Thongchai makes early exit at Open

Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee prepares to play the eighth tee during the first round of the 2013 British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield golf course at Gullane in Scotland on July 18, 2013. Thongchai bowed out from the British Open on Friday despite battling to a second round even-par 71. (AFP/File)

GULLANE, United Kingdom (AFP) – Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand bowed out from the British Open on Friday despite battling to a second round even-par 71.

The three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner was disappointed not to make a weekend appearance but has immediately set his sights on making amends at the PGA Championship, the year's final major, next month.

"I'll go back to Thailand for two weeks and then I'll turn my attention on the PGA Championship," said Thongchai, who ranks 61st in the World Golf Rankings.

The Thai star, who totalled eight-over-par 150, took pride in his battling performance which was marred by two triple bogeys in the opening round when his tee shots were plugged in the bunkers.

"I only had two bad holes (yesterday). The wind direction was different so I did well to manage my game. It is tough when you are in the bunkers and I didn't find any bunkers today. I made a few bogeys from the fairways but it was still a good effort," said Thongchai.

"It was a special week for me. I enjoyed my golf game and the tournament. I didn't lose anything because I gave it my best," added the 13-time Asian Tour winner, who is playing at The Open for the fifth consecutive year.

Thaworn Wiratchant, who qualified for The Open courtesy of winning the 2012 Asian Tour Order of Merit, will not feature in the final two rounds as well.

The 46-year-old struggled to keep his tee shots in play and returned with a 77 for a 156 total.

"My tee shots were bad. I have nothing to complain about. I'm going home tonight and I'll work on my game. The conditions this week were good so I'm quite disappointed I didn't play well," said Thaworn.

Y.E. Yang of South Korea also failed to make the grade. He made a positive charge when he turned in 33 but wobbled on his homeward nine where he traded one birdie against three bogeys for a 70 and a 148 total.

"It is a privilege to play in any major tournament but it is different and rare for Asians to play links golf," he said.

"You don't really play in all four rounds with this amount of wind. But any Asian who is aspiring to be a great player should always welcome the opportunity," said Yang who became Asia's first-ever major champion when he won the 2009 PGA Championship.