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Thongchai boosts Masters chances with strong finish in Qatar

Thai star Thongchai Jaidee gave his Masters ambition a boost with a tied ninth finish at the star-studded Commercialbank Qatar Masters on Sunday.

The two-time Asian Tour number one fired a closing four-under-par 68 at the Doha Golf Club to finish five shots behind winner Retief Goosen of South Africa. He was delighted with his strong start to the new season, which will further improve on his current world ranking of 76.

"I'm happy to finish top-10 here. Last week, I was 10-under in Abu Dhabi (and finished tied 14th) and this week, I'm also 10-under. I've started the year quite nicely. I'm looking forward to Dubai next week and hopefully I can play well again," said Thongchai.

He parred his first 11 holes before producing the fireworks on the back nine with four birdies to move up the leaderboard. Thongchai is bent on breaking into the world's top-50 which will earn him a second US Masters invitation.

"Today my driver wasn't working well. I only hit five or six fairways but luckily my irons and putting worked out well. I holed a long putt on the 15th hole for birdie from 60 feet which was nice. To shoot four under on the back nine was good.

"The front nine was tough. I was just trying to control my score. The pins were hard to get to and if you're not on the fairway, you can't get close to the pins," he said.

Thongchai, winner of last month's Volvo Masters of Asia on home soil which took his career wins to eight on the Asian Tour, is now looking forward to a showdown with Tiger Woods in the Dubai Desert Classic next week before returning for a crack at a third title at the co-sanctioned Maybank Malaysian Open.

"I have played in Dubai for many years and it's a good course. I like the greens and the layout there. It's good for me. My game is coming up nicely. I am a little tired now after playing in the past three weeks but I'll take a day off tomorrow and I'm sure I'll be okay.

"I'm looking forward to playing with some big name players. I would like to play with Tiger next week, that will be my goal," he said.

Last year, Thongchai, who finished the 2006 season in second place on the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit, made his US Masters debut but missed the halfway cut at Augusta National Golf Club.

January 28, 2007