Poom Saksansin will attempt to successfully defend his Yeangder TPC title this week, once again looking to produce a potentially career saving performance.

His victory here last year at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, in Taipei, was arguably the most meaningful of his career as it was his first win on the Asian Tour in five years and came at a time when he was considering quitting the Tour to start coaching.

He followed up that success with a joint third-place finish in the International Series Singapore, before finishing runner-up in the SJM Macao Open – where he pushed eventual champion Min Woo Lee from Australia all the way. He finished the year in seventh place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, his highest ever placing.

However, this season he has been unable to re-produce the goods and is currently in 69^th place on the Merit list. His best result came at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where he tied for 14^th, and he has missed three cuts in nine starts.

Poom Saksansin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

“It’s nice to be back,” said the 31-year-old, a four-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“I played really well last year. It changed things as I was going to start coaching golf but realised and I can still keep playing.”

Twelve months ago a closing six-under-par 66 for a stunning 24-under aggregate of 264, saw him finish three strokes clear of second-placed Australian Travis Smyth, who was the defending champion.

Poom also started last year poorly before hitting a rich vein of form on courses that suit his game. His is accuracy off the tee, and into the green, coupled with his putting genius are perfect for handling the courses at Linkou International and Macau Golf & Country Club.

He added: “I am not playing so good; this year kind of up and down. Mostly down. But hopefully this week will change me again.

“Try to make the cut first and then enjoy the weekend. I am struggling with ball flight, usually I hit a fade, but the ball seems to be going straight. It is difficult to play when you cannot control the ball.”

Poom Saksansin. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.

His triumph last year was made even sweeter by the fact his fiancee Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing,’ caddied for him. They are now married, and she is once again in attendance this week although she has been struggling with a bout of flu.

“Hopefully she will be better and ready in time for Thursday,” said Poom, who took part in a photocall today with eight former champions of the event.

There’s no doubt she will play a key role in helping to determine whether her husband can be become the first player to successfully defend the Yeangder TPC.

And Poom will also look for that killer instinct that, following some incredible performances since turning professional 11 years ago, helped establish him as the Asian Tour’s baby-faced assassin.