For the Visa Dynasty Cup, The “Fab Five” rookies in the Asia team defence against Japan are confident they can play key roles in the much-anticipated clash next week. In-form Singaporean Mardan Mamat, veteran Thai Boonchu Ruangkit, Amandeep Johl of India, South Korea’s Mo Joong-kyung and late call-up Angelo Que of the Philippines will be making their debuts in Asia’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup at Mission Hills Golf Club here from Friday.
The five can call on years of experience and all bar Johl have won on the Asian Tour.
Mamat comes to the Dynasty Cup after having won through to his second British Open by topping the Asian qualifying tournament in Kuala Lumpur last week.
The 37-year-old Mamat, who played in the 1997 British Open at Royal Troon, hopes to inspire young Singaporeans by producing a good performance.
“It will be a great thing to represent Singapore, as the first player from our country to play in the Dynasty Cup,” he said.
“I hope some of the younger guys will benefit from the good example I can set in an international event. It is always my hope that the youngsters can play as well as me, if not better.”
Johl worked with the media at the last Dynasty Cup and was excited to be handed a captain’s pick this time around.
“I was pleasantly surprised to be picked,” admitted the 36-year-old.
Que, one of the rising stars of Asian golf, was called into the team to replace South Korea’s Charlie Wi, who withdrew due to his commitments on the US PGA Tour.
“I feel really excited to earn a call-up for the Dynasty Cup,” said the 27-year-old Que, who won for the first time on the Asian Tour at the Carlsberg Vietnam Masters last November.
Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee, a repeat winner of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February, and countryman Thaworn Wiratchant, who lifted the Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open last month, will spearhead the challenge against a Japan side, including world number 24 Shigeki Maruyama and Shingo Katayama, winner of the Japan Tour Order of Merit last season.
