The golf world may not be too familiar with Poom Saksansin but PGA TOUR stars Paul Casey and Henrik Stenson certainly know all about the baby-faced Thai golfer nicknamed the “Assassin”.

The 26-year-old Poom will tee up in the US$10.25 million World Golf Championships-FedEx St Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind starting on Thursday with every intention of upstaging the stars in Memphis, a historical city known as the home of Blues, Soul, and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Poom earned his place in the elite field after winning the BNI Indonesian Masters in December for his third Asian Tour title. While his recent form has been off-key and causing him to sing the blues, the likeable Thai is determined to make the most of his second WGC appearance.

“Playing in this big event is a big opportunity for me, especially when the prize money is high and the field is very strong,” said Poom with the help of a translator.

Last year, Poom stood out as a hero for Team Asia in their defeat to Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia. He first partnered Korea’s Sung Kang, who is also in the field this week, to defeat Stenson and Frenchman Alex Levy 5 & 4 in the fourball format and then stunned Casey 1-up in the singles.

“We need to rename him ‘Assassin’ instead of Saksansin,” joked Stenson, who is a six-time PGA TOUR winner including the 2007 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Poom’s victory was especially sweet as he grew up idolising Stenson.