Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee tees off on the third during the first round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 18, 2013. Thongchai rued two bad breaks when he posted a disappointing eight-over-par 79 in the opening round of the British Open (AFP)
GULLANE, United Kingdom (AFP) – Thongchai Jaidee rued two bad breaks when he posted a disappointing eight-over-par 79 in the opening round of the British Open on Thursday.
The Thai was even-par after eight holes, but the round turned for the worst when his ball was plugged in the bunkers on holes nine and 13 at the challenging Muirfield course. He walked away with triple bogeys on each of those holes.
"I made a lot of good shots but I had only two bad holes. I had no shot out of the bunker and I had to go sideways on both occasions. I started out quite nicely but made six-over on two holes," said a dejected Thongchai.
The three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, who is playing in The Open for the fifth consecutive year, is bracing himself for a testing second round.
"I'm looking forward to tomorrow. If it weren't for those two bunkers, I might have probably shot two-over," he said.
"Sometimes you need luck on this golf course. The positives that I can take out from today is that I'm hitting the ball well," said Thongchai.
Thaworn Wiratchant, the reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, also shot a 79 after struggling with wayward tee shots. He returned with one birdie against five bogeys and two double bogeys.
"There's nothing good to talk about my round. I hit such bad tee shots and I couldn't recover. I was hitting it badly with my driver during the practice round but I could not find for a solution. It is very disappointing," said the 46-year-old Thaworn.
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