Thai Star’s Fifth Career European Tour Title Marks Dramatic Return to Form
(Londonderry, New Hampshire) Danish brand ECCO – maker of the world’s most comfortable, technically-advanced footwear – confirms that Staff Player Thongchai Jaidee wore its luxurious World Class GTX golf shoes while capturing the PGA European Tour’s ISPS Handa Wales Open this past weekend at The Celtic Manor Resort in City of Newport.
The 42-year-old Thai star, who also displayed the ECCO logo on his shirt collar, earned the victory with a four-round total of six-under par 278. That put him one shot clear of four competitors, including fellow ECCO Staff Player Thomas Bjorn.
“It was very, very tough for me, not like Thailand!” said Jaidee, whose four previous European Tour titles all came in Asia. “I tried to hit everything on the fairway and was pleased to putt well on the back nine.”
The most accomplished Asian golfer in history, Jaidee’s exceptional career includes 16 professional titles and three Asian Tour Order of Merit crowns. Remarkably, he started playing the game at age 16 using a homemade club fashioned from bamboo and a discarded five-iron head. He then went on to serve as a paratrooper in the Royal Thai Army before leaving the amateur ranks in 1999 at age 30.
“Conditions were quite tough, but Thongchai really turned it on with four birdies in six holes on the home half,” says Jesper Thuen, ECCO Global Marketing Manager – Golf. “This win not only marks his return to form, it also solidifies his all-time greatness among players from the Far East.”
In addition to Jaidee and Bjorn, the ECCO men’s golf collection is worn in competition by scores of international Tour stars, including Graeme McDowell, Fred Couples, Stuart Appleby, Thorbjørn Olesen, Andreas Hartø, Bradley Dredge and many others.
About ECCO
The only major shoe manufacturer to own and manage every step of the shoemaking process – from leather production through its own shoe factories all the way to its stores – ECCO adheres to the design philosophy that “the shoe must follow the foot.” This approach allows the company to craft footwear that combines style and comfort with uncompromising quality and innovative technology. A leading global brand, ECCO was founded in 1963 by Karl Toosbuy and remains family owned. Headquartered in the Danish towns of Bredebro and Tønder, the ECCO footwear group employs nearly 20,000 people worldwide. Its products can be found in 4,000 branded sales locations in more than 90 countries.
ECCO USA is based in Londonderry, New Hampshire. For more information: visit www.eccousa.com, 800.886.3226.
Contact:
David Griffith
Buffalo Communications
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dgriffith@buffalocommunications.com
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