Thongchai comes to grief on greens
Thongchai Jaidee's debut saw him board the dreaded bogey train at Augusta National as he settled for a six-over 78.
The Thai star, Asia's number one in 2001 and 2004, split the opening hole's fairway with a picture perfect drive but it didn't settle the early nerves as he failed to come to grips with the slippery greens.
Thongchai parred the first two holes but dropped a shot on the third and continued to drop a bogey on each hole till the seventh. The Asian Tour stalwart steadied his game and negotiated the notorious Amen Corner without a blemish but gave away another bogey on 17 to end his round.
His woes on the lightning quick greens were highlighted as he failed to shoot a single birdie. However, he said he still has a fighting chance after ending the opening day in tied 68th position.
'I had a bad run of five bogeys on the trot but I hung in there,' said Thongchai. 'I drove the ball very well today but my putting let me down a little. I struggled on the greens, I was focusing too much on getting the ball to the hole rather than paying enough attention on the breaks.'
At the end of 36 holes of play, the field will be reduced to the lowest 44 scores and ties, plus those within 10 strokes of the leader. And Thongchai, who received a special invitation to feature in the year's first major, intends to battle on.
'I'm pretty relaxed out here and I'm in the right frame of mind. I feel positive about tomorrow, especially with the way I'm driving the ball,' said Thongchai, who hit nine of 14 fairways but missed 11 greens in regulation.
South Korea's K. J. Choi, who is a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, carded a 76 while former Asian Tour regular Ted Purdy of the United States started his campaign with a solid 72, which included an eagle three on the 13th hole.
