Anirban Lahiri has high hopes of kick-starting his 2016 PGA Tour season with a solid showing at the USD 7 million CIMB Classic which starts here tomorrow.
The CIMB Classic is part of the PGA Tour's 2015-16 wrap around season and counts towards the 2016 season for which Lahiri has already secured a card.
And buoyed by Lahiri's success, SSP Chawrasia, who missed his full European Tour card by a whisker last week in Hong Kong, is hopeful of turning in a good display.
"In golf there is always a chance," said Chawrasia. "Yes, I'm very happy to be playing this week. There are a lot of great and top players here and I'm glad to be among them."
Speaking of the course, where he had a Top-10 at the Malaysian Open (won by Lahiri in February 2015), Chawrasia added, "The course is in excellent condition. Every year we play here and it is always in good condition. The rough is not so thick this year so hopefully it will play slightly easier for the Asian Tour players.
"I played many times on this course so I feel comfortable and positive here. I know where to score. My game is okay, I've been playing really well this year. I've only been struggling with my putter so I've been practicing to make it better. I have not won this year but there are many events including this one. I will try my best to win one."
He went on, "This is a very important week for me. If I win, I will be on a different level because I get to play on the PGA TOUR. Many of the Asian Tour guys have played on this course many times so we have some advantage here. Hopefully we do well."
American Ryan Moore is not feeling any pressure when he aims for a third straight victory here.
Moore, who won the prestigious event in 2013 and 2014, said he has nothing to prove when he defends his title against an elite field who includes Major winners Adam Scott of Australia and Ernie Els of South Africa, Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Lahiri at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, West course.
"It's almost less pressure in some ways. I won the last two years, so I don't have that much to prove, necessarily. But you always go into tournaments wanting to win, wanting to play well, and that doesn't change," said Moore.
