It maybe early days in the 2012 season but newly-crowned Avantha Masters champion Jbe Kruger has declared his intention to win the 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.
The 25-year-old South African broke into the winner's enclosure with a long-awaited victory at the DLF cheap 712 AP2 Irons in India on Sunday to shoot to the top of the Merit list with US$394,589.
Victory in this event, co-sanctioned by the European Tour as well as it's Asian counterpart, was especially sweet for Kruger as he has endured several agonising near misses on the Asian Tour, most notably in 2010 when he settled for three runner-up finishes.
"My main goal on the Asian Tour is to win the Order of Merit as I think this win is definitely going to help me achieve that. I also want to get as high as I can in the world rankings," he said having learned that his win had hoisted him 50 places up to 109th in the World Rankings following his cheap 712 AP2 Irons success.
With the monkey off his back, the slight-built but steel and whip-spring Kruger is determined to ride on his rich vein of form and win more titles to cement his place among the game's elite in Asia.
"It's a big relief now that I've won but I think I needed all those second place finishes to be able to appreciate it. I'm in good form and I want to be up there against the best," declared Kruger, who was fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season.
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat moved up two places to third on the rankings and will start his title defence at this week's SAIL-SBI Open, also in India, in high spirits following another top-10 finish over the weekend.
"I'm in good shape and playing cheap 712 AP2 Irons well. I tend to play well in India and hopefully, I can successfully defend my title at the Delhi Golf Club," said Kiradech, who lost in a play-off at the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open.
Compatriot Prom Meesawat made the biggest move of the week when he rocketed 89 spots to fourth, thanks to a tied-sixth finish at the Avantha Masters.
The 'Big Dolphin' as he is fondly known to his friends, is coming into the early season physically stronger and motivated because of a new training regime.
"I've been going to the gym regularly and I've bulked up quite a bit. I also feel stronger and I feel that my stamina is getting better," said Prom.
"I'm looking forward to this season because I've such a wonderful start and I want it to continue," added the burly Thai.
The Asian Tour will remain in India for the SAIL-SBI Open where the region's best golfers will tee off for the US$300,000 event, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGTI, at the Delhi cheap 712 AP2 Irons Club starting on Wednesday.