PERTH, Australia, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Thongchai Jaidee, who spent 11 years as a parachutist in Thailand's army, jumped into the lead after the first round of Johnnie Walker Classic on Thursday.
On his first trip to Australia the 32-year-old Asian tour Order of Merit winner who did not become a professional golfer until three years ago, carded a five-under-par 67.
Jaidee was two shots ahead of playing partner Sergio Garcia and New Zealander Michael Campbell, who had a 69 despite bogeying three of his last six holes.
Admittedly nervous, Jaidee opened strongly with birdies on two of his first three holes.
Last year he became the first Thai to play in the U.S. Open after winning a qualifying competition and played well enbough to make the cut.
Media interest, though, focused on the fact that despite staying in a $200 a night hotel room he chose to sleep on the floor.
"The mattress was too soft," Jaidee said through an interpreter. "And so were the pillows, so I put a towel under my head."
He said he believed his parachuting helped him in his new career as a golfer.
"I jumped out of perfectly good airplanes voluntarily and I apply the discipline and the focus and the work ethic of that to my golf preparation and play," he said.
In his first round of the year Nick Faldo gave what he described as a "battling" display to post a one-under 71.
Ernie Els and Lee Westwood were even, while Colin Montgomerie bogeyed the first two and finished with a 4-over 76. Justin Rose, winner of the Dunhill championship in South Africa on Sunday, double-bogeyed the second and carded a 6-over 78.
Twelve-time world amputee champion Geoff Nicholas managed only an 88,landing him in last place in his European Tour debut.
