Indian young gun Gaganjeet Bhullar was a relieved man after becoming the last player to earn full playing rights on the Asian Tour next year and also qualifying for this week's season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.
The talented Bhullar produced a stunning final round performance at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open on Sunday to pip Australian Adam Groom by a mere US $681 for the final spot.
He shot an impressive eight-under-par 64 at Phokeethra Country Club and ended his Cambodian campaign in a tie for 11th place. The result pushed him into the top-65 on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit which was needed to secure his card and a place at Volvo Masters of Asia at Thai Country Club.
Groom finished tied 39th in Cambodia and now faces the prospect of returning to Qualifying School in January.
"The motivation of making into the top-65 kept me alive," admitted Bhullar, who has earned US $82,825 this season.
He had entered the week in 67th place and said the pressure to perform was immense. He heaved a sigh of relief after the final scores were tabulated on Sunday evening.
"It was quite a tense experience for me. There was a lot of pressure especially after missing the cut in Vietnam. I realised that my yoga exercises has definitely helped me a lot," added Bhullar, who turned professional in 2006.
Korea's Bae Sang-moon, seventh on the Order of Merit, and Noh Seung-yul (10th), Malaysia's Ben Leong (24th), India's Digvijay Singh (25th), Australian golfer Darren Beck, who is ranked 26th, Mitchell Brown of Australia (31st), Lam Chih Bing of Singapore (33rd), Kim Kyung-tae of Korea (36th), Thailand's Somkiat Srisanga of Thailand (40th), Rhys Davies of Wales (41st), Fijian Dinesh Chand (44th), Guido Van Der Valk of Netherlands (51st), Andrew Dodt (52nd), Filipino Mars Pucay (54th), Japan's Kodai Ichihara (55th), Neve Basic of Australia (64th) and Rick Kulacz (63rd) of Australia will join Bhullar in making their debut appearance at the Volvo Masters of Asia.
Dodt is among the promising newcomers who made an impact this season. He lost in a play-off in Vietnam two weeks ago and has secured four other top-10 finishes this season.
"It's been a great year and I've enjoyed the experience playing on the Asian Tour. I've secured my card and I'm now looking forward to the Volvo Masters of Asia," said Dodt.
Two-time Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who won in Vietnam two weeks ago, earned his 10th title on the Asian Tour thanks to his success in Cambodia which matched the feat of compatriot Thaworn Wiratchant in posting the most number of victories on the Asian Tour.
Thongchai is enjoying a strong finish to the year where he reinforced his position at the top of the total career earnings category with US$2,854,881 won from the 118 events competed.
Prayad Marksaeng will defend his Volvo Masters of Asia title starting on Thursday.
Top-20 Order of Merit ranking
Pos Player Earnings (US$)
1 Jeev Milkha SINGH (IND) 1,447,481
2 LIN Wen-tang (TPE) 820,839
3 Mark BROWN (NZL) 767,630
4 LIANG Wen-chong (CHN) 521,428
5 S.S.P. CHOWRASIA (IND) 476,110
6 David GLEESON (AUS) 448,988
7 BAE Sang-moon (KOR) 409,545
8 Thaworn WIRATCHANT (THA) 401,210
9 Scott STRANGE (AUS) 380,678
10 NOH Seung-yul (KOR) 339,641
11 Jyoti RANDHAWA (IND) 326,193
12 Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) 317,437
13 Thongchai JAIDEE (THA) 2971,93
14 Kane WEBBER (AUS) 292,283
15 LU Wen-teh (TPE) 252,622
16 Adam BLYTH (AUS) 248,577
17 Taichiro KIYOTA (JPN) 246,281
18 Scott HEND (AUS) 233,093
19 Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 227,833
20 Simon GRIFFITHS (ENG) 220,129
