Jamie Donaldson wins & Lee Westwood second in Thailand

Playing alongside Westwood and Sordet, the Welshman continued his charge with further birdies on seven and eight before dropping a shot on nine to turn in 32. 276 – S.S.P CHAWRASIA (IND) 72-69-68-67, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) 69-72-67-68, Martin KAYMER (GER) 68-65-72-71.

Yet the 40-year-old – who famously secured Europe’s winning point in his Ryder Cup debut last year – produced when he had to at the Amata Spring Country Club and, as the top four not already exempt from the Open won spots at Royal Troon, there was double satisfaction.

Jamie Donaldson played a masterful round to hold off a spirited challenge from Lee Westwood and Clement Sordet and clinch the Thai Golf Championship in style yesterday.

“This is certainly one of my best victories”, said Donaldson, who kicked off his final round with a hat-trick of birdies after beginning the day two shots behind Sordet, who carded 70.

After a jaded third round, Donaldson slipped from first to second before the final round but he was right up there in the first two places all week and every victor of the event has been up with the pace all the way.

Sordet was also content with firing his way into Troon and, as the 23-year-old has been a professional for only six months, is one to keep an eye on. Hopefully, I can continue to play well. “Ill try not take a nap this afternoon so I can sleep well tonight”, he said.

“It’s pretty much my dream to play with the top players in the field”. He said that while the eagle of the 15th was the highlight of the round, he particularly enjoyed sinking a birdie on the 17th. “When I entered this event I didn’t even consider the possibility of playing in the Open at Troon”, he said.

“It was the case of just going out to play like what I’ve done in the first two rounds”. “I was cruising until 12, which was a killer”. The Welshman squared another bogey on the par-4 16th coming home, but it wouldn’t matter.

There are some tough holes coming in and I saved a few shots on the way in. “Tomorrow’s another day, and I just have to get off to a quick start”.

“I have done enough to stay in the tournament”.

After rounds of 71 and 68, Westwood burst into life with a sparkling 64 where his only blemish of the day came at the par-5 seventh where he dropped a shot. Westwood, who won this tournament in 2011 and again past year, has his eyes on the title once again after an impressive round in which he sunk nine birdies and suffered just the one bogey.