Veteran Prayad Marksaeng rolled back the years to take the outright lead with an opening round of 5-under-par 67 in the US$650,000 season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia at the challenging Thai Country Club course yesterday.

On a day when many golfers complained about the wind which threatened to bother their game, the 40-year-old, who was once considered one of Thailand's finest players, signalled his intention to get back to the pinnacle with near impeccable play.

Despite struggling all the day with his driver, which put him in difficult positions at times, Prayad, who ended his five-year title drought by winning the Crown Plaza Open in Beijing last year, managed to fire six birdies, mostly on par-5s, to offset the only bogey on the 230-yard 6th hole.

Although the Thai veteran was unable to secure a USPGA Tour card last month, he believed that his experience in the United States proved useful in negotiating the relatively strong wind.

"I was in the United States for a month [for the USPGA Tour qualifying school] and the conditions there were very tough. That experience helped me today as the conditions here are as difficult," said Prayad.

"Playing there benefited my game. I'm stronger for the experience and my putting has improved as a result."

Knowing how difficult the course was, Prayad revealed that he had reverted to his old sand wedge. It proved a shrewd move.

"After I came back from the United States on Sunday, I went back home to Hua Hin to get the sand wedge I used when I won in China last year as I knew the greens here would be hard. I needed that wedge."

Having endured the frustration of dropping a shot after his caddie misread the distance on the 6th hole, Prayad admitted that he tried hard not to think about that mistake.

"It was 230 yards to the green but my caddie gave me 211 yards as the distance. That was the problem. I tried to keep cool and focus on the next job," said Prayad.

Despite launching his campaign in spectacular style, Prayad remained cautious about his chances in the Asia Tour's 27th event of the season.

"It is too early to say. It would depend on the results on the second and third days. If I still keep my scores low until the third round and can extend the advantage to a reasonable gap, then you could say that I will win the tournament."

Apart from Prayad, other Thai golfers are stormed up the leaderboard to finish in the top-6, with Thongchai Jaidee and rising star Prom Meesawat ending up in four-way tie for second place on four-under-par 68.

The 37-year-old Thongchai enhanced his chances of maintaining his proud record of winning at least a title every year since 2000 by shooting six birdies against two bogeys.

"I'm satisfied with the score today given the tough conditions here. The course is not very long and the wind changed direction today," said Thongchai, who claimed the Order of Merit title twice in 2001 and 2004.

"I'm happy to be just one behind the leader. Prayad is leading but the door is still wide open because as many as 12 players are just one or two shots behind him.

"I have got to keep trying as it's my last chance to keep that winning streak."

While Thai players enjoyed a day of low scores, two high-profile Indian golfers Jeev Milkha Singh, who is in the hunt for completing a unique hat-trick of Volvo titles following successes in the Volvo China Open and the Volvo Masters, and defending champion Shiv Kapur struggled to finish with an even-par 72.

Leading first round scores

67 - Prayad Marksaeng (THA)

68 - Lin Keng-chi (TPE), Terry Pilkadaris (AUS), Thongchai Jaidee (THA), Prom Meesawat (THA)

69 - Adam Groom (AUS), Lu Wei-chih (TPE), Iain Steel (MAS), Chawalit Plaphol (THA), Chris Rodgers (ENG), Chapchai Nirat (THA), Lee Sung (KOR), Wang Ter-chang (TPE)

70 - Ted Oh (KOR), Adam Blyth (AUS), SSP Chowrasia (IND), Amandeep Johl (IND), Suk Jong-yul (KOR), Unho Park (AUS)

71 - Gary Rusnak (USA), Edward Loar (USA), Thammanoon Srirot (THA), Jason Knutzon (USA), Chinarat Phadungsil (THA), Mardan Mamat (SIN), Brad Kennedy (AUS), Charlie Wi (KOR), Andrew Buckle (AUS)

72 - Marcus Both (AUS), Rick Gibson (CAN), Angelo Que (PHI), Lu Wen-teh (TPE), Yasin Ali (ENG), Simon Yates (SCO), Thaworn Wiratchant (THA), Shiv Kapur (IND), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Jyoti Randhawa (IND), Jeev Milkha Singh (IND)

73 - Choo Tze-Huang [A] (SIN), Tony Carolan (AUS), Jarrod Lyle (AUS), Gaurav Ghei (IND)

Kitinan Sanguansak

The Nation