Thongchai Jaidee earns invite to US PGA
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2004 US PGA Championship | General | 26 Jul 2004
Thai star Thongchai Jaidee has received a special invitation to take on the world’s best players including Tiger Woods and Ernie Els in next month’s US PGA Championship, the final Major of the year.
Thongchai, the current Asian Tour number one, was informed by his management group, Starscope Management and SMG Thailand, of the good news at the weekend and will be making his third appearance in a Major.
“This is really wonderful news,” said Thongchai today. "It is a pleasant surprise and another recognition towards the Asian Tour and players from the region. I’m looking forward to it and I hope to make my presence felt in the PGA Championship.
“Playing in the Majors is what golfers dream of and I’m determined to play well. There is a lot of pressure but I always enjoy playing alongside the big names. It will give me encouragement.”
The former paratrooper, who was Asia’s number one in 2001, qualified and played in all four rounds of the US Open that year and withdrew from the second round of the British Open in 2002 due to a bad back.
His invitation from the PGA of America is due largely to his superb run of results this season which started with victory in last December’s Volvo Masters of Asia on home soil. It marked a glorious streak where he won successive titles in the Myanmar Open and Carlsberg Malaysian Open in February, the latter event being co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.
In between those wins, he finished in the top-10 in four other tournaments, including a tied fifth finish alongside world number one Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic. He was paired with Els in the opening two rounds and outscored the big South African on those days.
“I’m feeling good about my game right now. I pulled out of the Scottish Open a few weeks ago because I didn’t feel comfortable with my back. But since coming home, I’ve been cleared by my doctor and have been doing a lot exercises. I’m feeling good now,” said Thongchai, who is ranked 32nd on the European Tour money list and 82nd in the world, as of last week.
With the PGA invite, Thongchai will play in three big-money events in a row in August, offering no less than US$17 million. He has been given a slot to play in The International at Castle Pines, Colorado next week on the US PGA Tour before lining up alongside the world’s elite at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.
Immediately after the year’s last Major, the Thai, who flies out to the US tomorrow, will head to the World Golf Championship-NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club, Ohio, an invitation that came along with his Volvo victory last year.
“It’s a nice run of big events. If I can win enough money, I may earn a US PGA Tour card straight away and do not have to go through Qualifying School. It’s a nice incentive to play well,” said Thongchai, who missed out his card in America last year at the Final Stage.
Asian Tour Chairman Kyi Hla Han was delighted with the news. "Thongchai’s invitation is another endorsement for the Asian Tour. It is the first time that one of our members have received an invitation from the PGA of America and it shows that the Asian players have made great strides on the international scene.
“This year especially has been good for the Asian Tour with Zhang Lian-wei of China receiving an invitation to play in the US Masters in April which was an historic occasion. I’m confident Thongchai will make use of this invitation and fly the Asian flag high,” said Han.
Source – Asian Tour
