Thai master Thongchai hits career high heading into the US Open
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Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee continued his swift rise up the world golf rankings to a career high of 37th following his victory at the Nordea Masters on Sunday.
Thongchai, a 13-time Asian Tour winner, was instrumental in leading Team Asia to an epic draw with Team Europe at the EurAsia Cup presented by DRB-HICOM in Malaysia in March. The Thai displayed those battling qualities again when he outclassed the field to emerge victorious for the second time on European soil in his illustrious career.
“It’s simply amazing to know that I’ve won in Europe again. This win is dedicated to my family, all the Thai people and everyone who has supported me.
“It is a special week for me, to win a trophy outside of Asia for the second time. I’ll keep performing better,” said Thongchai after taking the trophy in Sweden.
The Thai ace is the only player to win three Asian Tour Order of Merit crowns and was recently voted the Tour’s Player of the Decade by his peers.
At 44 years old, Thongchai is simply in a class of his own and will now head into the year’s second Major championship in the best of form at the US Open next week.
The Asian Tour legend will make his fourth US Open appearance, aiming to better his best result of tied-47th, at the 2010 edition.
India’s Anirban Lahiri, a three-time Asian Tour winner, is the next leading Asian after Thongchai, at 72nd on the world rankings, while honorary member KJ Choi of South Korea and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat are 85th and 87th respectively.
Other Asian Tour members inside the world top-200 include Australia’s Scott Hend (144), China’s Liang Wen-chong (161), Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman (165), Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng (168) and India’s Shiv Kapur (171).
International ambassador of the Asian Tour, Ernie Els of South Africa is in 52nd place while Korean Noh Seung-yul – the youngest Asian Tour Order of Merit winner (2010) – is 104th.
