KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (PA) -- After a disappointing start to his European Tour career in Shanghai last fall, Anthony Kim will be looking for better fortune when he tees up for his second event on the Race to Dubai at the Maybank Malaysian Open this week.

The American became a fully paid-up Tour member late last year, but has yet to get off the mark after being disqualified from the season-opening HSBC Champions in November for playing with an altered driver after accidentally tapping it on a sprinkler head.

As the highest-ranked player at the Malaysian Open, the world No. 11 is expected to improve his position in the Race to Dubai this week, though he refuses to see himself as the favorite at Saujana Golf & Country Club.

"I don't know if I am the man to beat," said the 23-year-old. "I just heard that Thongchai Jaidee (of Thailand) has won this event a few times and there are definitely a lot of guys on the European Tour who have a lot of game and I have to set my game up to play at the that level and hopefully I can bring my game too.

"To be honest, I have played two events here in Asia and they have been top notch," he added. "It is just a matter of time before the Asian players start moving over to the U.S. and getting used our conditions. It is only a matter of time before some of your young players come over and start playing some great golf and start representing."

Since turning professional in 2006, Kim has been a sensation in the United States, winning a pair of PGA Tour events and playing a key part in the American team's Ryder Cup victory last year.

The Korean American is keen to build on that success and prove his abilities on the international stage as well.

"That's one of the reasons that I am here," he explained. "I want to be a global player and it is important for me to go to different countries and experience new venues and the way that tournaments are set up so that I can go to a lot of different places and play well wherever I am in the world."

Tuesday's pro-am gave Kim the opportunity to experience something new as he enjoyed a brush with royalty, playing with the King of Malaysia, His Royal Highness Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin.

"I really didn't know I was going to be playing with the King and it was quite an honor," Kim said. "He was a really funny guy and it was a blast to go out there and play a round of golf with him.

"There is a good chance that he could have beat me today, so he obviously has a good golf game."

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