ThongchaiJaidee
isaThaiprofessionalgolferwhoplayson theAsianTourandtheEuropeanTour . On theAsianTour , heholdstherecordforthe mostcareerearningsandissecondin victorieshavingwon13times . Hehaswon theOrderofMeritontheAsianTourthree timesduringhiscareer . Jaideewasthefirst mantowinUS $ 2milion , US $ 3milion , US $ 4 milionandUS $ 5milionontheAsianTourin prizemoney .
Jaideedidnotstartplayinggolfuntilhewas sixteen , andhelaterwentintotheRoyalThai Armywherehewasaparatrooper . Jaideedid notturnprofessionaluntilhewasthirty yearsold , buthesoonachievedsuccesson theAsianTour , toppingthetour ' sorderof meritin2001and2004 . Hefirstplayedina majorchampionshipinthe2001U . S . Open andfinishedtied74th .[ 1 ] InFebruary2004he becamethefirstThaitowinatournamenton theEuropeanTourbywinningtheCarlsberg MalaysianOpen , aneventwhichwas co-sanctionedwiththeAsianTour . In2005he successfulydefendedhisMalaysianOpen title .
In2006hereceivedaspecialinvitationto playintheMastersTournament . Hewasthe secondThaitoplayintheMastersafter SukreeOnsham , whodidsoin1970and 1971 , andbydoingso , hebecamethefirst Thaitoplayinalfourmajorchampionships . AfterhisvictoryintheVolvoMastersofAsia in2006hereached75intheO ficialWorld GolfRankings . Hisbestyear-endrankingon theEuropeanOrderofMerithasbeen9thin 2013 . HetoppedtheAsianTourorderofmerit forathirdtimein2009 .
JaideewonforthefifthtimeontheEuropean TourinJune2012attheISPSHandaWales Open . ThiswasthefirstoccasionthatJaidee hadwonontheEuropeanTouroutsideof Asia . Heshotafinalroundoneover72 , but wonbyasinglestrokefrom fourother players .
Jaideequalifiedforthe2015PresidentsCup squadforthefirsttimeandindoingso