Thongchai outguns Scott, Westwood in Singapore

BY iseekgolf.com | Asian Tour | 2005 Singapore Open | Round One | 08 Sep 2005

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee outgunned world number seven Adam Scott and Lee Westwood to grab a share of the first round lead in the US$2 million Singapore Open on Thursday.

Thongchai, last season’s Asian Tour number one, fired a four-under-par 67 on the treacherous Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course and was joined at the top of the leaderboard by little-known compatriot Chapchai Nirat and Korean-born American Anthony Kang.

Scott launched his campaign in Asia’s richest national Open with a 70 after a spectacular start of three consecutive birdies. England’s Ryder Cup star Westwood, who termed Serapong as the toughest course in Asia, scrambled to a 71.

After a slow start with two early bogeys in four holes, Thongchai took his familiar place at the top of the leaderboard with six birdies, including an impressive inward 31. However, the two-time Asian number one conceded he got “lucky” with the notorious Serapong rough.

“The rough will kill everybody. I used a lot of three woods or two irons to put the ball on the fairway. I am really happy with that (score). I had three or four putts from just over 20 feet which were really important. I think I was lucky today. I missed four or five fairways but luckily I had a good lie each time,” said Thongchai, who successfully defended his Carlsberg Malaysian Open title in February.

The former paratrooper, currently second on the Order of Merit, is harbouring hopes of a third Merit crown in five years but knows he needs a big week here. He is planning another assault at the US PGA Tour Qualifying School later this season, meaning his appearances in the region could be limited.

“A good week here and I will have a great chance. However, Thaworn (Wiratchant) is playing well and will be tough to beat. I will have to plan my schedule. I have three more Asian Tour events to play this year, and have the US PGA Tour School (second stage) to go to. If I do well here and have a chance to be number one in Asia again then I might have to change my schedule a bit,” said Thongchai.

The story of the day belonged to the 22-year-old Chapchai. The unheralded Thai, playing in only his seventh Asian Tour event and currently ranked a lowly 106th, charged to the top with a sparkling display that included five birdies.

“I kept the ball in play, just missing one fairway. I hit only three drivers out there and used my three wood mostly from off the tee. I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the Singapore Open as it’s a big event and there is plenty to play for,” said Chapchai.

Starting from the 10th, he drained a 20-footer for birdie on his opening hole which set the tone for the rest of his round. “I started nicely and got a bit of confidence from there. All my other birdies were from inside 10 feet. It’s good to lead as Thongchai is my hero,” said Chapchai, who turned pro at a tender age of 16.

The 25-year-old Scott, already a winner twice this season, was quickly off the blocks to thrill the large galleries. He missed birdie chances on the fourth an fifth holes before stumbling with bogeys on the eighth and 12th and a costly double bogey on 13 when he three-putted from five feet.

“I got off to a great start and apart from the double bogey on 13, everything was perfect. I had three putts from five feet on 13 … I don’t know what happened really, not concentrating, just one of those things,” said Scott.

The Aussie, fresh from a two-week holiday, found the punishing rough a challenge. “It’s the deepest rough I have played anywhere. The few times I was in there, I had to try and chip it out. It’s almost like having a penalty shot when you get in there. The course is more difficult than what I heard,” said Scott.

Westwood said he “putted like a blind man” on his way to an even-par start but did not rule himself out of the title race. He was outstanding from tee to green but failed to buy a putt. “The way I putted, I am delighted (with even par),” said the 32-year-old Westwood. “It was embarrassing for me on the greens. The great thing is that it’s a difficult course – putting like a blind man has fortunately not taken me out of this.”

Westwood, playing in the same group as Thongchai, started his round at the 10th hole and bogeyed the 17th and the first before picking up shots with back to back birdies on the fourth and fifth. “Other than those two (17 and the first), I had birdie chances on every other hole. I will be fairly confident if I keep playing like that from tee to green,” said Westwood, who has a good record in Asia with wins in the Malaysian and Macau Opens.

Unlike Westwood, Kang, a two-time winner in Asia but not since 2001, was rolling in the putts from all angles. “Uncharacteristically, I rolled in a lot of putts. I’m pretty solid from inside six to eight feet but do not tend to make putts from outside 15 feet, but today, thank goodness, I found the pace,” said Kang.

Mahal Pearce, the 2003 New Zealand Open champion and playing in his rookie year in Asia, started strongly with a 68, a score matched by American left-hander Edward Loar, the reigning Korean Open winner.

Malaysia’s Danny Chia, Asia’s Visa Dynasty Cup team member Angelo Que, Marcus Both and Adam Blyth of Australia, Korea’s Ted Oh and American Edward Michaels share sixth place on 69.

Chinese Taipei veteran Hsieh Min-nan, who skippered Asia to victory in the 2003 and 2005 Dynasty Cup over Japan, enjoyed a personal victory, outscoring Isao Aoki, Japan’s captain, by one stroke with a 77. "I’ve won three points now for Asia," smiled Hsieh.

Source – Asian Tour