrough on home soil last August.

Major winner Geoff Ogilvy of Australia is meanwhile looking forward to a memorable homecoming having spent 20 years in the United States.

He missed 14 of 16 cuts on the PGA TOUR last year and is planning to wind down his career as he attempts to spend more time with his family.

Did you know?

Prom Meesawat is nicknamed “The Big Dolphin” because of his physique and that he hails from Hua Hin, a coastal town in Thailand.

He finished two shots ahead of the rest of the field after the stroke play rounds last year. The burly Thai golfer, along with seven others in the top eight, went straight into the second round of the knockout matchplay on Sunday. This arrangement will be retained this year.

He lost to Australian Min Woo Lee, who finished the match 2-Up against the Thai.

Viraj Madappa became the youngest Indian player to win on the Asian Tour after lifting the 2018 TAKE Solutions Masters trophy in August.

He won at the age of 20 years and nine months, breaking the previous record set by Gaganjeet Bhullar, who was 21 years and three months old when he won his first Asian Tour title at the 2009 Indonesia President Invitational.

He followed up that win with another two top-10s at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship and season-ending Indonesian Masters to end 2018 in 35th place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Geoff Ogilvy won the US Open in 2006 and also three World Golf Championships.

He was once ranked as high as third place on the Official World Golf Ranking in 2008.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is the final event for players to boost their world rankings and break into the top-50 so as to qualify for the World Golf Championships- Mexico Championship next week.

The ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth is the only tournament in professional golf that features an innovative stroke play and match play format.

Players’ Quotes

Prom Meesawat (Tha)

It’s always nice to be back in a tournament where you have played well. Always good memories. You always try to ride on those positives and play even better. Everyone’s goal here is to win the tournament and you just got to believe in yourself, go out there and enjoy yourself. I was a little disappointed to have missed out on the win last year but the format has been set up this way and you just have to play according to the format. I felt six holes were too short for a match play and if there were more holes, I could have continued to stay in contention. But having said that, Lee played really well last year and I did the best I could then. I’m having a good life outside the golf course too especially being a father to two lovely kids now. It’s the best time of the year when you spend quality time with your little ones.

Viraj Madappa (Ind)

This is the first time I’m playing anything close to this format. It’s going to be exciting. I guess I just have to get through the first three days. I haven’t played too many match play events but I always enjoy playing them whenever I have that chance at home and the international amateur events. The course is lovely. It isn’t very long so you got to place the ball in the right position. The wind picks up in the afternoon and you have to be very careful. I’ve set higher expectations for myself this year. I’m more comfortable on Tour and that should help me a little more this year. I’m more familiar with the golf courses and people. I just have to keep doing my thing and hopefully it all work out. My good friend Shubhankar (Sharma) won the Order of Merit last year and I want to follow that path. My goal is the win the Order of Merit and I’ll try to work towards that. A good finish this week will definitely help.

Geoff Ogilvy (Aus)

I definitely got a bit jaded with the U.S. Tour.  The typical U.S. Tour setup is very similar every week, and it’s great and the PGA TOUR is an incredible tour, its unbelievable, but it just didn’t inspire me anymore.  I wasn’t getting excited to see these golf courses.  Every now and then you get some really amazing ones on that Tour, but generally the setups I didn’t really enjoy.  An added bonus to being here is being able to come and play more tournaments on courses that I enjoy, yeah, and this is one of the examples. We landed in January.  It’s been great.  I haven’t had a smile off my face for a month and a half.  It’s been a long time. I loved living in the U.S. and I loved playing there, and I’ll still play there a bit, I’m sure.  But happy to have the family back in Australia and amongst your people.  I love it in America, I love it here and this is home.  I wanted my kids to experience a little bit what I had.  My wife was always pretty interested in moving here. I’ve never been more motivated to be a good golfer, but I’ve never been less motivated to run around with a suitcase and go to strange places and leave the family.