July 19th 2009, Turnberry, Scotland: Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee battled to a two-over-par 72 under windy conditions to close his campaign at the 138th edition of the British Open in tied-13th position on Sunday.

The current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader’s four-day total of two-over-par 282 has however reasserted the belief that Asian players are now able to stamp their mark against the world’s best.

“I’m very happy with how I’ve played the whole week. It’s never easy playing against the best in the world but I’ve shown that it’s possible and this is good for golf in Asia,” said Thongchai who was Asia’s number one in 2001 and 2004.

Thongchai, who started his final round four shots off the lead, was determined to tame the turbulent links at the Ailsa Course after swirling winds began to cause unpredictability all day.

The 12-time Asian Tour winner was still optimistic about his chances when he parred his opening two holes.

However he committed his first bogey on the third after hitting his approach into the greenside bunker and continued to drop another shot at the seventh before reaching the turn in two-over.

Thongchai parred the 10th to the 13th before his card was spoilt again by another bogey on the par-four 14th, effectively ruling him out of contention for the world’s oldest major title.

The Thai redeemed himself by signing off with a solitary birdie on the closing 18th.

“I guess luck was not with me today. The conditions were very tough out there and I three-putted most of my shots. It was not my day,” said Thongchai who took consolation that he improved on his previous tied-52nd finish at the Open in St Andrew in 2005.

“I really enjoyed myself this week. I played very well and I’ll work my way back to the Open next year,” said Thongchai who missed out on a top-10 place that would have guaranteed him a place in next year’s Open by one shot.

Asian Tour honorary member Vijay Singh of Fiji signed off with a 74 for 286 total to finish in tied-38th, eight shots behind champion Stewart Cink of the United States who triumphed over fellow American Tom Watson in a four-hole play-off by six shots.