Masters Champion Bubba Watson tasted victory for the first time outside his native US in China last month and is keen to back that up with another win on Asian soil next week.
Watson won a dramatic playoff four weeks ago to take the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai and is now looking to repeat that form when he tees off in the Thailand Golf Championship next week.
Watson has taken part in the Asian Tour event at Bangkok's Amata Spring Country Club for the past two years, finishing second in 2012 and joint 30th a year ago, and feels 2014 could be third time lucky.
"My expectation is, really, winning," Watson said in a telephone interview from his home in Florida on Thursday.
"I want to win outside the US. I won in China this year but I'd like to back that up with another win," added the left-handed world number four.
The big-hitting star, who also won the US Masters in 2012, said it was important to be recognised as a golfer who can win all over the world, and not just on the US PGA Tour.
"I just think that people look at your career differently if you've won outside of your own country," he said.
"It means you've had to travel, means had to get used to jetlag, had to play golf in many different places at a high level.
"I mean Tiger (Woods) has won a ton in the States and he's also won a ton outside the States. Jack Nicklaus -- you can go through the greats of the game -- they've all won outside the US, or outside of Europe, or outside Asia.
"Wherever they come from they've all won outside of there. So for me it would be a positive in my career if I can win a few outside."
Watson will be up against a high-class international field in Thailand, including the defending champion Sergio Garcia, current US Open champion Martin Kaymer and four-time major winner Ernie Els.
Also entered in the $1 million event, which begins on December 11, are European Ryder Cup stars Lee Westwood, Jamie Donaldson and Victor Dubuisson, home favourites Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, and current Asian Tour order of merit leader David Lipsky.
Source: AFP
