ASIAN NUMBER one Thongchai Jaidee defied a niggling elbow injury to card a superb bogey-free eight-under-par 64 yesterday to share a two-shot first round lead at the Volvo China Open alongside Korea’s Kim Do-hoon.
The elbow strain forced the 40-year-old Thai to withdraw midway through the second round of the Masters last week and Thongchai admitted he briefly considering pulling out of the trip to China after receiving an injection before leaving Augusta.
But despite insisting the injury is only 70 per cent recovered, Thongchai mastered the wetlands and links combination at Jinji Lakes International Golf Club to top the leaderboard alongside the equally impressive Kim.
Kim blazed eight birdies and an eagle after following up a third-placed finish at the Luxehills Chengdu Open at the start of April with victory on his home tour last week at the SBS Tomato Open.
“I played very well. It was my third 64 in three weeks,” said the 21-year-old. “I admire Tiger Woods but I also watch KJ Choi and YE Yang and they are my inspiration. Tomorrow I hope to play well again.”
Home favourite Liang, Spain’s Larrazabal and Welshman Jamie Donaldson head the chasing pack with American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin, former champion Damien McGrane, Peter Lawrie and Korea’s Hong Soon-sang a shot further adrift.
Next best of the Irish contingent competing were Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry, who both shot 70. Paul McGinley was a shot further back, while Gareth Maybin wentt around in level par 72.
Former European Tour rookie of the year Pablo Larrazabal and China’s Liang Wen-chong, fresh from winning in Chengdu, had set the early pace at six-under-par but Thongchai quickly cut the lead with four birdies in five holes before the turn.
A superb chip-in eagle from 20 feet off the green at the 14th pushed Thongchai into a share of the lead before impressive approaches into 16 and 17 led to simple birdies putts from inside five feet.
Thongchai was in the same flight as the two Ryder Cup captains and Pavin outshone European counterpart Colin Montgomerie with a bogey-free 67.
Montgomerie was forced to settle for a frustrating level par round despite managing six birdies. YE Yang, fresh from an eighth place finish at the Masters, was equally in the shadows of countryman Kim and Hong with a 68 leaving the PGA Championship winner four shots off the pace.
US TOUR:KJ Choi maintained his sparkling Masters form as he took the early clubhouse lead on the opening day of the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina last night.
Korean Choi tied for fourth place with Tiger Woods at Augusta National on Sunday, five strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson and his purple patch continued as he moved east to Hilton Head Island for this week’s PGA Tour stop.
Choi shot a seven-under-par 64 that included eight birdies and one bogey to take a two-shot lead over England’s Greg Owen and Canada’s Mike Weir at the halfway point in the opening round with the late wave of starters, including defending champion Brian Gay, getting their rounds under way.
