Golf: Jaidee takes lead in Johnnie Walker Classic

Thongchai Jaidee has jumped into the early lead at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

The 32-year-old, who did not turn professional until three years ago, returned a five-under-par 67 at Lake Karrinyup.

It put Jaidee two ahead of playing partner Sergio Garcia and New Zealander Michael Campbell.

Jaidee managed to birdie two of his first three holes. Settled by that, he turned in 34 and then picked up three more strokes in a front nine 33.

He spent 11 years a parachutist in Thailand's army and believes his parachuting has helped him in his new career as a golfer.

"I jumped out of perfectly good aeroplanes voluntarily and I apply the discipline and the focus and the work ethic of that to my golf preparation and play."

Campbell, pipped for the New Zealand Open two weeks ago, let a really low round slip away with three bogeys in his last six holes.

Having also started on the 10th, the Kiwi had five successive birdies from the 13th and said: "I was very, very surprised by that. I'm not a morning person. But all of a sudden I went berserk.''

In his first round of the year Nick Faldo gave what he described as a "battling" display to post a one-under 71.

Of the later starters, Ernie Els made a good start with an eagle at the 542-yard third and Lee Westwood was one under after four, but Colin Montgomerie bogeyed the first two and Justin Rose, winner of the Dunhill championship in South Africa on Sunday, double-bogeyed the second.