Melbourne – Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat has picked his best friend and two-time Asian Tour winner Prom Meesawat as his partner for the World Cup of Golf next month.

Kiradech, who has become the first Thai to earn a PGA TOUR card for next season, said: “We grew up together since I was a kid, went to the same school, had the same coach, we’re very close and he’s my best friend on Tour.

“Twenty years ago, we talked about maybe one day we could play together in a team event. With the World Cup of Golf’s regulation now allowing the top player to choose any partner from the world’s top-500, it gave me the chance to choose the guy whom I made a promise together.

“When I called him to tell him, I think he was stunned for a few seconds. If he was in the position to pick his partner, I’m sure he would have chosen me.”

World No 38 Kiradech believes he and Prom can strike up a formidable partnership and contend at The Metropolitan from November 22 to 25 ,when Australia’s Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith will start as favourites on home soil.

“As long as we can play as a team, I believe we can do well. Our games are very matching and suit each other. I’m very aggressive and Prom is conservative and plays it shot by shot. He’s got the best game plan on Tour. We believe in each other. In alternate shot, we have to know each other and trust each,” said the 29-year-old Kiradech.

Prom, who spent several seasons competing in Japan and Europe, will be making his debut in the World Cup of Golf.

“When we were young – he’s five years younger than I am – we played a lot of golf together, we’ve always said ‘one day we must partner in a team event.’ When he asked me for the World Cup, I’m just so happy to be picked,” said Prom, 34.

“It’s a nice feeling and I’m very honoured to represent Thailand. It’s very special to partner with Kiradech. A few weeks ago, we played four or five rounds together and he said “show me how good you are’ and I’m actually playing good golf now, and he quickly said I was the right partner.

“I think we can have a chance in Melbourne. Kiradech has played so well this year. He’s stepped on to the highest level We’re really proud that he’s bringing the Thai flag to the PGA TOUR,” added Prom, who is ranked 460th in the world and has eight top-25s on the Asian Tour this season.

The final field of 28 two-man teams confirms the inclusion of the defending champions, major championship winners and leading players from previous Presidents and Ryder Cups.

England’s Ian Poulter was among the notables selected and will make his sixth appearance in the World Cup of Golf competition after being tabbed by fellow countryman Tyrrell Hatton.

South Africa’s Branden Grace selected fellow Presidents Cup veteran and 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel. The two men, who are both making their second starts in the World Cup of Golf, have combined for seven Presidents Cup appearances.

Two-time PGA Tour winner Kyle Stanley and seven-time PGA Tour champion and member of the victorious 2011 World Cup of Golf team Matt Kuchar will provide strong competition for one of golf’s oldest team trophies.

Following a four-stroke triumph at Kingston Heath in the 2016 World Cup of Golf, the winning duo from Denmark will return to Melbourne to defend their title, with Thorbj๘rn Olesen selecting 2016 partner Soren Kjeldsen.

The victory was Denmark’s first win in the World Cup of Golf, topping their previous best finish, as runners-up in 2001 by Thomas Bjorn and Soren Hansen. Their win made it the seventh time a European country has won the World Cup of Golf in the last nine occasions.

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito of Japan faced off with challenger Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of the Philippines for the first time ahead of their epic rematch scheduled for the main event of ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES this Saturday, 22 September at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Yoshita Naito, ONE Strawweight World Champion, stated:

“I have a lot of respect for Joshua Pacio, he is a very talented kid and a great martial artist. I have no doubt that one day, he will be champion. But that day hasn’t arrived yet. Right now, it’s my time. He will have his chance, but I am in the best condition of my career and I fully expect to walk out of the arena this Saturday the winner, with title fully intact. He has improved immensely in the two years since we last met in the cage, but so have I. I am a much more complete martial artist now than ever before. This will be an exciting bout for sure, but  one that I will come out of still champion.”

Joshua Pacio, ONE World Title challenger, stated:

“I have waited two long years for this, working on my skills every single day and improving with every bout. This is no doubt the biggest fight of my professional career. I am a completely different fighter now compared to before when we first met. I think I will surprise him a lot with how much I have changed. I have worked extremely hard with my team, with my coach, on developing a fight-winning strategy for this Saturday night. All that’s left is for me to execute. Winning the world title means a lot to me. It will give me a chance to provide a better life for myself and for my family. I have only victory on my mind in this bout.”

Reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito is one of the most successful martial artists to ever emerge from Japan. In just four short years since debuting in 2012, Naito conquered the notoriously competitive Japanese martial arts scene, capturing the Shooto Flyweight Title. Since making his ONE Championship debut in 2016, Naito has captured the ONE Strawweight World Championship on two occasions, defeating former champions Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke and Alex Silva. Naito is now set to defend his title against former opponent Joshua Pacio in an epic rematch.

Former ONE World Title challenger Joshua “The Passion” Pacio of Baguio City, Philippines was inspired to take up martial arts ever since he was 12 years old. After an undefeated amateur career, Pacio soon made his professional debut, where he went 6-0 before making it to the global stage of ONE Championship. In 2016, he got his chance against reigning ONE Strawweight World Champion Yoshitaka “Nobita” Naito, falling just short of victory. Now riding a three-bout winning streak, Pacio has earned a rematch against the champion, and will now face Naito for his second shot at the ONE Strawweight World Championship.

 With six birdies against her first bogey after 36 holes, last year’s joint runner-up took her two-round total to 11 under-par-133, four shots ahead of unfancied Waralee Atcharerk, who carded five birdies against two bogeys for a second-round 69 to be on 137.

‘’I feel proud of myself for playing another good round,” said 21-year-old Parinda, who finished the 2017 season as No 1 player on the Thai LPGA Tour.

“I haven’t had great scores for two consecutive days in a long time. I hope to maintain this level going into the final on Friday.”

The Khon Kaen player tarnished her scorecard for the first time this week on the 13th, where her tee shot landed precariously close to a water hazard.

“I had to have a drop shot to get out of the position or otherwise I could have finished worse than a bogey on that hole,” she said.

“Other than that I hit close to the pins several times or managed to hole my putts from some tough lies.

“I will be happy with the score no matter what happens. I have to have great fun out there and stick to my game plan to win.”

Parinda who lost to Saranporn Langkulgasettrin by just a stroke last year, is seeking her second win on the Thai LPGA tour.

Waralee, 18 from Ubon Ratchathani, is still hoping for her maiden victory after turning pro in May last year. Her best finish was third in Khon Kaen last month.

“I’m very pleased. This is beyond my expectations. I will try to play shot by shot and stay focused,” said the Physical Education Insitution of Bangkok Campus student.

Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, Australian Munchin Keh and South Korean Park Jin Hee were tied for third, two shots further back.

 The 29-year-old earned his card for the 2018-2019 season through the non-member category, thanks to a pair of top-five finishes at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.

He also put in several other noteworthy performances, including a tie for 13th at the Memorial Tournament, equal 30th at The Players Championship and 15th at the U.S Open.

Kiradech entered the 2017-18 season ranked 147th in the world but has surged up and is currently No 38.

The popular Thai officially received his 2018-19 card from Todd Rhinehart, the tour’s Vice President and Executive Director, in Bangkok on Thursday.

Rhinehart also announced that Kiradech would receive a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the CIMB Classic, the second tournament of the 2018-19 season, at TPC Kuala Lumpur from October 11 to 14.

Rhinehart said: “On behalf of the PGA TOUR, I would like to congratulate Kiradech for his success this year, which has paved the way for him to become the first Thai golfer to earn a PGA Tour card.

“This wonderful achievement will inspire a new generation of Thai and Asian players and continue to accelerate the growth of the game across Asia.

“We are also delighted to offer Kiradech an exemption to participate in the CIMB Classic at a venue where he won the Malaysian Open and finished third in the CIMB Classic in 2013.

“We look forward to seeing him play well against the stars on the PGA Tour and wish him all the success in what is a new and exciting chapter in his growing career.”

In 41 career starts on the US-based PGA Tour, Kiradech has collected five top-10s, highlighted by a tie for third at the 2013 CIMB Classic, the only PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament in Southeast Asia.

He is the winner of five international titles, most recently the 2018 ISPS HANDA World Super 6 in Perth, Australia. He was also the Asian Tour No 1 in 2013.

Known for his big-hitting and aggressive style of play, Kiradech said he was looking forward to establishing himself quickly in the United States.

Todd Rhinehart, Vice President and Executive Directof PGA TOUR,  and Kiradech Aphibarnrat 

“I am honoured to become the first Thai golfer to earn a PGA Tour card. It is certainly my goal to win tournaments on the tour and I hope to have numerous opportunities to contend in the upcoming 2018-19 season,” he said.

“I have gained a lot of experience by competing around the world and I feel really comfortable now playing alongside the world’s best players. I look forward to playing my best golf on a weekly basis on the PGA Tour. It is a dream come true for me and I hope I can make my country proud with my achievements.”

He is now turning his full attention on the US$7 million CIMB Classic, one of three PGA Tour events being staged in Asia next month – the others are in South Korea and China.

“I am very thankful to receive a sponsor’s exemption and it will motivate me further as it is held on a golf course which I am very familiar with and have enjoyed success there over the years,” he added.

“It will be amazing if I can contend at the CIMB Classic against what looks like a very strong field.”

In his promotional debut this past May, Wielzen came up short in his bid for the ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship.

While it did not go as he would have hoped, the Sityodtong Amsterdam-based talent was nothing short of elated for the experience of his maiden performance under the bright lights of ONE Championship.

“The promotion is amazing for sure,” Wielzen shared on the official ONE Championship website. “The way they treat you is at the highest level, so I was really happy.”

With a martial arts resume that includes a 46-19-2 professional kickboxing record and two W5 Kickboxing World Championship reigns, Wielzen is definitely no stranger to performing on the big stages.

However, the 30-year-old stalwart admitted that competing on the ONE Super Series stage was unlike anything he has ever experienced in his professional career.

“For me, it was a whole different ball game. It was the biggest show I’ve ever been on – and I’ve fought on big shows. I really felt the pressure,” he expressed.

With the debut jitters now behind him, Wielzen hopes to emerge victorious in his return to ONE Super Series against debuting Muay Thai star Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon at ONE: CONQUEST OF HEROES on Saturday, 22 September in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Thailand’s Rodtang, who comes in with a remarkable 252-40-10 Muay Thai standing, may be the more experienced in terms of record, but Wielzen believes that his edge is having already gone through the ONE Super Series experience.

“He’s been in big shows with big crowds in Thailand before, but he hasn’t been at ONE before. It is the next-level,” he stated.

Furthermore, Wielzen knows the caliber of competition that he will be going up against at the Jakarta Convention Center.

Rodtang, after all, is a two-time Omnoi Stadium Muay Thai Champion with over 300 matches to his name.

“He’s really aggressive. Not so technical, but he pushes forward and tries to lay on the pressure, and he can take shots for sure,” he said of his opponent.

Wielzen also referenced Rodtang’s most recent setback, a controversial decision against Japanese Muay Thai star Tenshin Nasukawa just this past June.

“I know that I have more power than [Nasukawa] though, so if I can land the same shots, he won’t be able to stand there and take them, especially in the ONE (four-ounce) gloves,” he suggested.

Looking to work his way back up to another shot at the ONE Super Series Muay Thai Flyweight World Championship, Wielzen made it clear that he will be looking to finish off Rodtang in their highly-anticipated matchup.

“He has a style I like. He can come forward, and I will find something unexpected to do in that moment – to make an opening and try to put him down. I will not be fighting for points,” he claimed.

Blue Horizon Developments are the leading property developer in Phuket. In the last few years, they have become serial award winners recently winning awards for, Best Developer in Phuket, Best Investment Project Phuket – Grand Himalai and Best Mixed-Use Project Phuket – Grand Himalai at the Dot Property Thailand Awards 2018

This year The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand will comprise of eight qualifiers all over Thailand, culminating with the grand final in Phuket on the 27^th April at Laguna Golf Phuket.

Blue Horizon Delveopements CEO Andres Pira commented, “We at Blue Horizon are delighted once again to be a part of the World Corporate Golf Challenge Thailand 2018. Last year was a great success and with Thailand winning the world Final it made it that much better’ He went on to say ‘we very much looking forward to working with the Fore Management Group again delivering Thailand’s biggest and most prestigious amateur golf event in Thailand in 2019’

Chris Watson (Managing Director of Fore Management Group) WCGC Thailand Licence holder commented, “We can’t thank Andres and Blue Horizon for their support last year and helping Thailand become World Corporate Golf Challenge World Champions.’ He continued ‘Events of this magnitude cannot happen without great partners and to have Blue Horizon once again be the title sponsor of Title of Thailand largest amateur event is a great privilege’

The 21-year-old from Khon Kaen carded five birdies in a brilliant front nine and added a sixth coming home in the season-ending Thai LPGA event also sanctioned by the Australia and China Tours.

“I hit 18 greens and had several birdie chances. Everything about my game was perfect. But the highlight were two great birdies on the eighth and the ninth holes, where I holed from three and seven feet respectively,” said Parinda. who won three Thai LPGA events last year and one this year in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The local rising star has spent more time on the Korea LPGA Tour this year and she says that has given her a lot of experience heading into her home event this week.

Wanchana Poruangrong

“I have had moderate results in Korea but I have gained things that really benefit my game. I feel quite relaxed and really enjoyed golf out there for no reason,” added Parinda, who is treating this tournament as a warm-up before the second stage of the Japan LPGA Qualifying School in November.

“Every tournament I enter I always want to win. I have to stick to my game and stay focused to keep myself in a good position in the next two days,” added Parinda.

Wanchana, 24 from Surin, also had a bogey-free round, carding three birdies on each of the front and back nines.

“The condition of the greens and the flag positions are quite tough but my putts really helped me out there,” said Wanchana.

“I will try my best to win this week but I won’t let myself feel the pressure.”

Two shots behind in third was Waralee Atcharerk after a bogey-free 68.

TrueVisions, Thailand’s largest pay TV operator, announced that its channel beIN Sports, who were expected to continue showing Champions League and Europa League games, had failed to retain the rights for the next three seasons.

European football’s ruling body UEFA said Thai fans could watch the games live on new rights holder goal.com after the rights were awarded to its parent company, DAZN.

But when fans tuned in all they got was a blank screen where the action should have been – and a message saying there was a problem with the stream. They were hoping to fix the problem in time for the games early Thursday.

Mourinho was once the Champions League’s pre-eminent force, winning the tournament twice and making the latter stages virtually every year.

But it is four years since the Portuguese coach last managed a victory in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition.

In that time, the 55-year-old has been surpassed by Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane as the tournament’s most innovative and successful coaches.

In Mourinho’s past 10 knockout games with United and Chelsea in the Champions League he has just two wins and five draws — his last away victory in the knockout stages came at United’s expense in 2013 when he was still at Real Madrid.

Mourinho’s decline as a Champions League force mirrors the fading challenge of United, who reached three finals in four seasons from 2008 but have struggled to make an impact since.

The club are preparing for the match against the Swiss champions in Bern after an unsettling start to the season but might feel they have turned a corner after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Watford in the Premier League.

Mourinho, in an upbeat mood after Saturday’s second straight win, will be desperate to erase the memory of United’s spineless last-16 exit against Sevilla last season, during which frustrated United fans chanted “attack, attack, attack” at their own players.

The limp defeat was a far cry from the days when free-flowing United sides won two European Cups under Alex Ferguson and regularly reached the sharp end of the tournament.

The desperate message from the stands that night left Mourinho looking a forlorn figure on the same turf where he had announced his arrival on the Champions League stage with a jubilant touchline jig during Porto’s shock win 14 years previously.

Back then, Mourinho had the world at his feet and he would go on to win the competition for the first time as Porto demolished Monaco in the 2004 final.

Mourinho’s move to Chelsea launched the ‘Special One’ brand as he entranced English football with his brash attitude and a dazzling first flush of success.

But Premier League titles did not translate into more glory in the Champions League as Chelsea were twice knocked out by Liverpool in the 2005 and 2007 semi-finals.

– Anguish –

Mourinho found the magic again at Inter Milan, knocking out Chelsea and Barcelona and beating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final to deliver the club’s first European Cup for 45 years.

The Portuguese was just the third manager to win the competition with two clubs and, joining Real Madrid just days later, he appeared to be in the ideal place to add to his personal collection.

But a semi-final loss to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2011 was followed by a painful penalty shootout defeat at the same stage against Bayern Munich 12 months later.

And by the time Borussia Dortmund sent Real crashing out in the semi-finals yet again in 2013, Mourinho had begun to lose his aura of invincibility.

Back at Chelsea for the 2013-14 season, Mourinho’s change of scene did not bring of change of luck — this time it was Atletico Madrid who were the tormentors as the manager tasted semi-final anguish for the fourth successive year.

Axed by Chelsea less than a year later, Mourinho took over at United and won the Europa League in his first season.

But maintaining his flawless European final record was not a springboard for Champions League glory last term.

With memories of that Sevilla capitulation still fresh, Mourinho will head to Bern looking for a positive start to his redemption tour.

The Thai LPGA season-ending tournament which offers a total prize money of Bt4 million will take place at  Panya Indra Golf Club Bangkok during 19-21 September.

2-day LIVE Broadcasting on Thursday, 20 September (13.30-16.30 hrs.) and Friday, 21 September (11.30-14.30 hrs.) is through True Sport HD 2 of True Visions. Admissions ticket is available at ticket booths in Panya Indra Golf Club during 19-21 September at 100 Thai Baht/person (3-day pass) and free entry for spectators under 18 years old and over 60 years old.