It’s the norm for players from Thailand to arrive at Asian Tour events in the ascendancy, which is very much the case at the Shinhan Donghae Open – the prestigious Korean event that starts Thursday at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club, Incheon.

This week it is the turn of Sadom Kaewkanjana, winner of the Kolon Korea Open in June, when the Tour last visited the Land of Morning Calm, and Suteepat Prateeptienchai, the Tour’s most recent champion having claimed the Mandiri Indonesia Open two weeks ago.

Both players have been enjoying success of late, but Suteepat leads the way with four wins in the space of two years.

Sadom has not been as prolific as Suteepat as his victory at the Kolon Korea Open was his first since raising the Singapore Open trophy at the beginning of 2022.

However, his win in Korea on one of the tough courses of the year in a tournament notoriously difficult for overseas players to win is worth the price of two.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. Picture By Ian Walton/Asian Tour.

“I’ve been having a pretty good year so far and I’m feeling good about my game,” said Sadom.

“However, I don’t want to focus too much about the results. I just want to have fun on the course, play my own game, and hopefully it works out in my favour.”

Sadom’s success in Singapore, three-and-a-half years ago, followed on from a remarkable run of form in the final three months of 2021, winning five times in Thailand on the local tour, including the Thailand Open.

The fact that titles dried up after that surprised many but typically, for arguably the calmest and most patient player on Tour, he was unperturbed.

He explained: “I haven’t changed much in terms of my swing. I feel like I had a pretty good year in 2023 and 2024 as well. I had some solid weeks and put myself in contentions several times. This year I had good starts with a T2 in Philippines and Thailand so that just keeps the momentum going.”

He beat compatriot Poom Saksansin after a captivating see-saw battle at Korea’s National Open on the Dunes Course at La Vie Est Belle Golf Club – which was set up like a US Open.

“Korea Open this year was held at different golf course,” he said.

Phachara Khongwatmai. Picture by Vachira Kalong/Asian Tour.

“I’d never played there so I didn’t have any expectations coming into the week. I think the key for that golf course was to stay patient and focus on the game plan.”

Suteepat missed the cut in the event – one of five missed cuts in nine starts this year. It is a surprising statistic for a player who is starting to win regularly.

His victory in Indonesia was his fourth on the Asian Tour but first outside of Taiwan – where he won in 2023 and twice last year.

“To win in another country was a big step for me,” said Suteepat.

“It is big for my confidence. I always felt I could win elsewhere but you have to do it first. It was a big step for me. This week will be another challenge, but I will try my best. I am playing well.”

Both players have been paired in high profile groups. Sadom goes out with Japan great Ryo Ishikawa and Taehoon OK – the Korean who leads the Korean PGA rankings, with two wins this year.

Suteepat has been paired with Japan’s Taiga Nagano, a winner last week in Japan, and Korean Doyeob Mun – who claimed this year’s GS Caltex Maekyung Open.

No Thai player has won the Shinhan Donghae Open; they will be looking to etch their names into the history books of an event that was first played in 1981.

Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai has come closest – losing in a play-off two years ago against Korean Koh Gun-taek.

And of course, they will also be aiming to put their names alongside Bryson DeChambeau – the American star whose name is in the clubhouse for winning  LIV Golf Korea here at the impressive Jack Nicklaus venue, earlier in the year.