Thongchai Jaidee, arguably the most consistent and best golfer Asia has ever seen, will be honoured with the 2011 Asia Pacific Life-Time Achievement in golf.
This prestigious award will be bestowed upon Jaidee for his outstanding achievements over the last twelve years covering his career as a professional golfer. The award will be presented at the 2011 Asia Pacific Golf Summit to be staged at the beach resort city of Pattaya, Thailand from October 31 – November 2.
“This is a very historic moment for both Jaidee and for Asian golf because Jaidee is the first ever Asian to be awarded the Life-Time Achievement recognition and we are proud that he has been selected to be our star and hero for 2011,” declared Mike Sebastian, chief executive officer of the Asia Pacific Golf Group, the owner and producer of the Asia Pacific Golf Summit and the Asia Pacific Life-Time Achievement in golf award.
Past recipients of this award include Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson and Gary Player.
Jaidee is the top money winner on the Asian Tour having won well over US$4 million since he turned professional at age 30. In 2010, he won a record 13th Asian Tour title at the Johnnie Walker Cambodian Open, making him the player with the most number of victories on Tour.
Thongchai did not play golf until he was sixteen, and he later went into the Royal Thai Army where he served as a Ranger, regularly making parachute drops.
He first played in a major championship at the 2011 U.S. Open. In February 2004 he became the first Thai to win a tournament on the European Tour by winning the Carlsberg Malaysian Open, an event which was co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour. In 2005 he successfully defended his title.
In 2006 he received a special invitation to play in the Masters Tournament and by doing so, he became the first Thai to play in all four major championships.
Asia Pacific Golf Summit www.golfconference.org