Thongchai at The Open: My putter saved the day

Black Mountain sponsored player Thongchai Jaidee had his putter to thank for keeping him within sights of first round leader Rory McIlroy at the Open Championship.

 The Thai ace missed nine greens in regulation at Royal Liverpool but made his great escape thanks to a wonderful short game. The world number 34 grinded out 16 pars with one birdie offsetting a lone bogey to end the day in tied-49th place, six shots behind McIlroy.

Here is what Thongchai has to say following his opening round at the world’s oldest Major.

By Thongchai Jaidee.

I had to be patient. I tried to hit fairways and greens and made only one birdie and one bogey. It was solid. Thankfully, I was putting well. When I missed the green, I always missed it on the good side, and I could chip and putt for pars. The game was on and off as I was trying to press a bit

The course is not very difficult, the winds weren’t too strong. It’s good weather for The Open. It was a perfect day. It wasn’t too windy but the pins were a bit difficult.

I hit a couple of bad irons, especially on the par fives. I missed a five iron shot by 40 yards which was a bad miss. You have the three par fives on the back nine and you should make birdies there.