Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee shot a solid 5-under 67 for a share of fourth place in the first round of the Chubb Classic to trail leader German legend Bernhard Langer by three shots on Friday.
Thongchai, who regained his PGA TOUR Champions card from Qualifying School in December, hit seven birdies against two bogeys in the season-opener at Tiburon Golf Club’s Black Course in Naples, Florida and put himself in position to challenge for a first victory in the U.S.
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“Happy with my round today but I did not have very good drives, had a few misses. The key I think was that I hit very good irons. I holed some putts, although I had two three-putts for bogeys. The golf course is in good shape and everyone can attack here. There are short par fours and reachable par fives. It’s a good start,” said Thongchai, who played the first round with Korea’s Y.E. Yang and K.J. Choi in an all-star Asian grouping.
Langer, a three-time Chubb Classic winner, posted a bogey-free 64 to card his age for the third time. He owns 42 PGA TOUR Champions titles, second-most behind all-time leader Hale Irwin (45) and became oldest winner in Tour history with his 2021 Dominion Energy Charity Classic victory at 64 years, 1 month, 27 days.
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Yang, the first Asian male major champion, began his PGA TOUR Champions career with a 70 to lie in T18 while Choi, who is an eight-time PGA TOUR winner, opened with a 73.
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