Danny out to reclaim Tour card


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PETALING JAYA: Veteran golfer Danny Chia (pic) is hoping to revive his dwindling career at the Sarawak Championship from Aug 15-18.

The 46-year-old wants to make the most at the US$300, 000 (RM1.24mil) Asian Tour event to reclaim his playing privilege in the region’s premier tour.

Danny, a two-time Asian Tour winner, lost his Tour card for the first time since 2002 after failing to finish in the top 60 of the Order of Merit last season.

In January, he failed to get his card through the Qualifying School.

But all is not lost as the Sarawak Championship presents him with an opportunity to swiftly return to the Tour. The winner at Kuching’s Damai Golf and Country Club will earn a two-year Asian Tour exemption.

“I’m looking to do well in Sarawak. There’s everything to play for because a victory put my career back on track, ” said Danny, who represented Malaysia at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

“I also lost my Japan Tour card last year, so I’m only limited to playing on the PGM Tour this season. But I’m not giving up.

“The reason I lost both my cards was because I didn’t manage my schedule well and not getting enough rest in between tournaments. I must admit age is catching up and I really have to play smart.

“I will keep on fighting. I have even signed up for the Japan Tour Q-School next month. But my immediate focus is the Sarawak Championship.”

Danny proved that he still has it by finishing joint runner-up in the Asian Development Tour’s PGM Penang Championship in April and third in the PGM Impian Closed Championship earlier this month.

“My game is not failing me, I think I still have a few good years left.”

Besides Danny, Ben Leong and Nicholas Fung are also in the fray. Among the top names confirmed for the 150-man field are Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond, Poom Saksansin and Taiwan’s Chan Shih-chang.

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