Wiratchant back to best

Thaworn Wiratchant has shown glimpses of his majestic 2005 form by firing a 68 on Friday to climb to five under par at the British Open.

The Thai enjoyed unrivalled success on the Asian Tour last year, winning four events on his way to the Order of Merit title and an unprecedented windfall of €404,000.

He is yet to claim any honours this year – his highest finish being a tie for fifth at the Asia-Japan Okinawa Open – but he looks back in the groove in Hoylake.

Friday’s four-under-par total included five birdies, two of them coming in the final three holes, but the 39-year-old, who set out in the first grouping at 6.30am, is not getting carried away.

“Going out very early in the morning meant I could play my own game,” he said.

“I could hit the ball where I wanted to put it and not worry about the conditions. It wasn’t so difficult. I am on the leaderboard now but there are so many good players out there that I doubt I will be there at the end of the day.”

With SK Ho and Keiichiro Fukabori also doing well this week, Asian golf is starting to generate some headlines.

But Wiratchant believes the continent has a long way to go before it can start competing with the Europeans and the Americans.

“Asian golf is getting better but it is not yet competitive on the world stage and in the big tournaments,” he added. “Us players have to do more to boost it.”