Thongchai trails duo by one stroke
Source: Agencies |
March 5, 2010, Friday
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RHYS Davies of Wales and Spaniard Ignacio Garrido fired seven-under 65s to lead the Malaysian Open by one stroke from Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand after the first round yesterday.
Thongchai's 66 was matched by South Korea's Kim Dae-hyun.
Kim's compatriot, K J Choi, an Asian Tour honorary member, carded a 67 to tie for fifth alongside England's Mark Foster, Alejandro Canizares of Spain and Dane Mark Haastrup at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Davies, who has played on the Asian Tour for the last two years, sank seven birdies and credited his front nine performance for his shared lead.
"That is the key for me - when I start to make some birdies I want to take advantage of the fact I am playing well in that moment and really push on and make as many as possible," Davies said.
"It is scoreable on the front and there is a bit more length and trouble to the back nine, but from my point of view I try to play every hole as equally tough or easy whatever way you want to put it and try to have the same outlook every time that I step onto the tee."
Garrido was surprised with his start, having spent the last few months playing in snow in Madrid and finding the different type of grass here a challenge.
"I think to start with a 65 in any golf course is a great score," the Spaniard said.
Thongchai, following a quarterfinals appearance at the Match Play Championship, putted from 20 feet for an eagle-three on the fifth hole. He was two strokes in front until two bogeys in his closing three holes.
"I had a very good game plan and my putting was good. I enjoyed it out there but the weather was so hot. My plan was to keep my concentration and that made it easy for me to attack the greens," said Thongchai.
"It was a very good round except for the last three holes. If you miss the fairway here, it will be difficult to control your approach to the green because it was very firm today."
Choi, a seven-time US PGA Tour winner, was disappointed with his bogey on the 18th hole.
"Even at the last hole, I hit a pretty good shot," he said. "I figured if I had a four-under today, it would be a good round and I did better than that. I can't complain."
M Sasidaran emerged as the best-placed Malaysian with a 69.
Sasidaran collected six birdies, including a 40-footer on the 17th, against three bogeys.
"I putted really well today," he said. "I made just one or two mistakes but managed to recover well."
Ten other players were also at three-under. Thirty players will return this morning to complete their opening rounds.
Thongchai's 66 was matched by South Korea's Kim Dae-hyun.
Kim's compatriot, K J Choi, an Asian Tour honorary member, carded a 67 to tie for fifth alongside England's Mark Foster, Alejandro Canizares of Spain and Dane Mark Haastrup at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Davies, who has played on the Asian Tour for the last two years, sank seven birdies and credited his front nine performance for his shared lead.
"That is the key for me - when I start to make some birdies I want to take advantage of the fact I am playing well in that moment and really push on and make as many as possible," Davies said.
"It is scoreable on the front and there is a bit more length and trouble to the back nine, but from my point of view I try to play every hole as equally tough or easy whatever way you want to put it and try to have the same outlook every time that I step onto the tee."
Garrido was surprised with his start, having spent the last few months playing in snow in Madrid and finding the different type of grass here a challenge.
"I think to start with a 65 in any golf course is a great score," the Spaniard said.
Thongchai, following a quarterfinals appearance at the Match Play Championship, putted from 20 feet for an eagle-three on the fifth hole. He was two strokes in front until two bogeys in his closing three holes.
"I had a very good game plan and my putting was good. I enjoyed it out there but the weather was so hot. My plan was to keep my concentration and that made it easy for me to attack the greens," said Thongchai.
"It was a very good round except for the last three holes. If you miss the fairway here, it will be difficult to control your approach to the green because it was very firm today."
Choi, a seven-time US PGA Tour winner, was disappointed with his bogey on the 18th hole.
"Even at the last hole, I hit a pretty good shot," he said. "I figured if I had a four-under today, it would be a good round and I did better than that. I can't complain."
M Sasidaran emerged as the best-placed Malaysian with a 69.
Sasidaran collected six birdies, including a 40-footer on the 17th, against three bogeys.
"I putted really well today," he said. "I made just one or two mistakes but managed to recover well."
Ten other players were also at three-under. Thirty players will return this morning to complete their opening rounds.
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