KARACHI: Pakistan's top golfer Muhammad Shabbir Iqbal said on Thursday that he was going through a rigorous training process to qualify for next year's Asian Golf Tour.

“I am really working hard to feature in Asian Golf qualifiers being staged in Bangkok in January,” he said in an interview.

“Right now I am at the top of my career and  looking to return to Asian Tour after a lapse of six years,” he added.

Asian Professional Golf Association (APGA) is holding two Asian Tour qualifying events in Bangkok in January 2013.

“Top six from each of qualifying events will be eligible to feature on the Asian Tour,” the Islamabad-based golfer said.

“It is not easy to play on a foreign soil and get used to the alien conditions and environment. I am in a different mould and find it difficult to adjust there,” he said.

“Due to this kind of nature, I skipped the Mena Open Golf in Dubai”, he revealed.

Iqbal has won half a dozen titles at home this year. He recalled that he featured in four Asian Tour events in 2006 in China, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“I think it's difficult to improve without appearing on the Asian Tour without rubbing your shoulders with top golfers of the world,” he asserted.

Iqbal and Muhammad Munir created history three years ago when they become first Pakistan golfers to qualify for the World Cup held in China.

He said without the financial support of Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) it was very difficult to arrange funding for the trip abroad, adding that he was also looking to Sindh Golf Association for their support.