Thongchai, who returned yesterday from Singapore where he shared 14th position in the Singapore Masters, said he was satisfied with his current form.

"I think my performances in the past three months have not been that bad. It was just that I lost my touch on the last two days of almost every competition. My iron play is quite impressive as you must have seen during the Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket. However, I still have many things to improve," Thongchai, 38, told The Nation in an exclusive interview yesterday.

"After missing the cut in the Singapore Masters in 2005 and 2006, I came back into form this time. I was on top of the leaderboard after the first nine holes but putting mistakes on the final two days saw me go down. I should have fared better, but then that is golf," said the Volvo Masters champion at Thai Country Club in December.

Asked about his future plans, Thongchai, who is No 8 in the UBS Order of Merit, said: "I just want to leave all disappointments behind. I'm hopeful that a big victory day is round the corner.

"I'm leaving for the World Golf Championships, which will be held in Florida from March 22 to 25. Tiger Woods will be there to defend his crown. I will try my best to return with a good result. My goal of winning at least one or two tournaments this year remains. To accomplish that, I think I have to train much harder on putting, which is the real cause of my failure this year."

Meanwhile Ramkhamhaeng University, after having a successful golf management course for three years, has expanded the project to two more branches upcountry, with Thongchai's golf school in Lop Buri one of the beneficiaries.

"The golf management project at Ramkhamhaeng is not new since the course has already been included in the curriculum in Australian and American universities," Thongchai said.

"The course will now be taught in Chiang Mai at the Star Dome golf course and Lop Buri at Thongchai Jaidee Teaching Golf School.

"I think Thai golf is growing very rapidly. After those golf students graduate, they will be useful, especially in golf management and running a golf business," Thongchai said.

Teerapot Taweewanabul

The Nation