
Thongchai Jaidee
Thailand (THA)
Spent his childhood in a wooden house, which backed onto a golf course. Represented his province at football but was injured when a wooden skewer was embedded in his foot. During recuperation he sneaked onto the Army Golf Club behind his home in Lop Buri, tied the discarded head of a five iron to a bamboo stick and started playing golf. Joined the Royal Thai Army in 1989 at age 20, becoming a paratrooper. He turned professional 10 years later. From those humble beginnings, he has blazed a trail for golf in Thailand with numerous records to his name. His first victory on the European Tour in 2004 earned a personal audience with Thailand’s former prime minister, who gave him a diplomatic passport to expedite his future ease of movement between countries on the European Tour. Biggest win of career came earlier this summer in the Open de France.