Kolkata, Dec 11 (PTI) The PGTI year-ending championshiphere next week will miss defending champion PariyaJunhasavasdikul, who is busy pursuing a career in flying.
A two-time winner on the Asian Tour, Thailand's Pariyahad clinched the Rs 1.5 crore McLeod Russel Tour Championship2016 to become the first non-Indian winner of the annualevent.
But when PGTI invited him for the title defence in theupcoming sixth edition from December 21-24, the 33-year-old,who has been a A licensed pilot since 2004, politely declined.
"We had got in touch with him but he said he has cut downon his golfing commitments and have become a commercialpilot," Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO of the Professional Golf Tourof India said about his interaction with Pariya.
This is for the second time the PGTI event will miss adefending champion after Indian top pro Anirban Lahiri who wonthe title in 2013 and became a regular at the European and PGATours.
A business management graduate of Purdue, the Thai alsoknows martial arts, but it's flying that he loves the most.
"Definitely flying is my first love. It's really amazing.
I'm considering a full-time career in flying from next year.
Maybe less of golf," Pariya said after his unwavering finalround of one-under 71 en route to lifting the silverware.
"Martials arts is just for my self defence. You neverknow when you need it," he had said after winning the 2016title.
Pariya kept his commitments and have competed only in twoAsian Tour events this year with no total earning so far.
Pariya broke through in a big way in 2010 by winning hismaiden title at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, beatingBangladeshi Siddikur in a play-off.
He claimed his second Asian Tour title at the 2013Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters, defeating close friendand regular roommate Baek Seuk-hyun of Korea on the last day.
PTI TAP AHPDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.