Chon Buri: Thanyakorn Khrongpha upstaged several major champions to share the first-round lead at the Thailand Golf Championship yesterday.
The Thai fired a three-under-par for a four-way lead with Marcus Fraser of Australia, Canada's Richard Lee and Taiwanese Lu Wei-chih at Amata Spring Country Club.
Thanyakorn Khrongpha during the first round yesterday.
Fresh from finishing second behind Padraig Harrington at last week's Indonesia Open, Thanyakorn made four birdies and one bogey in the US$1 million Asian Tour event.
The quartet were one shot ahead of little-known Thai Tirawat Kaewsiribandit, who earned a spot through Monday's qualifying, and 2011 champion Lee Westwood of England.
One shot behind on 71 were defending champion Sergio Garcia of Spain and US Open winner Martin Kaymer of Germany.
Double Masters champion Bubba Watson of the US had a slow start, making two birdies and six bogeys for joint 69th with reigning Asian Tour No.1 Kiradech Aphibarnrat.
The 24-year-old Thanyakorn, who missed the cut here last year, admitted that he had not expected to be a leader.
"I am excited to share the lead at such a difficult course with deep rough and strong winds," he said. "The key to my good was good driving and putting. I am happy with the result."
Thanyakorn, who is making his third appearance at the tournament, said he had confidence in his game after impressive results in the past few weeks.
Before finishing second in Indonesia, he was tied for third at the Casio Open in Japan and joint second at the Chiangmai Golf Classic.
"I have learned a lot from playing in Japan. My experience from playing there has helped me a lot because the courses there are narrower and tougher than those in Thailand,'' he said.
But the Khon Kaen native was cautious about his chance of winning this week.
"Try to keep the ball in the fairways and that will give you a chance. I like the greens here because they are not tricky," he said.
Fraser made a chip-in birdie at the final hole for a share of the lead.
"It was a nice way to finish the round," he said. "It was pretty tough out there. That rough is penal."
Fraser, with five birdies and two bogeys, was particularly pleased with his performance after coming back from a wrist injury that has kept him out of golf for a year.
With four British Open spots up for grabs, the Australian hopes to continue his good form for a place at St Andrews next year.
"I come here for this — try and get a spot for the Open," said Fraser who was tied for 10th here last year.
Former world No.1 Westwood said that the course was playing a lot tougher than the previous years.
"If you find the rough you almost certainly drop a shot," said the Englishman.
Tournament debutant Kaymer had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey at the 14th hole.
"To be honest when I played the first nine holes, I didn't see 22-under-par [last year's winning score]," he said. "It was very windy and it was a difficult day. Some pins were tucked behind the bunkers. So, anything around par is a good score here."
Holder Garcia said he was relatively happy with his 71.
"With the windy conditions the course was much tougher than before," Garcia said. "I tried to minimise mistakes."
The Spaniard was full of praise for his caddie, former tennis star Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"He did good today. He kept calm and confident throughout the day. It was nice."
World No.42 Thongchai Jaidee fired a 72 to share 19th place with 13 players including compatriots Prayad Marksaeng, Prom Meesawat and Thaworn Wiratchant.