Jaidee takes over at the top

Defending champion Thongchai Jaidee put a dampener on Thomas Bjorn’s birthday celebrations in the second round of the Carlsberg Malaysian Open today.

Bjorn celebrated his 34th birthday with a superb 64 for a 12 under par halfway total at Saujana, seemingly setting a daunting clubhouse target on a course known as ’The Cobra’.

Jaidee, the first Thai player to win a European Tour event when he triumphed here 12 months ago, later shrugged off a slow start however and finished with three straight birdies to add a 66 to his opening 64 for a two-shot lead.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson matched Bjorn’s 64 to claim third place on 11 under alongside Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, two shots ahead of Ryder Cup star Miguel Angel Jimenez. Jimenez, Europe’s most prolific winner with four titles last season, posted a 67.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington dragged himself back into contention after a poor finish to his opening round yesterday, the world number eight firing a 66 to finish seven under alongside compatriot Gary Murphy.

Paul McGinley finished a shot further back, while Peter Lawrie finished on three under. Stephen Browne wrapped up his round on one over.

Starting on the 10th in the third match out, Bjorn fired four birdies in an outward half of 33 and added five more to storm home in 31.

“It’s a nice way to spend your birthday,” admitted Bjorn, who famously let slip a two-shot lead with three holes to play in the 2003 Open at Royal St George’s and has not won a European Tour event since 2002.

“With the time difference it was not even February 18 in Europe when I finished but I am sure my family will be phoning me shortly.

“The course is not playing too tough but 64 is a good round in the conditions. It’s tough to focus, the sweat is running off you.

“I’m really pleased because when I hit balls on the range on Tuesday and Wednesday it was not what I was looking for but I found a few keys and it’s working out well.

“I have changed equipment (to Callaway) and there is always that little bit of doubt early on, but I am settling very well into it. I spent a couple of days with the guys in London last week and found a new driver and I’m really pleased.”

Bjorn’s trip home was part of a hectic schedule he has mapped out for himself in the coming weeks.

After finishing fourth in the Caltex Masters in Singapore he missed the cut in the Heineken Classic in Melbourne the following week, then flew home to London before flying back to Kuala Lumpur.

“I have the worst schedule over the next few weeks that I’ve ever had in my life,” admitted Bjorn, one of Bernhard Langer’s assistants during Europe’s record Ryder Cup victory last year. “I’m here, there and everywhere.

“I am playing the match play in California next week, then Dubai, then a week off followed by the TCL Classic in China, the Players Championship in Florida and a week off before the Masters. Then I get two days off before Phuket for a skins game and two weeks in China.

“I have committed myself to the European Tour and let America go out of my mind a little bit. I enjoy my weeks in America but after what happened last year I have to find out if that was the right move for me.

“Was the reason I played badly over the summer because I played in America so much earlier in the year? I was away from my family for five or six-week spells and even with this crazy schedule I am home every two or three weeks to see them.”

Jaidee has now played the back nine at Saujana in 30, 31 and 31 shots in his last three competitive rounds, and is relishing taking on Bjorn over the weekend.

“We’ve played about three or four times and he’s beaten me in the past but this week is different!” the former Thai paratrooper joked. “This week I like everything here.

“I have a lot of good friends here, a good course, everything is just perfect for me and I would like to win again.”

Stenson had earlier revelled in the marginally cooler morning conditions, the 28-year-old recovering from a bogey on his opening hole to card seven birdies and an eagle.

“Today was nothing compared to yesterday,” said Stenson, who won the inaugural Heritage tournament at Woburn last season.

“After nine holes of the first round I thought I was not going to get round but it felt a little cooler.”

Stenson is a member of the tour’s tournament committee which will decide Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain in Dubai on March 1, and he would love to end up playing under whoever gets the nod.

“That would be good. At least then you would know if you made a good choice or not,” he joked.

“I would love to be in the Ryder Cup and I’m just trying to get the game better every day so I can be as prepared as possible when the qualifying starts (in September).”

The oppressive heat and humidity in Kuala Lumpur sparked off a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon which had derailed Harrington’s challenge.

Four under par after 13 holes when the storm hit, the Dubliner dropped three shots in his last four hours when play resumed two hours later.

“Obviously I’m going to need another couple of those over the weekend,” Harrington said after his flawless 66.

“I needed to shoot a good score today so I’m happy about that but I played a lot better yesterday than today.

“I had so many more chances yesterday and could not convert, and had nowhere near as many chances today but was taking them. The game was great yesterday, as good as its ever been. Today was very average.”