Evergreen Thongchai hails ‘fantastic week’
SHANGHAI: Overnight leader Thongchai Jaidee fell three inches from a playoff in the BMW Masters yesterday but the veteran still called it a “fantastic week”.
He left a 15-foot putt on the final green agonisingly short when a couple of more rolls would have taken him into sudden death finale against Patrick Reed and eventual winner Kristoffer Broberg in the $7 million event. The 46-year-old from Thailand was chasing his eighth European Tour title, and second of the season, when he teed off his final round at Lake Malaren in the lead at 15 under par.
His strength all week-finding fairways and rock solid putting-let him down early in Sunday’s final round as his worst round of the tournament, a one-under 71, left him in a four-way tie for third at 16 under par. “Yes I was struggling with putting on the front nine. And the last putt was just a bit short to get into the playoff,” Thongchai reflected. “For me, I think very good week anyway,” he added. “My week is fantastic week. If I don’t win then it’s because a lot of guys played well.” The exThai army paratrooper revealed he will make a quick dash back to Thailand on Monday from Shanghai and then will fly to Dubai late Monday from Bangkok, getting in Tuesday morning.
“We have to go back home for tomorrow, stay a couple hours at home and then fly over at midnight from Bangkok to Dubai, probably land Tuesday morning,” he told AFP.
“I will spend a little bit of time with my family so I think that’s a good plan to make.” At an age when many players are looking forward to the senior tour, Thongchai seems to be competing, and beating, many of his younger opponents every week. He won the European Open in Cologne in September for his seventh victory on the European Tour and made his Presidents Cup debut just a couple of weeks later.
Next week will be his 316th start on the European Tour and his powers show no sign of diminishing. He moved up to eighth in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings from 11th before the BMW Masters with just next week’s DP World Tour Championship remaining. He also looks likely to break into the world’s top 30 for the first time in his career as a result when the new rankings are announced Monday. He is currently 32nd. “This year is going to be a fantastic year for me I think,” said Thongchai. “I think I have a pretty good year.” — AFP