Korean Charlie Wi denied Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee a hat-trick of titles in the Maybank Malaysian Open after a blistering third and final round of 63 earned him a one stroke victory at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Wi birdied the final hole for a 19 under par total of 197 after the event had been reduced to 54 holes following the earlier storm delays to claim his first European Tour title with Jaidee one adrift after a 66. Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin mounted a final day charge with a best of the week ten under par 62 to finish third on 17 under par 199 with the English pairing on John Bickerton and Mark Foster sharing fourth place.
Wi, who resumed the third and final round three shots off the lead, walked away with a handsome cheque of €174,773 for his seventh Asian Tour victory but first in an event co-sanctioned with The European Tour. The win also shot him to the top of the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit.
“I'm really speechless," said Wi. "Coming in here, I wasn't expecting to win. I did have a nice practice session but I had no idea that I would make so many putts like I did today. You know, God was looking out for me as I got a lot of good breaks."
It was an action-packed day with the likes of Jacquelin, Jaidee, Foster and Wi all tied for the lead during the final round. Wi launched his title charge with a birdie on the fourth, followed by a 30 foot eagle at the next hole and turned in 31 with birdies on seventh and nine.
With the chasing pack hot on his heels, the Korean, who played last year on the US PGA Tour, grabbed the lead with birdies on the tenth, 13th and 16th holes before making a crucial par save on the 17th before rolling in a five foot putt at the last to secure his biggest career win.
Jaidee, playing in the last group, fought gamely and had two cracks at forcing a play-off. He missed birdie putts from 20 feet and 15 feet respectively on the last two holes, and settled for second place.
"I just feel fortunate,” said Wi, who is the second Korean after K.J. Choi to win on The European Tour. “I looked at the board on 17 and I had no idea Thongchai birdied 16. I hit a really nice third shot to five feet and I thought for sure that would give me a two shot lead. I didn't have any idea that I was tied for the lead. The putt went in and I just feel very fortunate.
“I don't think I denied him (Thongchai). He's such a solid player. I played with him a lot in 2001 when we were battling for number one and two spot on the Order of Merit and he is so much more confident now. Coming down the stretch, he's solid as a rock. Even on the last putt, I thought he was going to make it and that I would go into a play-off. Luckily, it just turned out my way,” said the Korean.
Jaidee was disappointed. “The line (on 18) was tricky, I read it right to the left but it broke too much left. It’s okay, I’m still happy. Charlie was very good with a really good score. I shot 66 which wasn’t good enough, I guess. I had birdie chances on the last two holes but didn’t make them,” said Thongchai.
Jacquelin shot a scintillating 62 as he rocketed up the leaderboard to finish third. The 2005 Open de Madrid champion was tied for the lead on the 17th before Wi and Thongchai surged past him.
“I guess 54 holes were probably not good enough for me. The leaders had many birdie holes on 16, 17 and 18 which they took. It’s still nice, I’m pleased. I just ran out of holes really,” said Jacquelin, whose 62 was his fourth in his career.
“I played good, that’s for sure. It’s the kind of golf course where if you read the greens well, there are lots of chances which I took today. I had a good feeling on the greens and rolled the ball well. Had a bit of luck to hole so many putts.
