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BANGKOK (AFP) –
Colourful American John Daly has tipped 13-time Asian Tour winner Thongchai Jaidee to defy his ranking outside the world’s top 100 by claiming his first Major “soon”.
Daly, who won two Majors in the 1990s but has struggled with off-course problems and injuries, hailed Thongchai, 43, as “one of the greatest guys I have ever met” ahead of next month’s Thailand Golf Championship.
“I think Thongchai Jaidee is probably the most consistent and best Asian player,” Daly said, according to an Asian Tour press release.
“For an Asian Tour player, he is the most consistent guy and one of the greatest guys I have ever met. He is just a great ambassador for Asia. I just feel like he will soon pick up a Major.”
Thongchai is a three-time winner of the Asian Tour’s order of merit and in June, the world number 117 claimed his first victory on European soil at the ISPS Handa Wales Open.
“I want to play well there, not only for the fans but also because of the world ranking points,” Thongchai said of the December 6-9 tournament at Amata Spring near Bangkok.
“My goal is to break into the world’s top-50 and playing well at Amata Spring will help a lot,” he said.
Y.E. Yang is Asia’s only Major-winner to date after he stunned Tiger Woods to clinch the 2009 PGA Championship.
Daly, Masters champion Bubba Watson and fellow Major-winners Darren Clarke, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen are among the big names at Amata Spring, along with former world number one Lee Westwood.
