Two-time Asian Tour winner Nitithorn Thippong will be looking for redemption when he tees off in the Korea Open at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club on Thursday — having had an impressive run at the title last year before being struck by illness on Sunday.

Opening rounds of 69, 74 and 68 saw him in contention throughout the week and meant he was just three off the lead starting the final day in the country’s most-esteemed tournament, which has made its regular home at the Woo Jeong Hills venue since 2003.

Nitithorn, the young Thai star nicknamed “Fever” who was red-hot last year when he won both his Asian Tour titles — The DGC Open and the International Series Singapore — shot a six-over-par 77 on the last day after a calamitous run of holes from the eighth, which he double-bogeyed and followed up with six bogeys and no gains on the second half.

Much to his disappointment he tied for 22nd, eight shots behind the score that saw Koreans Minkyu Kim and Mingyu Cho tie for the lead to force a three-hole play-off, won by the former.

It also meant Nitithorn missed out on one of the two places available in The Open, something which is also a target for all the competitors this week, as the event is again part of The Open Qualifying Series.

However, the story does not end there.

Said Nitithorn: “When I woke up for the final round, I felt a bit sick, but still I had the patience that I could do it because my goal was to be at The Open. Unfortunately, I had a fever, but I played really well on the first seven holes, and I was really focused on my game.”

Having played the first seven holes in two-under, one of The Open tickets was within his grasp, but as his health struggled so did his score.

“I knew that I had to be like, super focused that day, because my body was not active,” he said. “But after the eighth hole where I made a double-bogey, it can happen but you… I don’t know how to say it, after eight holes I tried to be like, keep focused, keep patient, but my body wasn’t working anymore, not responding anymore. Like on the 14th tee I said to my caddie, I cannot walk anymore. But OK, just hit it until I finish, that’s all I could do at that time.”

The reason for the unfortunate turn of events was soon to be revealed.

Said Nitithorn: “Yeah, I went to do a test after the round, I tested positive for COVID-19, so I felt so sorry for everyone. I felt bad that I didn’t play as well as I expected, but I had already done my best, you know. So yeah, I had already done my best and had a good chance to be at The Open, but this year maybe I can do it.”

This week he is fully committed to taking his revenge on the difficult Woo Jeong Hills layout, encouraged by his T11 at the Maekyung Open at Nam Seoul Country Club in Korea earlier this season.

“The first year that I played in Korea, even the Maekyung Open, the course is quite difficult. But for me, I really love difficult courses because you have to hit the ball in the fairway, and you have to be patient on every shot,” said the 26 year old.

“I got beaten by the course on the first year, so I just said to myself that’s OK, next time I’ll beat it. This year, I have already beaten Nam Seoul so I’m gonna try to beat Woo Jeong Hills, that’s my goal.”