Chan prepares for Japan golf torunament

Macau Open champion Chan Yih-shin says he will need to maintain his putting form if he is to continue his winning run when he tees off at the Asia Pacific Panasonic Open in Japan on Thursday. The Macau title last week was Chan's second Asian Tour win and the 34-year-old said improvements on the green have been key to his success, which he hopes to continue at the Biwako Country Club in Shiga. "It'll be my second year playing in Japan this week and obviously it's always nice to play in an event after winning," said the Taiwanese star, who jumped from 64th on the Asian Tour's Order of Merit to sixth following last week's win. "I'm going to stay patient like how I did in Macau and hopefully I can do well again. I didn't putt very well in the beginning of the year and that was why I didn't get a good result. "Last week was the best that I've putted and I hope that I can maintain that form again in Japan." India's Anirban Lahiri is another player on winning form going into the $1.7 million event. The 24-year-old said his maiden tour title in his home country earlier in the year had spurred him on to achieve further success. "That win was a stepping stone to bigger things and the way I looked at it, it was great that it happened but now I need to move on and keep performing well," said Lahiri. "You always look to get your second win as soon as you can and reassure yourself that you can win over and over again. It's important to keep that habit going." Bangladesh's Siddikur Rahman is looking for a return to form to give himself a chance of topping the Order of Merit. Consistent play sees him in second place, but the 26-year-old, the first of his countrymen to win on the Asian Tour, suffered a blip in Macau when he missed his first cut of the season. "It's disappointing to have missed the cut for the first time this season. But that week's over and I can only focus on doing better in my next event," he said. "I know I've a chance to go to the top of the Order of Merit with a good performance and will do my best." Rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, 20, will be hoping to do well in front of his home crowd. The "Bashful Prince", who won a Japan Golf Tour event aged just 15, has been tipped for success at the highest level by fellow players including Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy.