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