Kuala Lumpur: Danny Chia is relishing the chance to line up alongside a stellar cast at this week’s US$7 million CIMB Classic after overcoming a career-threatening neck and shoulder injury just over a year ago.

The Asian Tour regular now walks around with a four-inch titanium plate and two screws fused between his C4 and C5 vertebrae on his spinal cord after going under the surgeon’s knife to relief compressed nerves that left his right arm paralysed.

“I look at things a lot different now since I came back from injury,” shared Chia, who was evidently distraught as he recalled his injury nightmare. “At that time when I couldn’t lift up my arm, playing golf wasn’t the biggest issue for me. I think the lifestyle was something that I was worried about, like being paralysed in my arm. It’s an honour for me to come and play again this week.”

In the past, the old Danny Chia would have been upset by missing two successive cuts on the Asian Tour as he did in the past fortnight. But he is simply grateful for every opportunity that he has to tee it up, especially in the CIMB Classic which is being played at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

“It’s no big deal. It’s just part of the game,” said Chia on his shortened weeks in Hong Kong and Macau.

“It’s probably a dream come true for me from last year where I couldn’t even lift up my right arm to today playing this event. I think it’s quite a big achievement considering what I have gone through,” said Chia, who qualified for this week’s showpiece sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA TOUR thanks to a play-off win over compatriot Khor Kheng Hwai at the SapuraKencana National Qualifier in August.

His comeback from injury has been slow but steady. He has made the cut in six of nine Asian Tour starts this season and won on the Asian Development Tour, where he defied his doctor’s orders to not play in the event.

“I’m just very pleased, and very happy to be here,” added the 41-year-old who will carry the nation’s hopes with national number one Nicholas Fung.