After a poor start to the season, Suteepat Prateeptienchai [main picture] was back to his best at the end of last month – claiming the Mandiri Indonesia Open.

It was a timely return to form ahead of the Thai star’s trip back to his very own promised land this week: Chinese-Taipei.

Suteepat is the defending champion at the Yeangder TPC, which starts Thursday at Linkou International Golf & Country Club, New Taipei City, and all eyes are on a player who has a special affinity to the island state like no other.

Victory last year was one of two in the country as he claimed the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open a few months after. He also won the Taifong event a year earlier and was runner-up the year before.

His love affair with Chinese-Taipei, which has such a strong golfing tradition, is well known, and he has also enjoyed success on the local circuit there.

“I know I have chance when we play in Taiwan,” said the 32-year-old.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai (right).

However, that was probably not what he was thinking after he missed five out of the first six cuts this season.

A change in equipment, just before his victory in Indonesia, was key to getting back on track.

“I changed my equipment sponsor and just changed my irons before Indonesia, like a month ago. But now I’m just more confident with the new irons, wedges and ball and everything, so I feel better now,” he explained.

“I am not back to playing as well as last year, but I am playing much better than the first half of this year. I got some confidence in Indonesia after I won it. Last week I would say was not too good, but I still made the cut. So, I think I have chance to defend my title this week.”

His success in Indonesia was his fourth on the Asian Tour but first outside of Chinese-Taipei. Having a lot of friends here has been a big factor in his success he says, while he also always feels he has a head start.

“I have played Linkou quite a few times when I’m in Taiwan, so yeah, I think that gives me an advantage compared to other foreigners,” said Suteepat.

He revealed a healthy diet has also played an important part in his success – all thanks to his girlfriend.

Suteepat Prateeptienchai. 

He said: “My girlfriend studies sports nutrition and helps me with my diet. It’s important this time of year when there are so many events and you need energy. I eat bread and nuts when I play. It makes me make feel like I have more power on the course all day.”

Suteepat is now in 15^th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and with 10 more events to go this year – including another title defence at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open – he has an outside chance to win the Merit title.

He says: “I haven’t really thought about that, because I wasn’t playing very well earlier this year. I’ll just play the best for me this year. We’ll see more next year. I have a lot of plans to improve my fitness and everything.”

He has been paired in the first two rounds with Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Chieh-po, fresh from his first season playing the LIV Golf League, and Kazuki Higa from Japan – winner of last week’s Shinhan Donghae Open, in Korea.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.