Jaidee claims title

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee today survived a few anxious moments before successfully defending his Carlsberg Malaysian Open title.

Jaidee carded a final round 70 at Saujana for a 21-under-par-total of 267 and a three-shot victory over India’s Jyoti Randhawa.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who closed within two shots of the lead after 11 holes, matched Randhawa’s closing 67 to claim third place on 17 under.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington could only manage a 74 to finish 11 shots off the pace, the world number eight’s faint hopes dashed by a front nine of 40.

Jaidee, a former paratrooper in the Thai army, held a six-shot lead at the start of the day but saw that cushion steadily eroded by playing partner Randhawa and Stenson in the group ahead.

Stenson picked up four birdies to cover the front nine in 32 and when he birdied the 11th as well, the gap was down to just two shots minutes later when Jaidee bogeyed the same hole.

The par five 13th proved to be the crucial hole however, Stenson taking a bogey six while Jaidee’s approach just cleared the lake in front of the green, setting him up for a birdie.

Another birdie on the 16th, the hole where he recorded a hole-in-one during the final round last year, essentially sealed victory for Jaidee and with it the £108,000 first prize.