While the focus this week at Celtic Manor is all about the start of qualifying for the 2014 European Ryder Cup defending Wales Open champion, Thongchai Jaidee is still hoping to qualify for the Presidents Cup.
The year-long qualifying process for the October 3rd commencing Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio ends this Sunday night and at the same time the first points are awarded for European Ryder Cup team qualifying.
Thailand’s very popular Thongchai Jaidee with the 2012 Wales Open trophy. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
Up until the recent PGA Championship, Jaidee was among the 10 automatic qualifiers for Nick Price’s International Team.
However after finishing well down the field at Oak Hill the Bangkok-born Jaidee found himself outside the 10.
Jaidee will tee-up Thursday in defence of his Wales Open title lying 12th on the International Team point table and needing a strong finish on the 2010 Ryder Cup host venue if he’s to become the first-ever Thailand golfer to compete in a Presidents Cup.
If unsuccessful, Jaidee will have to rely on Price picking him as one of his two ‘wildcard’ picks.
“I know I have just this week to try and qualify myself for the team as it’s been a big goal of mine all season,” he said.
“I spoke with Nick during the US Open and he gave me every encouragement to make the team.
“I played very well in the Volvo World Match-Play in Bulgaria and went right into the final but losing to Graeme McDowell so I hope I showed Nick I will be good at the format for the Presidents Cup.
“I had a good top-20 finish last week in Scotland but if I can play this week here in Wales like I did last year then I might just qualify for the team.
“If not, I know I am going to have to rely on Nick (Price) picking me for the team.”
Jaidee’s victory a year ago on the Twenty Ten course was the 16th of his pro career but a first ever success on European soil.
The current World No. 59 led by a shot heading to the last day but stumbled with a ninth hole double bogey before regrouping to win by a shot.
“I was very confident of my game last year and I really enjoyed the challenge last year,” he said.
“Yes, this was my first win in Europe and the course was very soft and something that I was not used to you so it was good that I could change my game plan to suit the conditions but then I also had a bit of luck on my side.
“I was very proud of winning the Wales Open and a first victory in Europe and hopefully I can get lucky again this year.”
European Team captain, Paul McGinley will fire the first shont in the 2014 European Team qualifying process when he tees off first on Thursday.
It is the first-ever occasion a new European Team captain will tee up first in the opening qualifying event and with McGinley hitting off at 7.25am local time in the company of England’s John Parry and Denmark’s Epsen Kofstad.
The Wales Open will be the first in a 12-month long qualifying process ending next September with nine players qualifying automatically and then McGinley having three ‘wildcard’ picks.
