By IANS
Sentosa : Thai star Prayad Marksaeng feels playing in the US Masters starting next week is a dream come true for him and says that he is determined to achieve what countrymen Sukree Onsham and Thongchai Jaidee failed to do – play in all four rounds at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Prayad said that he owes it to himself to perform well in the year’s opening Major from April 10-13 as he believes he would have died if he had not pursued his golfing dreams.
“It’s a dream come true for me. It’s always been my ambition to play in the Masters at least once in my life. I was in top form in 2007 and it made me feel confident that I could earn an invitation,” said Prayad, who was invited with Asian Tour stalwarts Jeev Milkha Singh of India and China’s Liang Wen-chong.
“I would like to take a big step for Thai golf by playing in all four rounds because Sukree and Thongchai failed to do so,” added Prayad, who was the first Thai to qualify for the British Open in 1999.
Prayad,42, is one of six Thai golfing millionaires on the burgeoning Asian Tour, had to toil for a living as his family wasn’t wealthy. He hung around Royal Hua Hin to pick golf balls at the range for Suthep Meesawat, then one of Thailand’s top professionals.
“After Suthep, there were no good Thai players coming up and Khun Santi had a plan to train some boys. I owe a lot to Khun Santi as he also gave me my first golf set,” he said.
“Golf has certainly changed my life, it’s given me my life. I would have died somewhere in Thailand if it wasn’t for golf. If I wasn’t a golfer, you wouldn’t know who Prayad Marksaeng is. I’ve got a good family, a good life now,” Prayad added.