Three Thais make British Open history

CASTLE STUART (United Kingdom): Three Thailand-born golfers will compete in next week’s British Open at Muirfield for the first time in the event’s history.

Thongchai Jaidee will be contesting golf’s oldest Major for the sixth time, and a fifth in succession, and will be joined by Thaworn Wirachant, competing in his second British Open, and Kiradeck Aphibarnrat, who will be teeing up in a very first Major championship.

Thongchai made his Open debut at Muirfield when the championship was last staged there in 2002.

However, he was forced out with a back injury after an agonizing first round 80. Thaworn was a lone Thai-born contestant when he competed in his maiden Open at Royal Liverpool in 2006.

While Thongchai and Kiradeck qualified through the European Tour, Thaworn finished first by four strokes in an Asian International Qualifier in Bangkok last March.

So now with a country boasting some 200 courses, and around 400,000 annual overseas visitors to play golf, Thailand has three of their top players teeing up next Thursday on one of the oldest golf courses in the world.

“It is going to be a very special British Open this year for my country, Thailand,” said Thongchai at Castle Stuart where he is contesting the Scottish Open.

“It is amazing a small country like Thailand can have three players competing in the same Major Championship so I am sure we are going to have a lot of support.

“Also it will help each of us in terms of encouragement knowing that there are also two other Thailand golfers competing.”

Thongchai has captured 16 wins in his career, including last year’s Wales Open on the European Tour and is also a triple Asian Tour number one.

Thaworn holds an Asian Tour record of having won 15 tournaments in his career since 1996 and is a double Asian Tour number one having captured a second money list title last year.

The 23-year-old Kiradeck burst onto the international stage earlier this year in capturing the Malaysian Open title. — AFP