Jamie Donaldson of Wales is congratulated by his caddie Michael Donnegy, right, of Scotland after winning the Thailand Golf Championship at the Amata Spring Country Club, Chonburi, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015.
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Included in today’s spoils are exemptions into the 2016 Open Championship and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Opening up with three straight birdies, Donaldson quickly powered past overnight leader Sordet.
Starting the year as world No24, Donaldson had slipped to 68th and was in danger of missing out in the first Masters qualification cut-off point which will see the top 50 handed berths on Dec 28. “We’ve got a great crowd following us so it was really enjoyable out there”, Randhawa said.
“I’ve played every one since 1995 so it’s great to keep that run going”, Westwood said after his bogeyless round. “It’s been 21 years now and I’ve not missed one, so I’m happy”, added Westwood. He finished the week in style, helped by his first competitive hole-in-one (see below), but he was always out of the reckoning so all things considered, it was a week to forget in a year I won’t be disappointed to see end.
Former world No. 1 Westwood yesterday sounded a lot more confident and at ease with the course where he has won twice.
“This is certainly one of my best victories – there were a lot of good players playing here this week”, said Donaldson, who secured his eighth victory as a professional golfer.
“I drove it into a thick rough on 16th and on the 17th, I hit a good shot but my approach shot went over the pin and bounced into the water”. It feels great to win this trophy and beat some of the best players in the world. “And it all came together today”, stated Donaldson, who led after the 1st two rounds. “Suddenly I went from feeling great to wondering what on earth was going on”.
“It hasn’t been what I wanted but tomorrow’s another day and I just have to get off to a quick start”.
“I played nicely through quite a few holes, getting my momentum swinging back my way”, said Donaldson.
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Teenager Khongwatmai, who had to come through Monday qualifying in Thailand, grabbed the final Open place on offer after a superb seven-birdie 66 lifted him to sixth place overall, and he was “overwhelmed” to have earned his major debut. I guess I was better focused than how I was in the last two rounds. “If I hit more of the fairways and get lucky on the greens, I’ll have a chance”.
