As the sun rose in the sky yesterday, so did the spirits of former Asian champion Thongchai Jaidee. The Thai basked in the warmth of the Fanling fairways, loving being back in Asia after playing on the European Tour this year.
'Every time I come here the weather is good,' said Thongchai, who shared the early lead at six under before two late bogeys took the shine off his round. 'It is almost similar to Thailand, just a bit cooler.'
Thongchai, 38, finished in a tie for 53rd at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai last week, where the weather was chillingly European. 'In the morning it was eight degrees [Celsius] and in the afternoon it was 16,' said Thongchai, the first Thai player to win a European Tour event (2004 Malaysian Open). He played 27 tournaments on the 2007 European Tour, finishing 59th on the money list with Euro559,990 (HK$6.3 million), but it would have been a lot more if his putter was hot.
It started so well last November when he tied for third behind Jose Manuel Lara at the Hong Kong Golf Club, winning more than Euro80,000, but problems with his putter after a tie for 18th in Dubai in February cost him dearly. 'I lost out big on my putting,' he said. 'I have cut it [the putter] by two inches and it's better now.'
A new set of irons also contributed to Thongchai flying the flag for Asia yesterday. 'I have a new set of Callaway irons, the same ones Phil Mickelson used last week. I got them on Monday and used them for practice. They give me more flight and ball control. I love them.'
