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Former Ryder Cup player and 1999 British Open runner-up Jean Van de Velde of France is hoping that a good performance at this week's Asian Tour's Qualifying School Final Stage will allow him to make his much desired Asian Tour debut next season.

Van de Velde (WireImage)

The globe trotting Frenchman who narrowly missed out on a 1999 Open Championship triumph is switching his focus to Asia as his family is now based in Hong Kong.

Besides his family considerations for wanting to play in Asia, the 40-year-old is also eager to earn his full playing rights for next season as he believes that Asia is where the future of golf lies today.

"My life is taking me to Asia as my wife and my two-year-old baby are now based in Hong Kong. The Asian Tour is where I want to play and I would like to focus my game in this region," said Van de Velde.

"The Asian Tour is going to keep growing and become stronger every year. In the past five years, we have seen the prize money increase, the quality of the game improve and the interest rise and I would really love to be part of this exciting growth here."

Van de Velde is among the leading players vying to finish in the top-40 and ties so as to earn full playing rights on the Asian Tour next year.

Malaysia's Ben Leong, who topped the field at last year's Final Stage qualifier in Thailand, will be hoping to repeat his feat on home soil this week.

Leong is banking on the experience he had gained during his rookie season this year and also his knowledge of competing on his home course, the Sabah Golf and Country Club to steer him to victory this week.

"I've learnt a lot from playing on the Asian Tour during my rookie year. Playing together with the other seasoned professionals on the tour has also taught me well. The experience is really useful and I hope to put it to good use this week," said Leong.

Fellow rookie Panuwat Muenlek of Thailand, who enjoyed a top-10 finish at this year's Pine Valley Beijing Open, will also be hoping to mount another challenge on the Asian Tour again by earning his Tour card this week.

"I've learnt a lot especially playing alongside experienced players who are able to control their game at crucial moments. It's been very challenging for me but I stuck to my game and focused on improving my iron play and putting," said Panuwat recorded three top-10s in his rookie 2007 season and ended the year in 73rd place on the UBS Order of Merit.

"I hope to finish in the top-10 this week and earn my playing rights to compete in the big events next year. I've rested for the whole of last week and I'm feeling good about my outing here."

Among the other top players expected to headline this week's event at the Sabah Golf and Country Club and the Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club are Korea's Hur In-hoi and Lee Sung-ho, American Edward Loar and 2001 British Amateur Champion Michael Hoey of England.

Jerome Delariate, who finished tied 11th at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and Felix Casas will lead the Filipino charge while Harmeet Kahloon, who produced two top-10s this season, and Arjun Singh are part of the Indian stalwarts this week.