Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 1: Rejuvenated Carlos Pigem of Spain is seeking a fine showing to boost his confidence when he returns to competitive golf for the first time in four months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 which starts on Wednesday.

Pigem, who had uncharacteristically missed out on his 2019 Asian Tour card after finishing outside top-60 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, took advantage of his much-needed break to regroup and recharge before starting over.

Despite coming off the longest break in his career, the 28-year-old Spaniard, a one-time Asian Tour winner in 2016, is raring to go as he resumes his chase for glory with a revamped swing at the US$350,000 event, which is his first start of the season on the Asian Tour.

Pigem will feature in the 150-man field spearheaded by 2017 winner Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand, highest-ranked player in second place on the Merit rankings, as well as India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu and Khalin Joshi, all winners on Tour, at the Kurmitola Golf Club.

Also in the fray are Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, who won the inaugural edition in 2015, Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, who is making his debut appearance in the tournament this week, and Miguel Carballo of Argentina, a former player on the PGA Tour.

The Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open 2019 welcomed a new title sponsor in the National Bank Ltd, a public limited bank in Bangladesh.

The tournament is named after the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The highly-acclaimed Kurmitola Golf Club continues to provide top-class hospitality as the home of the Bangladesh’s National Open.

Did you know?

• Carlos Pigem is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. He claimed his maiden title at the Yeangder TPC in Chinese Taipei in 2016.
• Pigem played the first two editions of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015 and 2016 where he finished fourth and tied-19th respectively.
• Shortly after turning professional, Pigem signaled his arrival to Asia by finishing in tied-11th place to secure his Asian Tour card at the 2013 Qualifying School.
• Came close to winning on several occasions before finally breaking through on the Asian Tour in 2017. Made the most of early opportunities on the European Tour the same year with back-to-back top-10s at the Hero Indian Open and the Trophée Hassan II.
• Pigem, however, lost his playing rights on the Asian Tour after finishing in 98th place on the 2018 Habitat for Humanity Standings. It was the first time he has failed to end the season inside top-60 on the money list.
• He is returning to competitive golf for the first time in fourth months at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. He last played on the Asian Tour at the season-ending Indonesian Masters last December.
• Mardan Mamat of Singapore claimed his fifth Asian Tour title after leading from start to finish at the inaugural edition of the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in 2015.
• Miguel Carballo, a former player on the PGA Tour, is the only Argentinean in the 150-man field this week. He came through the Qualifying School in 2018 and he is the only Argentinean member on the Asian Tour.
• The 40-year-old Carballo turned professional in 2002 and has previously won on the Challenge Tour and the Web.com Tour.
• He first played at the Kumitola Golf Club for an Asian Development Tour (ADT) event last year where he enjoyed a tied-third place finish.
• Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng is making his debut appearance at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open this week. It is also his maiden trip to the country.
• Prayad has claimed a total of 46 victories worldwide throughout his illustrious career, including 10 victories on the Asian Tour and 13 wins on the Japan Senior Tour, where he started to ply his trade three years ago.