Wood clinches his first title at Thailand Open

GOLF

Bristol golfer Chris Wood captured his maiden professional title with victory in the Thailand Open.

The 24-year-old carded a final round five-under par to finish on 23-under par and see off a strong finish from the South Korean Dong-Kyu Jang to win by two shots.

Having been in the final group twice in tournaments going into the last day – at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in 2010 and in the Majorca Open last year – Wood could be forgiven for wondering if his first victory would ever come.

But he rarely looked anything but a winner on the final day at Suwan Golf and Country Club, Bangkok and lifted the trophy as well as banking a cheque for £115,000 on his first outing in an AsiaOne golf tournament.

Wood benefited from a drive which looked destined for the water on the but remained dry and then on the next hole sunk a 30ft putt for birdie to really give his chances of winning a shot in the arm.

Afterwards Wood said: "I've seen people benefit from bits on luck in the past and I suppose that's what you need to win sometimes, but I putted really well and holing that long putt for birdie on the very next hole was key.

"It is brilliant – I am really, really pleased," Wood said, after what appeared to be a victory march from the 17th was interrupted by a rain delay of over an hour.

"It is hard winning. I always felt that once I got one win it would give me the confidence to go on and win more, so hopefully, I can take this confidence back to the remainder of the tournaments I have got for the season."

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