Pavit Tangkamolprasert [main picture] says the prospect of playing on the DP World Tour next season if he wins the Asian Tour Order of Merit does not daunt him and has come at just the right time in his career.

The Thai star won the Yeangder TPC last week, for his first victory on the Asian Tour in seven years, to move to the top of the Merit list for the first time in his career and plans on staying there.

“I’m so happy to be in a position to finish top of the Order of Merit,” said the 37-year-old – who will tee-off in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters tomorrow.

“I’m gonna try my best on the events coming up to maintain this position. I’ve never won the Order of Merit before, so yeah I will give 100% to get it for the first time in my life.”

The reward of a DP World Tour card is one of the benefits to come from the Asian Tour’s renewed partnership with its European counterparts and could not have come at a better time for Pavit.

Pavit Tangkamolprasert and his wife get drenched after his win last week.

“It is very good for us to have the opportunity to play the DP World Tour and skip qualifying if I finish first. I played there in 2017 and that time I was young and lacked experience. I think it’s a good chance to go back and prove myself again.”

In his 16^th season playing on the Asian Tour, Pavit is in the form of his life.

In addition to his impressive wire-to-wire victory last week, he was runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and joint second at the International Series Japan soon after. Outside of the Asian Tour he also posted a runner-up and an equal second on the All Thailand Tour this season.

“I think I have played solid since International Series Jakarta last year, but this year after coming close in many events, I’ve managed to get my mentality stronger. It’s not easy to win a tournament anywhere, and I think I handled the situation last week quite well,” he said.

He will get an early chance to experience playing in Europe next week as he has entered the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

He said: “Again, I’ve been there in 2017. Such a great event and a lot of world class players. I’m looking forward to learning from them to improve my game. I didn’t play links course much in my entire life, so I’ll try my best to play in that condition. I’m ok with Europe, the grass is different from Asia, but the most difficult is the weather!”.

Upon his return he will then face the final four events of the season on the Asian Tour when the race for the Merit title really hots up. He’s already experienced what it’s like to win an Order of Merit as he won the Asian Development Tour’s rankings in 2014 and the All Thailand Golf Tour’s in 2020 but finishing first on the Asian Tour will be an achievement like no other, experienced by an exceptional few.

Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.