GULLANE, SCOTLAND - Thongchai Jaidee was convinced he was heading for an early exit from the Open Championship after adding a 71 to his opening 79 to finish at eight over par.
Thongchai Jaidee watches his tee shot at The Open Championship at Muirfield in Scotland. (AFP Photo)
The Thai veteran told reporters he was looking forward to returning home before starting his preparations for next month's PGA Championship at Oak Hill in New York.
But as scores soared among the later starters at Muirfield, Thongchai learned that his eight-over placing was just good enough to make it into the field for the weekend.
Thongchai played a steady third round on Saturday but gained no ground. He finished with two birdies and two bogeys for a par 71, remaining at eight over. He is tied for 57th spot.
Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat walks to the sixth tee during the second round of The Open Championship at Muirfield in Scotland. (AFP Photo)
Not surviving into the weekend were countrymen Thaworn Wiratchant, who shot a 77 for a two-round total of 156, and young rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who soared to a 14-over 85 for 157.
Kiradech, 23, had a nightmarish second round with a triple bogey, two double bogeys and seven bogeys after a 72 in the opening round.
Thailand's lone remaining hope on Saturday was chasing an illustrious group that included leader Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain at 3 under, and Tiger Woods and Lee Westwood at 2 under par.
Thongchai, 43, completed a solid second round after a Thursday to forget, when his tee shots found plugged lies in bunkers on 9 and 13, resulting in a pair of triple bogeys.
It was the first round that doomed him, the three-time Asian Tour Order of Merit winner said after the close of play on Friday, before learning that he had an early tee time on Saturday to look forward to.
"I'll go back to Thailand for two weeks and then I'll turn my attention on the PGA Championship," he said, unaware that the halfway cut mark would climb by four shots by the end of the day.
"I only had two bad holes on Thursday. The wind direction was different so I did well to manage my game. It's tough when you're 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.
"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."
Thaworn said he had no excuses for his performance.
"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," he said.