Thongchai
is one of Asia's greatest
players and his rise
to fame has been meteoric.
He has won at least
one title since 2000
and is a two-time
Order of Merit winner.
The former paratrooper
has split his schedule
between Asia and Europe
in recent times and
finished second behind
compatriot Thaworn
Wiratchant on the
Asian Tour Order of
Merit in 2005. He
also had a solid season
in the European Tour.
One of his main highlights
in 2005 was the successful
title defence of the
Malaysian Open title
in February. He later
made history at the
British Open at St
Andrews by becoming
the first Thai to
play in all four rounds.
In 2004, Thongchai
enjoyed another highly
successful year. After
finishing 2003 strongly
with victory in the
Masters of Asia on
home soil in December,
he went on to win
the Myanmar Open and
Malaysian Open, which
is co-sanctioned with
Europe, back-to-back
in February.
The Malaysian triumph
made him the first
Thai to win on the
European Tour where
victory was made more
memorable as he aced
the 16th hole in the
final round. He also
finished in the top-10
in four other events
from December to March,
and another highlight
was outscoring Ernie
Els in the opening
two rounds of the
Dubai Desert Classic
and then finishing
tied fifth alongside
Tiger Woods. He capped
the year in style
by being crowned Asia's
top player.
In 2001 Thongchai
also won the Order
of Merit title in
Asia, beating Korea’s
Charlie Wi. Thongchai
prevailed, thanks
to his win in the
Indian Open and had
no fewer than 10 other
top-10 finishes. That
year he also made
headlines for qualifying
and playing in all
four rounds of the
US Open.
Thongchai enjoyed
a strong amateur career.
In 1998 he won the
individual and team
title in the Putra
Cup and won the amateur
titles of Singapore
and Thailand. Also
won the Putra Cup
individual title in
1997, and was a member
of the Thai team that
won the South East
Asian Games in 1995.
Claimed the Pakistan
Amateur in 1995.
During his amateur
days, he served as
a Ranger in the Royal
Thai Army, regularly
making parachute drops.
He was allowed to
play plenty of golf
and enjoyed a distinguished
amateur career. Adored
football great Pele
before getting hooked
to golf where his
first club was a three
iron head stuck on
a bamboo stick.
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Country :
Thailand
