PETALING JAYA, Malaysia – Myanmar golfer Zaw Moe is ready to capitalise on a new lease of life with a successful campaign with Soe Kyaw Naing in the Fortis International Challenge at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club from September 27-30.

Myanmar will join 19 other non-exempt teams in the bid to get among the five qualifiers for the World Cup in China in November.

A successful week in Malaysia will help the 40-year-old Zaw Moe ease the pain of a turbulent last two years where his golf career nearly came to an end after being diagnosed with a serious ailment.

“It’s exciting for me to try and regain my strength and play some good golf again.

“I have told my partner that we should give it our best effort to do well in the Challenge as I have never qualified for the World Cup,” he said. “I like the Kota Permai course. I’ve always played well there (he lost in a playoff for the Volvo Masters of Malaysia title in 1998).”

In 2005, Zaw Moe underwent back surgery but after battling back to fitness he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C last September.

Last year was the first time that Zaw Moe partnered Soe Kyaw Naing, a three-time World Cupper, in the qualifiers. They finished out of the reckoning but Zaw Moe said there were plenty of positives to build on for this week’s Challenge.

“It took us a while to get used to the format but in the last two rounds, we played really well and shot a 68 in the last day’s foursomes, which is the tougher format. Hopefully from there, we can start playing better,” he said.

– The Star