The 2010 Asian Tour Qualifying School, presented by Sports Authority of Thailand, will make a return to Thailand.

A total of 500 players from around the world are expected to compete for playing rights in the new season.

Three venues will host the First Stage, with Watermill Golf and Gardens in Bangkok staging a leg from December 16 to 19, 2009 followed by Majestic Creek Golf Resort and Kaeng Krachan Country Club and Resort in Hua Hin from January 6 to 9, 2010.

The all-important Final Stage, where the top-40 finishers and ties will earn their Asian Tour card, will be held at Palm Hills Golf Resort and Country Club and Springfield Village Golf & Spa in Hua Hin from January 13 to 16, 2010.

The Entry Form for the Qualifying School is now available on www.asiantour.com.

The Asian Tour, which is the official sanctioning body for professional golf in Asia, has successfully provided the platform for the region's aspiring stars to stamp their mark on Tour.

Over the years, the Asian Tour continues to deliver world-class tournaments for players around the world.

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of Asian Tour, is expecting a strong turnout of international players vying for an opportunity to compete in Asia.

"The Asian Tour has achieved numerous success over the years and we have provided a strong platform for players to excel on the professional stage. Players such as Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand are testament of the success of our Qualifying School as he continues to sparkle on the Asian Tour and international stage," said Han.

Thongchai, who joined the Tour in 1999 from Qualifying School, has won a record 12 titles and accumulated over US$3 million in career earnings. The Thai star has won twice this season and is on course to win an unprecedented third Order of Merit crown.

Apart from Thongchai, other names who have emerged from Qualifying School and achieved success on the Asian Tour include Scotland's Simon Yates, former US Tour player Scott Hend of Australia, Korea's Charlie Wi and Korean-American Kevin Na, India's Arjun Atwal and Shiv Kapur and Australian duo Jarrod Lyle and Andrew Buckle.

Japan's Daisuke Maruyama emerged as the winner of this year's Qualifying School and won last week's Asia-Pacific Panosonic Open title while Mohammad Siddikur and Rory Hie became the first players from Bangladesh and Indonesia respectively to earn their tour card.

South African James Kamte graduated from Qualifying School this year and subsequently won the season-opening Asian Tour International in Bangkok, which has earned him a two-year exemption on the Asian Tour.

Thialand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat and China's Wu Ashun, who also prevailed in the Qualifying School test, have also produced strong performances this season where they are ranked in the top-50 of the Order of Merit.