The 23-year-old uncharacteristically missed the cut in his last two tournaments, including The Open Championship last week, but a first trip to TPC Southwind in Memphis has given him a fresh dose of confidence.

In his last three WGC starts, the slender Chinese has not finished lower than T19, which he achieved at the WGC-Mexico Championship in February.

Li posted a T11 at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last fall before adding a commendable T9 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin in March after progressing past the group stage where he defeated current FedExCup No. 1 Brooks Koepka and Europe’s Ryder Cup star Alex Noren.

His best finish in a WGC remains a T7 at the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions which he aims to improve this week. Li, a two-time European Tour winner, begins his campaign in the company of American veteran star Phil Mickelson and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen in the first round.

“I always enjoy playing in the World Golf Championships. You always get good players in the tournament and it’s very big,” said Li.

Visiting Memphis, a historical city known as the home of Blues, Soul, and Rock ‘n’ Roll and famous for its BBQs, for the first time, the young Asian talent is also keen to secure his debut appearance in the Presidents Cup for the International Team.

Despite missing the cut last week, the World No. 46 remains in fifth position on the team’s points standings, with the top-8 players as at August 19 securing automatic places in Captain Ernie Els’ team to face  the United States Team at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in December.

Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan is also chasing for honours this week where he will play alongside two former Masters Tournament champions in Bubba Watson and Adam Scott in the opening two rounds. Pan won the RBC Heritage in April for his first PGA TOUR win and like Li,  he is hoping to secure a maiden appearance in the Presidents Cup where he currently ranks sixth on the International Team standings.

The WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational is Pan’s second WGC appearance after he finished T22 at the WGC-HSBC Champions last year.

 A stellar line-up of stars led by Koepka, who is also the World No. 1, will feature in the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational. After 19 editions at Firestone Country Club, the event moves to TPC Southwind, former host of the FedEx St. Jude Classic, for the first time this week.

 American Justin Thomas is the defending champion while the most recent winner at TPC Southwind is Dustin Johnson. This week’s field will feature nine of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings in the field with two weeks remaining in the race for the Wyndham Rewards Top 10 which pays out the No. 1 ranked player at the end of the Regular Season with a US$2 million bonus.

They are joined by another 34 players in the top 40 on the Rolex Rankings, as well as defending Evian champion and World No. 45 Angela Stanford.

Evian is the first week of a two-week major stretch, followed by next week’s AIG Women’s British Open at Woburn Golf Club in Milton Keynes, England. While this is a rare phenomenon, it is not the first time majors have been held in consecutive weeks. In 1952 and 1953, the Women’s Western Open (no longer a major) and the U.S. Women’s Open were played in consecutive weeks. In 1956, 1958, 1959 and 1960, the Women’s Western Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship were played in consecutive weeks. In 1955, the Women’s Western Open, U.S. Women’s Open and KPMG Women’s PGA Championship were played three in a row, but with an off-week between the U.S. Women’s Open and the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

There are several other times when majors were played consecutively, but with at least one off-week between them. Most recently, the 2011 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, won by Yani Tseng, and the U.S. Women’s Open, won by So Yeon Ryu, were played back to back, but with an off-week between them.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE EVIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

• This is the seventh edition of The Evian Championship since it became a major championship in 2013
• From 2000-2012 (13 years) the tournament was held as a non-major event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA, called the Evian Masters (2000-2008) and the Evian Masters presented by Societe Generale (2009-2012)
• The tournament was held solely as an LET event from 1994-1999 called the Evian Masters
• Defending champion Angela Stanford won the 2018 event for her first career major title in her 436th career LPGA start
• 37 of the top 40 players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will compete this week
• 26 different countries will be represented in the field this week, including three players from France
• The Evian Championship is the fourth major of the 2019 LPGA Tour season and will be followed up by the Tour’s final major, the AIG Women’s British Open (August 1-4, 2019)

WORLD NO. 1 SUNG HYUN PARK LEARNS TOUGH LESSONS FROM 2018

Sung Hyun Park took a two-week break before heading into this week’s Evian Championship, where is she making her fourth career start. Last year, Park missed the cut in Evian and also at the U.S. Women’s Open, and two missed major cuts were a jolt to her system.

“After being cut from last year’s tournament I was a little shocked,” said Park, who shot a 6-over 77 in the second round in 2018. “It was the first time my sister came and watched a major tournament, so she felt sad for me, too. It was hard to swallow the results, but it was a good learning experience. This year I feel that my shots and putts are better than last year.”

Park is searching for the third major victory of her career and feels positive about her game. She is especially excited about a big adjustment to the course, changing the No. 18 from a par-4 to a driveable par-5.

“When I saw that the 18th was changed from par-4 to par-5 I was actually glad,” said Park, who birdied No. 18 three times and made six pars in her three Evian appearances. “I’m not saying that it is easier. There is definitely a long distance for the second shot and there is a hazard right in front of it, but I believe that it’s going to be more fun now that it’s a par-5.”

So will she aim for that final green in two? With a wily smile, she quickly answered that question with one word. “Yes.”

KORDA READY FOR RARE EVIAN HEAT

The 2019 Evian Championship marks the major competition’s return to the July dates it held before it joined the major ranks in 2013. After poor weather plagued the championship for the last five years, the move was met with near unanimous applause. So instead of the autumnal chill of mid-September, this week’s field is faced with temperatures soaring into the 90s and blazingly bright French skies.

Jessica Korda is planning to “conserve as much energy as possible” as she heads into the stretch of consecutive majors, joining next week AIG Women’s British Open, which is also forecasting to be a warm week. “It’s obviously beautiful. I think the move to this time of year is going to be really positive,” said Korda of the week in Evian. “Obviously a lot warmer than we’re used to.”

This week marks Korda’s 45th major appearance and the 26-year-old American, who has five LPGA titles to her name, would love to add that first major win to her victory roster here at Evian.

“I think we’ve really built up to event to something really, really cool. Even the celebration on 18 is something that you definitely want. You want to see that U.S. flag coming down. We saw it for Stanford last year, which was really cool,” said Korda. “Just like the last couple years, I mean, the atmosphere here is amazing. And like I said, them moving it to this time year I think it’ll be even better. We won’t have to be worried about the weather as much and hopefully play four great rounds out here.

NOTABLE FIRST-ROUND GROUPINGS

Highlighting the morning groupings are three of the LPGA’s 2019 major winners – Hannah Green, Jeongeun Lee6 and Jin Young Ko at 8:36 a.m.

Defending champion Angela Stanford tees off with fellow Evian champions Anna Nordqvist (2017) and In Gee Chun (2016) at 12:05 p.m.

World No. 1 Sung Hyun Park tees off at 12:16 p.m. with No. 3 Lexi Thompson and No. 4 Minjee Lee. 

DESIGNATED HOLE FOR AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE

The season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge will highlight the world’s best professional golfers as they tackle themost strategically challenging holes across both the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR schedules. The player from each Tour on top of the Aon leaderboard at the end of the regular season will receive a $1 million prize. The scoring system is identical on both the LPGA Tour and PGA TOUR, and players will take their best two scores from each Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole, with the winners having the best average score to par at the end of the season. Players must play a minimum of 40 rounds throughout the season. The Challenge runs across regular season tournaments (29 LPGA Tour; 36 PGA TOUR).

The designated Aon Risk Reward Challenge hole at The Evian Championship is the 14th. This par 3 can be played from 225 to 150 yards, depending on hole location and the tee being used. The biggest challenge comes on the green which slopes against the natural terrain, so a putt that looks as though it breaks one way will actually go in the opposite direction. To avoid a big number here, players will have to rely on their practice rounds to allow for the correct break – and not believe what their eyes tell them. Particular care is required for tee shots into a back right hole location.

For more information about the Aon Risk Reward Challenge, visit www.lpga.com/statistics/aon-risk-reward-challenge.

RACE TO THE CME GLOBE UPDATE 

Jin Young Ko continues to lead the 2019 Race to the CME Globe with 2,574 points, followed by 2019 LPGA winner Brooke Henderson with 2,122 points and LPGA Mediheal Championship winner Minjee Lee in third with 2,091 points.

The 2019 season brings a fresh face to the Race to the CME Globe. LPGA Members will accumulate points at each official LPGA Tour event leading up to the CME Group Tour Championship. The top 60 points earners and ties will then earn a spot in the CME Group Tour Championship, with the entire field competing for the $5 million purse and the $1.5 million winner’s check, the largest single prize in the history of women’s golf.  

CHRISTOPHE CHENIN NOMINATED FOR LPGA’S AXA LPGA VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD

The tournament is proud to recognize Christophe Chenin as an outstanding volunteer at the The Evian Championship for the 2019 AXA LPGA Volunteer Service Award.

For more information on the AXA XL LPGA Volunteer Service Award, visit www.lpga.com/axa-xl.

TOURNAMENT SCORING RECORDS*

18 holes: 61, Hyo Joo Kim, First Round, 2014

36 holes: 129, In Gee Chun, 2016

54 holes: 194, In Gee Chun, 2016

72 holes: 263, In Gee Chun, 2016

*Since becoming an LPGA major championship in 2013

AON RISK REWARD CHALLENGE HOLE

No. 14, par 3

SOCIAL MEDIA – #DriveOn

Tournament: @EvianChamp, @evianresort; #EvianChamp

LPGA: @LPGA, @LPGAMedia, @lpga_tour

In the men’s doubles, Indonesia’s Leo Rory Carnando and Daniel Marthin beat Thailand’s Thanawin Madee and Ratchapol Makkasasithorn 21-11 and 21-14 while in the women’s singles, Putri Kusuma Wardani, down 0-1, came back to beat Phittayaporn Chaiwan 18-21, 21-12 and 21-11.

Then the Thai rally began – Kunlavut Vitidsarn won his men’s singles 21-16-15-21 21-18 against Bobby Setiabudi to reduce the deficit before Benyapa Aimsaard and Peeraya Khantaruangsakul beat Nita Violina Marwah and Putri Syaikah 21-16-15-21 21-8 in the women’s doubles to level the final at 2-2.

Phittayaporn Chaiwan and Kunlavut Vitidsarn overcame Carnando and Indah Cahya Sari Jamil 21-12, 21-16 in the decisive mixed doubles.

Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) president KunyingPatama Leeswadtrakul said: “We’re impressed with the fighting spirit of these junior players who fought back to win 3-2.

“This is the first time Thailand has won this prestigious event. This is an important step for Thai badminton. They are future national team players.”

Patama added that the only major event to elude Thai badminton players to date has been the Olympic Games.

The 26-year-old Poom will tee up in the US$10.25-million World Golf Championships-FedEx St Jude Invitational in Memphis, Tennessee on Thursday with every intention of upstaging the stars.

Poom earned his place in the elite field by winning the Indonesian Masters in December for his third Asian Tour title. While his recent form has been off key, the likeable Thai is determined to make the most of his second WGC appearance.

“Playing in this big event is a big opportunity for me, especially when the prize money is high and the field is very strong,” said Poom.

Last year, Poom stood out as a hero for Team Asia in their defeat to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia. He first partnered South Korea’s Sung Kang, who is also in the field this week, to defeat Stenson and Frenchman Alex Levy 5 & 4 in the fourball format and then stunned Casey 1-up in the singles.

“We need to rename him ‘Assassin’ instead of Saksansin,” joked Stenson, who is a six-time PGA Tour winner including the 2007 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Poom’s victory was especially sweet as he grew up idolising Stenson.

Casey, a three-time PGA Tour winner, recalls his encounter against the Thai. “He flatly beat me … putted brilliantly and dusted me off at the last. And I was playing very nicely that week. I was trying to get a clean sweep of points. But that just shows how good he is, and I’m a good match play player,” said the Englishman.

Poom, who finished a commendable 24th place in the 2017 WGC-HSBC Champions in China, knows he needs to regain his form after hitting a road bump recently thanks to a misbehaving driver.

“My form is not on track at the moment but I’m doing everything I can to improve my game. I need my driver to work again,” said Poom, who has hit 54 per cent of fairways on the Japan Tour and 64 per cent on the Asian Tour this season.

“For me, WGC is big event. As there is no [halfway] cut, there will be less pressure, so it should be a good time to perform. I’m hoping to have a good time in Memphis,” added the Thai, who is currently ranked 249th in the world after starting the year in 140th position.

While countrymen Kiradech Aphibarnrat, the first Thai to play full-time on the PGA Tour, and Jazz Janewattananond have emerged as the country’s leading golfers in recent times, Poom is keen to get into the act and take his game onto the big stage on a regular basis.

“Kiradech is showing Thai golfers can get to the PGA Tour and he’s inspiring the kids,” said Poom, who is the lone Thai in the field this week.

He learned to play the game at the age of 10 and started beating his father regularly when he was 12. Poom represented Thailand and helped the team win the gold medal in the regional Southeast Asian Games in 2011 and 2013 before turning professional.

Poom harboured dreams of playing collegiate golf in the US but failed the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). “I got straight A’s in most of my studies but not English. I would sleep in that class,” he said with a laugh.

With the opportunity to show what he is capable of doing this week, Poom is looking forward to playing in front of the Memphis fans. “When I watch golf on TV, I love the fans. It is exciting for golfers when there are big crowds. I want to be playing in front of big crowds all the time if I can,” said Poom.

Players are competing in a round-robin format of 8 groups comprising four or five players, with the top 2 players in each group advancing to the knockout stage.

Thai snooker legend Wattana Phu-ob-orm (aka James Wattana) and his fellow professionals, Noppol Sangkham and Akani Songsermsawas, are in the field and required to give amateur players a 7-point start every frame.

Noppol

“With world-ranked players taking part this year, we can be sure of high-quality snooker,” said Sunthorn Jarumon, president of the Billiards Sports Association of Thailand. “Ratings on True Visions are very good and holding the tournament in a shopping centre like this will surely draw big crowds.”

As many as 24 matches are being played every day.

The event is being broadcast live on True Visions three times a day – 13.30pm, 15.30pm and 17.30pm.

If you can make it to Fashion Island, entry costs just Bt50 and is valid for the whole day.

Jiraphon Kawswat, president and chief executive of OR, which sponsors Alex, and Matthew Strachan of Scuderia Toro Rosso made the announcement at PTT headquarters on Tuesday.

Alex becomes the sole Thai national currently competing in Formula 1 and only the second Thai ever to have competed, the first being Prince Birabongse Bhanudej Bhanubandh, who gained global fame among racing fans as “Prince Bira” back in the 1950s.

PTT Lubricants, an OR brand, has been sponsoring Alex since he started in Formula 2 last year.

Thanks to outstanding performance, he’s been selected for Scuderia Toro Rosso’s F1 team this year.

Jiraphon said OR hopes its sponsorship deal gives Alex the chance to show off his skills at the world’s leading racing events and put Thailand back on the global F1 map.

“I’m really grateful to PTTOR and PTT Lubricants and look forward to representing them around the world,” Alex said. “To be able to count on their support moving forward is really significant and I’m relishing the chance to work closely with them in the future. I’m incredibly honoured and happy to welcome PTTOR to the Toro Rosso family.

Albon is currently in 12 position in the F1 standings after 10 of the 21 races for the season, scoring points in Bahrain (9th place 2 pts), China (10th place 1 pt) and Monaco (8th place 4 pts). His next race will be the German GP at on July 29-29.

Jiraphon said OR aims to help earn Thai products recognition as global brands and has been supporting various national and international motorsport events, providing opportunities for Thai drivers to gain experience at high-profile competitions on the global stage.

Events supported by OR include the Thailand Super Series and BRIC Superbike by PTT Station.

Since last year, OR and PTT have also been the main official sponsors of MotoGP, dubbed the world’s most challenging motorbike race and currently called PTT Thailand Grand Prix.

“I didn’t expect this one because the course is so different,” Tavatanakit explained. “With the wind the past few days, it was very challenging. I would say tree-lined courses give me more focus to keep my shot in play. Even more difficult was to leave myself in good position on the green and then convert the putts. His design is sloping greens and tough pins. Managing the course well, especially the par-5s, helped a lot.”

COLEMAN CAPTURES CAREER-BEST FINISH

Playing in the Danielle Downey Credit Union Classic final pairing for the second consecutive year, Jenny Coleman (Rolling Hills Estates, California)capitalized on the opportunity for a career-best finish on the “Road to the LPGA” of solo second at 13-under par overall. 

“All week I hit the ball well,” said Coleman, who found her way to a final round 3-under par 69. “Putter was a little cold, but had a hot round yesterday. I was in this position last year, played some decent golf and this year finally closed really good for my best Symetra Tour finish. Top-five results are crucial out here and to get this is the perfect time to do it. Now, I just need to keep going after it.”

VOLVIK RACE FOR THE CARD STANDINGS AFTER WEEK FIFTEEN

Following the 15th tournament of the 2019 Symetra Tour season, the Volvik Race for the Card welcomes a fresh top-10.

The victory and $26,250 winner’s check move Tavatanakit up eight spots to No. 4, having earned $75,121 across four starts this season. Here is a look at the current top-10 heading into the 35th annual CDPHP Open at Capital Hills Golf Course in Albany, N.Y. from July 26-28:

1. Perrine Delacour (Paris, France) – $113,501

2. Jillian Hollis (Rocky River, Ohio) – $93,821

3. Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) – $82,444

4. Patty Tavatanakit – $75,121

5. Julieta Granada (Asuncion, Paraguay) – $69,132

6. Ssu-Chia Cheng (Taipei, Chinese Taipei) – $61,695

7. Nuria Iturrioz (Mallorca, Spain) – $57,990

8. Esther Lee (Los Alamitos, California) – $57,878

9. Jenny Coleman – $56,267

10. Min Seo Kwak (Seoul, Republic of Korea) – $55,447

NOTABLE QUOTES

Lauren Coughlin (-12, T3) on ending tied for third in Rochester:

“It’s a really good finish and will help me move up some spots in the Volvik Race for the Card. Always good momentum when you get a top-five. I’ve been playing and hitting the ball really well, but a couple bogeys here and there that I shouldn’t make. That’s really the difference right now. I had seven bogeys throughout the week, but clean that up and I can have a really good week in Albany.”

Julieta Granada (-12, T3) on a solid finish at Brook-Lea Country Club:

“Today actually felt amazing. I’ve been sort of hanging around for quite a few weeks where I can’t seem to put everything together and am not too sharp on Sunday. Last week was a missed cut and this week I refocused. It felt nice, made some bombs out there and that always makes me happy.”

Leona Maguire (-10, T10) on a bogey-free, 7-under par 65 in the final round:

“It was a bit of a frustrating week for me on the greens, had given myself a lot of chances and couldn’t get the ball to the hole. I had chip-ins on the only two greens I missed today, at No. 6 out of the bunker and again on No. 8 to give me some good momentum. Putted nicely and a lot better gauge of the pace. It’s always nice to finish a tournament with a bogey-free round and a low one at that.”

PLAYER NOTES

Patty Tavatanakit

• Tavatanakit, 19, is a native of Bangkok, Thailand
• Attended the Keerapat International School in native country
• Winner of the Callaway Junior World Golf Championship in 2014
• Named the 2016 American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Player of the Year
• Two-time AJGA winner in 2016 at Ping Invitational and Rolex Tournament of Champions
• Member of the West Team at the 2017 Wyndham Cup and finished with 4-0-0 overall record
• Seven collegiate victories during her two years at UCLA, as well as total of 12 career top-10s
• 2018 Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) and Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honoree
• Two-time All-Pac 12 First Team and WGCA First Team All-American selection for the Bruins
• One of nine players that ended under par in the 2018 U.S. Women’s Open, finishing T5 to earn low amateur honors
• Made professional debut at 2019 U.S. Women’s Open with T34 result and Symetra Tour debut at 2019 Island Resort Championship going T14
• Carded a career low and 18-hole tournament scoring record 11-under par 61 in the final round of the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic as a tournament sponsor exemption
• Stepped into the winner’s circle for the first time as a professional at the 2019 Donald Ross Classic

Ireland’s Shane Lowry swept aside all his closest rivals by closing with a 72 to lift his first Major title in front of the thousands of adoring Irish fans at Royal Portrush.

“It was amazing.  It’s just hard to believe. I think there were a lot of people from where I’m from, I spotted a few people in the crowd, and I think a lot of people made the last-minute journey up here this morning because I was leading. And it was just was great out there today.

“Portrush have just been incredible. Obviously I’ve had success here in the past in amateur events. But to be able to win and celebrate with local people is obviously very nice,” said Lowry.

Lowry’s winning total of 15-under-par 269 saw him edge out England’s Tommy Fleetwood by a commanding six-shot after the Englishman posted a 74 to finish outright second.

Tony Finau of the United States closed with a 71 to take third place while world number one Brooks Koepka of the United States and England’s Lee Westwood shared fourth place with their 278 total.

Park, who finished second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2018, capped a memorable week at Royal Portrush as he surpassed the likes of Major champions such as Louis Oosthuizen, Henrik Stenson and Jordan Spieth with his final position on the leaderboard.

Starting the day tied for 19th place, the Korean traded two bogeys and a birdie on a cold and wind-swept day to close with a 282 total at Royal Portrush, where the year’s final Major was making its return to after 68 years.

“I’m delighted to have made Asia and Korea proud today. It was not easy playing under such wet and windy conditions and we are generally not used to that. But I managed to hang in there all week and I’m glad my efforts paid off,” said Park.

It was a remarkable turnaround for the 36-year-old as he had missed the cut in his Carnoustie debut last year.

Park ensured he would prolong his stay in his second appearance at The Open by accustoming himself to the weather conditions by playing at the Irish and Scottish Opens prior to his arrival to Royal Portrush.

“Although I missed the cuts in those two events, it was a very good learning experience. I got to learn how to hit my balls better into the wind and all the different aspects of controlling the ball better,” said Park.

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat signed off with his best round at The Open with a 67 to take tied-32nd place while South Africa’s Justin Harding posted a 76 to take a share of 41st place.

India’s Shubhankar Sharma, who is the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, marked his best performance at a Major championship by closing with a 68 to finish tied-51st while Japan’s Yosuke Asaji closed with a 76 to share 67th place with American JB Holmes, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.

Despite struggling with a knee injury and playing through the pain barrier all week, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion showed grit and determination by ending the week on a high note.

“I managed myself really well today. I conserved my energy and managed to play in the wind. It was one of my best rounds at The Open.

“I’ve never had a good track record at The Open so it’s nice to have a 67 on my card today. My job has been done for the week and I got a few weeks off to rest my knee,” said Kiradech.

The Thai had only made the cut once in his previous five appearances before he teed up at Royal Portrush this week.

He started his week encouragingly with a bogey-free 68 but could not replicate his opening round efforts when he posted a 73 on the second day.

Kiradech continued to endure the nagging pain felt throughout the week and settled for a third round 77 before a final round 67 saw him close with a four-day total of one-over-par 285 at the world’s oldest Major.

“It was not fun playing with the pain all week. I tried to force myself, executing the full golf swing but it didn’t work. I tried to hit it harder but the body is not 100% fit and ready.

“But today, I changed my strategy by hitting the ball softer. When the wind is strong, you have to hit it softer which helps with the swing,” said Kiradech.

Speaking to the Thai media in Bangkok for the first time since signing a deal with the Football Association of Thailand in Tokyo on Friday, the former Japan manager was adamant he could lead Thailand to a win over arch-rivals Vietnam and progress to the third qualification stage of the Cup.

But the 64-year-old from Saitama will not take charge of the full team until August 26 when the players complete their Thai League games. That means he has only 10 days to prepare the War Elephants for the 2022 World Cup Qualification group stage opener against neighbours Vietnam on September 5.

“I have no worry,” Nishino said during a press conference on Sunday. “I was asked this same question when I was assigned to coach Japan two months before the World Cup in Russia last year. The team made it to the round of 16,” added the Japanese, who will also oversee the U23 team.

Despite having limited time for preparation, Nishino believes Thai players have the potential to reach a higher level and can clear the first hurdle against Vietnam.

“From my experience in Japan, I believe I can elevate the level of Thai players. I will apply the same techniques I used in Japan with the Thai players. I expect to beat Vietnam and lead Thailand to the World Cup Finals,” said Nishino, who also led Kashiwa Reysol to the J-League title in 1999.

“But the players have to improve themselves too. I alone wont be able to achieve the end goals without support from the players, Thai FA and fans,” added Nishino who insists he has no plan to bring along Japanese staff for his coaching lineup and prefers to work with Thai colleagues.

Apart from Vietnam, Thailand share the group with the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Malaysia in the Asian Qualifiers, which will be played in a home-and-away round robin format from September until June 2020. The top teams from eight groups plus four best second-placed teams will proceed to the third qualifying stage.

“We are in a group that is not too tough but not easy as well. The good thing is we don’t have to travel far for the games as most are in Asean,” said the Japanese coach who in the meantime plans to study Thai players in their league games as much as possible.

Meanwhile Thai FA chief Somyot Poompanmoung insisted that he will maximise efforts to assist Nishino to do his job and promised there would be no interference from the Thai FA in his supervision over the Thailand and the U23 teams.