Thai hopes to qualify for season-ending event
KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT
Thongchai Jaidee has set his sights on remaining in the top 60 of the European Tour's Order of Merit to be eligible to play in the lucrative season-ending Volvo Masters.
After a slow start to the season due to a series of injuries, the former Asian number one has been playing well over the past few weeks.
The 42-year-old star finished tied 19th at the Dunhill Links Championship two weeks ago and was joint eighth at last week's Madrid Masters.
The former soldier received nearly three million baht in prize money from the two tournaments. More importantly, the results pushed him to 59th on the European Tour's money list.
His next two tournaments are this week's Portugal Masters and next week's Valencia Masters. If he remains in the top 60 after the two events, he will qualify for the lucrative season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain.
"He wants to finish in the top 60 by the end of the year so that he will be eligible to play in almost all big tournaments on the Tour next year," said his wife and manager Namfon.
"He has been playing in quite a lot of tournaments because he wants to improve his ranking."
Playing in more big tournaments would boost Thongchai's chance of qualifying for next year's inaugural season-ending Dubai World Championship, which offers a US$10m purse for the tournament, along with a US$10m bonus for the top 15 on the money list.
The top 60 on the European Tour qualify for the rich event.
After this season's European Tour ends, Thongchai will play in six tournaments on the Asian Tour.
He will begin with the US$5m Barclays Singapore Open from November 13-16 followed by the UBS Hong Kong Open, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China, the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters, the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.
In the meantime, Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng has been forced to skip this week's Japan Open Golf Championship due to appendicitis.
The 42-year-old Thai was diagnosed with the condition before joining the Japan Open's Pro-Am event yesterday, his handlers said.
He was scheduled to fly back to Thailand late last night and will have surgery this week.
It is a big blow for the Hua Hin native who aims to finish on top of the Japan Golf Tour's money list at the end of the season.
Currently fourth, Prayad will miss two big events - this week's Japan Open and next week's Bridgestone Open.
Prayad, who has failed to deliver over the past few weeks, took the number one spot after winning two tournaments earlier this year.
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KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT
Thongchai Jaidee has set his sights on remaining in the top 60 of the European Tour's Order of Merit to be eligible to play in the lucrative season-ending Volvo Masters.
After a slow start to the season due to a series of injuries, the former Asian number one has been playing well over the past few weeks.
The 42-year-old star finished tied 19th at the Dunhill Links Championship two weeks ago and was joint eighth at last week's Madrid Masters.
The former soldier received nearly three million baht in prize money from the two tournaments. More importantly, the results pushed him to 59th on the European Tour's money list.
His next two tournaments are this week's Portugal Masters and next week's Valencia Masters. If he remains in the top 60 after the two events, he will qualify for the lucrative season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in Spain.
"He wants to finish in the top 60 by the end of the year so that he will be eligible to play in almost all big tournaments on the Tour next year," said his wife and manager Namfon.
"He has been playing in quite a lot of tournaments because he wants to improve his ranking."
Playing in more big tournaments would boost Thongchai's chance of qualifying for next year's inaugural season-ending Dubai World Championship, which offers a US$10m purse for the tournament, along with a US$10m bonus for the top 15 on the money list.
The top 60 on the European Tour qualify for the rich event.
After this season's European Tour ends, Thongchai will play in six tournaments on the Asian Tour.
He will begin with the US$5m Barclays Singapore Open from November 13-16 followed by the UBS Hong Kong Open, the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China, the Hana Bank Vietnam Masters, the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open and the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.
In the meantime, Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng has been forced to skip this week's Japan Open Golf Championship due to appendicitis.
The 42-year-old Thai was diagnosed with the condition before joining the Japan Open's Pro-Am event yesterday, his handlers said.
He was scheduled to fly back to Thailand late last night and will have surgery this week.
It is a big blow for the Hua Hin native who aims to finish on top of the Japan Golf Tour's money list at the end of the season.
Currently fourth, Prayad will miss two big events - this week's Japan Open and next week's Bridgestone Open.
Prayad, who has failed to deliver over the past few weeks, took the number one spot after winning two tournaments earlier this year.
Discuss
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Tell a friend
Bury
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