Thongchai Jaidee birdied the first hole of sudden-death to overcome Stephen Gallacher and Victor Dubuisson in a playoff to win the Nordea Masters in Sweden.
It was a tight and dramatic final round at PGA Sweden National, with a whole number of players having an opportunity to win on the back-nine. One of those was most notably Henrik Stenson, who missed out on a chance to win his first professional title in his native country.
The 44-year-old Thai, Jaidee, had a lengthy wait in the clubhouse after compiling a scintillating final round of 65 to set the target at 16-under.
With the closing hole being a par five, albeit a lengthy one, it looked as though someone may have been able to end Jaidee’s hopes of a sixth victory on the European Tour. Gallacher would birdie the final hole, but lost out on a maiden victory after a bogey on the 17th. The gifted Frenchman, Dubuisson stood on the 18th tee tied with Jaidee, but three-putted from just off the final green and found himself completing a three-man playoff.
Back to the 18th tee they went, but only one visit was required, as Jaidee holed a three-foot putt for birdie to win for the first time on Tour in two years.
“I worked hard today,” said Jaidee. “I started with three birdies in a row, had another one on six, then a good comeback on 11.
“We were nervous the last few holes - 16, 17 and 18 are tough holes – but 16 under was good enough for a play-off.
“The golf course is wide open, you have to hit good golf shots and the weather helped a little bit.”
The wide fairways and inventive layout had looked to favour world number two Stenson, who pulled two shots clear of the rest after three birdies in his opening five holes. However, to the dismay of the home fans, the 38-year-old would bogey the sixth and ninth, before a disappointing level par back-nine saw him finish two shots off the playoff.
“It was a disappointing last day,” said the Swede, who made bogey on the 18th after requiring a birdie to make the playoff. “Apart from the first hole I got off to a good start and made a couple of birdies, but the bogey on the sixth was a momentum killer.
“It was one of those days when I didn’t quite get it going and missed a few chances and a couple of bogeys slipped onto the card too easily. You can’t afford that if you are going to win the tournament.
“I was still fighting and in with a chance on the last, but I just missed it in the wrong place. It left me in a bad spot.
“It would have been nice to win in front of home fans, but there will be more chances and there will be more chances to win other golf tournaments, so you can’t be too disappointed.”
Robert Jan-Derksen, who is retiring at the end of this season, put away another nest egg with fourth-placed finish after a closing round of 65. He finished one shot ahead of Stenson, with Eddie Pepperell, Alvaro Quiros and Robert Karlsson (who shot the low round of the week with a 63) in a tie for sixth.
But in the end, it would be Jaidee’s day. He began it with three straight birdies, before his lone dropped shot of the day on the seventh cancelled out another birdie on the sixth. An eagle on the 11th would be the obvious highlight, but further birdies on the 14th and 15th would prove equally as crucial.
“I thought 16 under would be second or third with the last hole being a par five,” he said.
“Then you never know in a play-off. A play-off was good for me as I finished early so I was very lucky.”
As for the playoff, Jaidee, knowing his limitations, would take three shots to reach the 601 yard par five green. “I had a good drive, then I knew I couldn’t get reach the green. I played a great shot as I knew the pin was very tough, so I played the hole really well.”
Although he failed to clinch the win, it was an important finish for Gallacher, who now boosts his Ryder Cup qualification hopes.
“I had a good week and I was delighted to get into the play-off,” he said.
“I holed a lovely putt on the last after lipping out on both 16 and 17. Jaidee just hit a lovely shot there, or lovely three shots, on the last, which was playing really tough.
“I was hoping to peak for a couple of weeks. I knew I was playing well, so to finish fifth and then second is not bad. I’m delighted with that.
“Playoffs are fine margins. My ball got up to four foot from the hole and then spun back. If the wind drops a bit instead of gusting and I’m stone dead. Playoff golf, you need that bit of luck, but the putt to get into the play-off was great.”
Great week for Gallacher, and an excellent week for all associated with this event. Contested on an enjoyable golf course, with ample Swedish crowds in attendance. There was to be no home victory for Henrik Stenson, but Thongchai Jaidee continues to fly the flag for Asia on the European Tour.