Thongchai Jaidee wins Nordea Masters

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand came through a playoff against Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Victor Dubuisson of France to win the Nordea Masters at PGA Sweden National in Malmo.

Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand came through a playoff against Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and Victor Dubuisson of France to win the Nordea Masters at PGA Sweden National in Malmo.

Jaidee fired a superb closing round of 65 to set a clubhouse total of 16-under-par. He then had to watch on as the remaining groups attempted to reach or better that mark. Only Gallacher and Dubuisson were able to equal Jaidee’s score, so a sudden-death playoff between the three ensued.

The trio all found the green in regulation on the first extra hole, but Jaidee hit a fantastic approach, spinning his ball back to within just a few feet of the pin.

Dubuisson and Gallacher had long birdie efforts and, when neither was able to hole out, Jaidee was left with a short putt for his sixth European Tour title. He settled over the ball and calmly rolled it home.

“I worked hard today,” he said. “We were nervous for the last few holes but 16-under was good enough for the playoff. You never know in a playoff but it was good for me.”

Stephen Gallacher holed a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd green to make it into the playoff and he was pleased with his performance, despite losing out over extra holes.

“I had a good week,” he said. “I holed a lovely putt on the last and Jaidee played a great shot in there in the playoff. I was hoping for a good couple of weeks so to finish fifth then second is not bad.”

Robert Jan Derksen of Holland played an excellent final round to push himself into solo fourth place, one shot better than home favourite Henrik Stenson. The Swede had a disappointing final round of 71 to end the week two shots off the pace.

Nordea Masters PGA Sweden National, Malmo, Sweden May 29 – Jun 1, purse €1,500,000, par 72

1    Thongchai Jaidee (Tha)    69    70    68    65    272    €250,000 T2    Victor Dubuisson (Fra)    69    69    67    67    272    €130,280 T2    Stephen Gallacher (Sco) 67    72    65    68    272    €130,280 4    Robert-Jan Derksen (Ned) 70    71    67    65    273    €75,000 5    Henrik Stenson (Swe)    69    70    64    71    274    €63,600 T6    Robert Karlsson (Swe)    70    70    72    63    275    €45,000 T6    Eddie Pepperell (Eng)    66    72    65    72    275    €45,000 T6    Alvaro Quiros (Esp)    71    67    66    71    275    €45,000 T9    Rafa Cabrera-Bello (Esp) 68    72    67    69    276    €31,800 T9    David Howell (Eng)    73    70    67    66    276    €31,800

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage