Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee has all but wrapped up a place in this year’s British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Jaidee arrived in Ireland for this week’s Irish Open heading a ‘mini money list’ that commenced at the BMW PGA Championship last month and concludes with this week’s event at Royal Portrush.
- Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee’s Wales Open success propels him into The Open. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
The top two players, otherwise not exempt, on the ‘mini money list’ qualify for golf’s oldest Major commencing on July 19th.
Thongchai, who has contested the past three British Open’s and went into the third round of the Irish Open at three under par, heads the money list courtesy of his success in the recent Wales Open.
South African Richard Sterne is second Euro 77,630 behind with Sterne heading into round three at five under par.
Next best of those to make the Irish Open cut is Ireland’s Paul McGinley and six spots behind Jaidee.
And while McGinley made the halfway cut in his national open, the triple Ryder Cup winning star would need to win the event for a first time in his career to go past Jaidee.
McGinley trails Euro 225,919 behind Jaidee and that’s some Euro 3,000 short of second place prize money this week whereas the Dubliner’s needing the first prize cheque of Euro 333,330.
However after 13 holes of his third round McGinley was at six under par and five behind the leaders.
