Defending champion Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand believes the prospect of playing for the Queen’s honour will spur him to do well when the Queen’s Cup returns for its fifth edition at the Santiburi Samui Country Club in Koh Samui from June 13 to 16. Thaworn’s victory at the Queen’s Cup last year sparked a magnificent record-breaking season where he won two other tournaments and subsequently became the oldest Asian Tour number one.

“It’s always an honour for me to play in the Queen’s Cup. I always make it a point to fit that event into my hectic schedule,”said the 46-year-old.

Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant hopes to defy the odds by becoming the first Thai golfer to play in all four rounds at the Masters Tournament when he makes his debut next week. The 46-year-old  veteran star was invited by Augusta National Golf Club to play in the year’s opening Major following a stellar season in 2012 where he won three times and became the oldest player to win the Order of Merit on the region’s premier circuit.

He follows the footsteps of countrymen Sukree Onsham, Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng to tee up alongside the world’s elite at the fabled tournament but hopes to do what the trio failed to achieve – qualify for the weekend rounds.

Masters-bound Thaworn Wiratchant says winning next week’s Enjoy Jakarta Indonesia PGA Championship on OneAsia would be the perfect send off to Augusta. The veteran Thai received an invitation to the Masters in early April on the back of a glorious 2012 season that saw him take the number one spot in Asia for the second time after winning four international titles to bring his career tally to 20.

“I am looking forward to playing the tournament and a victory would be great for my confidence just ahead of the Masters,” said Thaworn, a two-time winner of the Indonesia Open including the 2011 title on OneAsia. “I have won two tournaments in Indonesia and hopefully I can make it three.”

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, the reigning Asian Tour number one, was on cloud nine after receiving a special invitation to play in the Masters Tournament in April. Along with Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa, both players received exemptions from Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the year’s opening Major in Georgia, United States from April 11-14.

“I’m very happy with this good news,” said Thaworn. “When my manager informed me, I initially thought she was joking. I didn’t expect to receive an invitation and I was planning to work hard to break into the world’s top-50 (by end of March) to qualify for the Masters.”

Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant has set himself a New Year resolution where he hopes to qualify for the prestigious Masters Tournament in April by breaking into the world’s top-50.

After a stellar season which saw him lift three titles, become the oldest Order of Merit champion and rising to a career high 69th on the world rankings, the 46-year-old plans to add another feather in the cap with an appearance at the Augusta National Golf Club for the year’s opening Major.

The Asian Tour's 2012 season will be remembered for the age-defying heroics of Thaworn Wiratchant, the success of fellow veterans Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh and the emergence of young stars led by Gaganjeet Bhullar, David Lipsky and Arnond Vongvanij.

In a memorable year which saw the Asian Tour sanction 27 tournaments in Asia worth US$44.5 million to the region's top stars, Thaworn, who turns 46 on December 28, enjoyed a season to remember with three magnificent victories which earned him a second Order of Merit crown since 2005.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant was the toast at the Asian Tour's Awards Night when he swept the Players' Player of the Year Award and Special Achievement Award to go with his historic second Order of Merit crown.

The veteran Thai star, who turns 46 later this month, also picked up the Birdie Leader Award on Sunday night with his haul of 346 birdies throughout a sensational season which saw him lift three titles – the Queen's Cup in Thailand, Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters and Hero Indian Open - and four runner-up finishes en route to becoming the oldest ever Merit winner on the Asian Tour.