Thongchai hangs on to defend his title
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee reached seventh heaven yesterday when he held off India's Jyoti Randhawa and Swede Henrik Stenson to retain his Carlsberg Malaysian Open title by three strokes.
The Asian Tour number one, who took a six shot lead into the final round, carded a two-under-par 70 to secure his seventh career title and matched Kang Wook-soon's most number of victories in the region.
It was also the first time that the former paratrooper had won back-to-back triumphs in his glowing career.
Randhawa birdied the last hole en route to a 67 to finish runner-up and make it a memorable one-two sweep for the Asian Tour at the US$1.21 million championship, jointly sanctioned with the European Tour.
Swede Stenson, who got to within two strokes of Thongchai, also closed with a 67 to finish a further stroke back in third place.
The fine play of Thongchai and Randhawa emphasised the ever-improving standards on the Asian Tour as they failed to crack despite having several top Europeans breathing down their necks.
Irishman Paul McGinley and another Swede, Niclas Fasth, shared fourth position.
'I'm feeling very good right now,' said Thongchai, who compiled a winning total of 21-under-par 267.
'I was looking for a good week after missing the cut in Singapore last month. It feels fantastic. This win is better than last year.'
'As the defending champion, winning again feels very good. This is the first time I've regained a title and this is also my second European Tour triumph. I like this Saujana course.'
Thongchai's success marked another great chapter in his impressive career, which started as a 13-year-old playing with a makeshift three iron stuck on a bamboo stick. Victory was worth US$201,660 and hauled him back to his familiar place at the top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
But it did not come easy. His overnight six-shot lead dwindled to two strokes at one stage with the fast-charging Randhawa and Stenson launching a title challenge. However the Thai, decked out in his lucky red tee-shirt, held his nerve and sealed it with a birdie on the par three 16th, which is proving to be his lucky hole as he had aced the same hole en route to his triumph 12 months ago.
