Thailand’s veteran star Thongchai Jaidee enjoyed his best finish of the season on PGA Tour Champions following a runner-up finish at the Shaw Charity Classic presented by Rogers on Sunday.
The 53-year-old Thongchai, who is featuring in his second full season on the over-50 circuit in the U.S., carded a brilliant 8-under 62 for his career low round at Canyon Meadows in Calgary, Canada to finish one back of winner Ken Duke, who triumphed on 14-under 196 after closing with a 66.
It was Thongchai’s second top-10 of the season following a T5 at the Dick’s Sporting Good Open and the strong finish pushed him up to 26th position on the Charles Schwab Cup money list.
“Played well this week,” said the Asian golf legend. “You know, tried to catch up to get top-30 on the Money List. I have struggled with my iron, my putting for like early this year and it was a good time I hit it pretty well on the last day.
“Today, the irons worked very well and my putting was coming back a little bit. I started well on the front nine and I could come back on the back nine. I had confidence with my putting which was the key. That’s why I got to 13-under. Very happy with that. I was surprised we had really very low score. It’ll give me my confidence back.”
Thongchai began the final day seven shots off the lead and made four birdies in his first five holes to gain ground on the leader. He made five more birdies on his inward nine against a lone bogey on the 14th hole. “In golf, you never know. I give my best and try to get my form back, and tried to keep the ball in play,” he said.
Thongchai put in a new putter in the bag on the last day and reaped the immediate rewards. “Try to get my feeling a bit different, and it came on time today,” said Thongchai, who holds eight DP World Tour wins.
