Ahead of the True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain, europeantour.com takes a closer look at Thai favourite, Thongchai Jaidee...
World Number 39 Thongchai Jaidee has become one of the most consistent and recognisable players on The European Tour. Since joining the Tour in 2004, the 45 year old has played 295 events, won six times and finished in the top ten 50 times. However, there is a lot you might not know about the Thai ace.
1. He was an Army Paratrooper
Okay, you might have known this one, but at the age of 19 Jaidee joined the Thai Royal Army. After a few years, he decided to stay on and eventually became a Paratrooper, training in performing solo jumps from up to 12,000 feet. Thongchai took part in more than 60 jumps during his 12 years in the army and credits the military stint for his enduring and hugely successful golf career: "It was very good for me, training hard gave me a lot of things, stronger muscles and a strong mind and a that's what keeps my golf lasting."
2. He didn't turn pro until he was 29
Jaidee's introduction to golf came at the age of 16 when he lived a two-storey wooden house which backed onto a golf course. His family did not have a lot of money so Thongchai bought a single golf ball and tied the head of a five iron he had found to a slender stick of bamboo. Having played and practised throughout his time in the army, Jaidee took to the sport with aplomb before eventually turning professional in 1999.
3. He was the first Thai golfer to play all four Majors
It didn't take long for Jaidee to find success in the paid ranks. He won his first pro event at the Asian Tour's Kolon Cup Korean Open and went on to win at least one Asian Tour event in nine of the next ten years. Having broken into the top 100 in the world for the first time in 2005, Jaidee became the first golfer from Thailand to play in all four Major Championships when he teed it up at the 2006 Masters Tournament and has so far posted a best finish in ‘The Big Four’ of tied 13th at The 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry.
4. He leads the Asian Tour Career Money List
While Jaidee primarily tees up on The European Tour now, he has made 176 starts on the Asian Tour and amassed more money ($5.1m) than anyone else since the circuit was founded in 1995. He has 13 Asian Tour victories, 68 top ten finishes and an impressive career scoring average of 69.85.
5. He is currently the highest ranked golfer in the world aged 45 or older
Proof of Jaidee's consistency and conditioning is his form in recent years. Since 2013, he has played 75 events on The European Tour, missed just five cuts and is one of only nine players to have recorded earnings in excess of €1million in each of the last three editions of The Race to Dubai.
