Thongchai Jaidee is confident he can win this week at the Omega European Masters after making a hole-in-one during a practice round.
The Thai is one of the most consistent performers on the European Tour, with wins in each of the last three seasons - including the 100th Open de France in July - and has finished in the top 50 on Tour in six of the last seven years.
His last season with multiple wins came in 2009 but the 46 year old feels ready to challenge in the stunning surroundings of Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.
"I think I have a good chance this year," he said. "I have no complaints at all. The fairways are perfect and the greens are smooth. It is nice to be back here.
"The views here are fantastic. I've been here many years. Everything here this week is fantastic. Some years you have bad weather but this year the weather will be much better. So I'm really looking forward to it."
Jaidee's ace came on the 16th hole - a feat that has only been achieved competitively by Alexandre Chopard in 2003 - and he was delighted to add to his collection of holes-in-one.
"On the 16th hole during the practice round, I had the perfect club," he said. "It was a four iron on the 240-yard hole. I hit it on the green and it rolled into the hole. That will give me some confidence because that is a difficult hole. The 16th hole will be a tough hole.
I think I have a good chance this year. I have no complaints at all -Thongchai Jaidee
"In tournament play, I have about nine holes-in-one. During a practice round this will be my fourth so I have about 13 holes-in-one."
American Bryson DeChambeau is playing just his fourth regular European Tour event after playing the Desert Swing as an amateur at the start of the year.
DeChambeau made an impact at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship with an opening 64 and has made the cut in all five of his events so far this season.
The 22 year old - known for his in-depth scientific approach to the game - has since turned professional and believes the experience of maintaining an international schedule will make him a better player.
"Playing with some of the best players in the world around the world is something that will help me improve my game," he said. "The level of competition here is incredible, just like it is back in the States.
"It's another place to play and a place to get better with your game. It's a fantastic tour. I love playing out here and I play pretty well too.
"You can't control everything but you can definitely try and do your best to play your absolute best. There's a quote that I go off quite frequently: 'We're going to strive to obtain protection. Whether or not we can obtain perfection we'll achieve excellence along the way'.
"It's a standard. If you try and figure out everything, you will come really close. You will probably never figure it all out but you'll come close. It's just a mindset that I have."
