When Jarmo Sandelin won the BMW Asian Open last year, he said he entered the competition just hoping to win a little Christmas money.
When he begins defending his championship today, he'll have a different goal on the 6,404m Ta Shee Golf and Country Club course in suburban Taipei.
``I'm getting married next month, so it'll be nice to have some money for the wedding this time,'' the Swede said.
PHOTO: CHU YU-PIN, TAIPEI TIMES
Sandelin, who last year shot a four-round total of 10-under 278, also said he'll be looking for his first back-to-back title in the NT$52 million tournament, but he's a little worried about his swing.
``I changed my swing and it is taking a bit of time getting used to the changes,'' he said. ``On the practice range, I'm OK but when I'm playing on the course, the old habits tend to come in and I'll struggle a bit.''
Also returning is last year's runner-up, Thongchai Jaidee, who last Sunday finished second behind Scotland's Colin Montgomerie in the TCL Classic in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan.
PHOTO: CHU YU-PIN, TAIPEI TIMES
``The condition of the golf course is perfect, and I really like playing here,'' he said. ``I finished second here last year but whether I can improve on that this year will depend on my luck this week.''
The Thai golfer said he has recovered from the back pain that forced him to pull out of his first British Open last July in Gullane, Scotland. The former paratrooper said he doesn't expect the soreness to return in Taiwan because the hotel beds suit him better.
``I got the pain after sleeping on a soft bed there [in Scotland], but I went to see a physio and everything is fine now,'' said Thongchai, the Asian tour's player of the year last season.
``I did some stretching exercises to help my recovery. I'm used to sleeping on hard beds so fortunately the bed mattress here at Ta Shee Resort is hard.''
One of the favorites in the tournament is Padraig Harrington, who's playing in Taiwan for the first time.
Harrington acknowledged that some still believe he often has to settle for second place because he lacks a killer instinct.
``I've had trouble finishing out to win,'' he said. ``But I think everyone out here has a certain toughness to get out, have a certain self-believe and confidence. I'm getting there.''
Other European Ryder Cup players who will tee off include Paul McGinley and Sam Torrance.
John Daly, who won the BMW International Open in Germany last year, is hoping the Asian Open will be a good opportunity to get his game back on track.
Last Sunday at the TCL Classic in China, Daly hit into the water three times and took a 10 on the par-5 14th hole at Harbour Plaza Golf Club. He wound up with an 80 and missed the cut by two strokes.
``I've not played well since July because my mom has been very ill,'' the American said. ``She's got lung cancer. She is hanging in there, but there is still a hope. My mom told me to go to play golf this time.''
Daly said the course seems longer than it really is. ``The ball doesn't fly far. It's probably because of wind and rain.''
He said that the hilly Ta Shee course isn't much different than the ones he plays on in the US, but the greens are difficult and the strong winds present one of the biggest challenges.
Daly said that he won't be swinging his driver on many of the holes in Taiwan. ``There are not many chances to use a driver for the front nine holes,'' he said, ``but there will be more chances to use a driver on the back nine.''
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