Taipei, Chinese Taipei: Poom Saksansin tuned up in perfect style for this week’s Asian Games golf tournament by ending his five-year victory drought on the Asian Tour.

Part of the Thai team at Hangzhou’s Westlake Golf and Country Club, Poom enjoyed a timely confidence-booster by winning the US$750,000 Yeangder TPC on Sunday.

The 30-year-old closed with a six-under-par 66 to finish on 24-under at Linkou International Golf and Country Club. That gave him a three-stroke victory from Australian Travis Smyth, the defending champion.

After securing his fourth Asian Tour title, Poom said: “I don’t know what to say. I’m so lucky today. I played well and had some good luck. Made some good decisions.”

Poom, the overnight leader by two thanks to an eagle on the par-five 18th in round three when he holed his third from 112 yards, has rarely been in contention on the Asian Tour for the past five years, the exception being at last year’s Bangladesh Open, where he tied for fourth.

Poom’s last win on the Asian Tour came in the BNI Indonesia Masters in December of 2018, an event he also won in 2016. His other victory came at the 2017 TAKE Solutions Masters, in India.

His front-running win in Taipei was typical of the Thai golfer. He claimed his first Indonesian Masters title by five shots, the second by three, and triumphed in India by going wire-to-wire.

His week was made more special by the fact that his fiancée, Piyatida, or ‘Ing Ing’, caddied for him.

“It makes her feel successful!” said Poom, who won US$135,000. “Two weeks ago I almost won on the All Thailand Tour. I had a good chance to win but I three-putted 17. She cried and I felt guilty. I think this time she’s going to forget that moment.”