Jaidee joy at first tour title

Thongchai Jaidee continued his sensational run of form with a two-shot victory at the Carlsberg Malaysian Open today to become the first Thai to win a tournament on the European Tour.

The 34-year-old former paratrooper, who finished off his rain-affected third round this morning with a 64, put together a stunning run on the back nine to clinch his third title in six tournaments.

The key moment was a stunning hole-in-one on the 188-yard 16th which catapulted him clear of the field. He consolidated that advantage with a precision approach on the last for a fourth birdie to reach 14 under par.

Jaidee then had to sit back, sign autographs and watch as his nearest rivals, led by Australian Brad Kennedy, tried and failed to catch him.

Kennedy was on 13 under par and worked himself a birdie opportunity at the last after playing an excellent recovery shot from the rough.

But he three-putted from 30 feet for bogey, the chance of a play-off was lost and he finished runner-up for the second consecutive year on 12 under par, two strokes clear of a three-way tie for third.

Frenchman Thomas Levet, who was third at the ANZ Championship last week, was the leading European and finished alongside Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng and Chawalit Plaphol.

Jaidee won the Myanmar Open last Sunday, the Volvo Asian Masters in December and finished fourth at the Johnnie Walker Classic.

Victory today was set up by an eight-under-par third round that propelled him into contention and although he dropped two strokes on his outward nine, that remarkable six-under-par run home proved the difference.

“This week has been very big, very exciting. Now it is live on television in Thailand and I am very happy,” he said.

“I came back. On the 10th I made birdie, the 13th I shipped in and the 16th was a hole-in-one. My game changed on the 16th green.

“I hit the shot with a bit of draw. You can’t see the green from the tee and I was just trying to get it on the green.”

In the event, it pitched 15 feet from the hole, bounced three times and dropped in.