MANILA, Philippines?Former Asian Tour No. 1 Thaworn Wiratchant will lead a strong contingent from Thailand while the three Asians who recently qualified for the British Open in July are also seeing action in the $300,000 Philippine Open set next week at the famed East course of the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

Thaworn, Asia?s best in 2005, will be joined by young guns Chapchai Nirat and Prom Meesawat as they try to end Thailand?s title drought in Asia?s oldest national championship set April 3-6.

Also expected to attract attention are Malaysia?s Danny Chia, Singapore?s Lam Chih Bing and local star Angelo Que, who recently clinched three of the four slots up for grabs for Asian Tour regulars to the British Open this July in Royal Birkdale.

The Asian Tour and the National Golf Association of the Philippines, in cooperation with host venue Wack Wack, will launch the 92nd edition of the RP Open with the ?Meet the Players? press conference on April 1 in Mandaluyong City.

The country?s top gun and defending champion Frankie Miñoza, Juvic Pagunsan, Artemio Murakami and other Asian Tour stars have been invited to the event.

Miñoza, who is gunning for a third Open title, expects a tough tournament.

?To play in your home Open is very hard; there?s pressure as everyone expects you to win,? he said.