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AUGUSTA, Georgia (AFP) – Thailand?s Prayad Marksaeng fired six birdies Thursday in the opening round of the 73rd Masters, erasing painful memories from last year with a two-under par 70 start.
Overcoming a horrendous triple-bogey at the par-3 fourth hole, Prayad made a 12-shot improvement from his Masters debut a year ago.
"I just wanted to be here again. It?s such a wonderful place," Prayad said. "I?m not thinking about winning or anything like that. I?m just trying to make the cut first. I wanted to prove that I could play here."
Prayad, 43, withdrew with a back injury midway through last year?s second round, his detractors felt he would not play his way back into the prestigious tournament.
One US television pundit inspired Prayad?s determination by asking "Who wants to see Prayad Marksaeng?" while discussing Davis Love's failure to qualify for the Masters.
"It?s OK. Let him talk," said the soft-spoken Thai, who moved to 47th place in the world rankings with a share of second two weeks ago on the Asian Tour to qualify for the Masters.
"Last year, someone else looked down on me after I withdrew with injury and I just pushed myself hard to get back here," Prayad said. "I hope that people will know more about Thailand, about Thai people and about Prayad Marksaeng."
Prayad sunk a six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 second but sent his tee shot at the fourth out of bounds.
"I teed up too high on four," Prayad said. "I wanted to fly the ball higher and maybe I didn?t grip the club firm enough and hit it out of bounds. I was sure of the club but just teed it up too high.
"I?m tougher than that hole. It was still early in the round and I forgot about the hole quickly and restarted again."
He battled back with birdies at seven and eight and after a birdie at 12 and bogey at 13, he finished strong with birdies at 15 and 18, drilling a 5-iron approach to five feet at the last.
Prayad could become the first Thai to reach the weekend at Augusta National after Sukree Onsham and Thongchai Jaidee failed to make the cut.
"I hope that the young boys will look at me and he too can dream of playing at the Masters," Prayad said.
Overcoming a horrendous triple-bogey at the par-3 fourth hole, Prayad made a 12-shot improvement from his Masters debut a year ago.
"I just wanted to be here again. It?s such a wonderful place," Prayad said. "I?m not thinking about winning or anything like that. I?m just trying to make the cut first. I wanted to prove that I could play here."
Prayad, 43, withdrew with a back injury midway through last year?s second round, his detractors felt he would not play his way back into the prestigious tournament.
One US television pundit inspired Prayad?s determination by asking "Who wants to see Prayad Marksaeng?" while discussing Davis Love's failure to qualify for the Masters.
"It?s OK. Let him talk," said the soft-spoken Thai, who moved to 47th place in the world rankings with a share of second two weeks ago on the Asian Tour to qualify for the Masters.
"Last year, someone else looked down on me after I withdrew with injury and I just pushed myself hard to get back here," Prayad said. "I hope that people will know more about Thailand, about Thai people and about Prayad Marksaeng."
Prayad sunk a six-foot birdie putt on the par-5 second but sent his tee shot at the fourth out of bounds.
"I teed up too high on four," Prayad said. "I wanted to fly the ball higher and maybe I didn?t grip the club firm enough and hit it out of bounds. I was sure of the club but just teed it up too high.
"I?m tougher than that hole. It was still early in the round and I forgot about the hole quickly and restarted again."
He battled back with birdies at seven and eight and after a birdie at 12 and bogey at 13, he finished strong with birdies at 15 and 18, drilling a 5-iron approach to five feet at the last.
Prayad could become the first Thai to reach the weekend at Augusta National after Sukree Onsham and Thongchai Jaidee failed to make the cut.
"I hope that the young boys will look at me and he too can dream of playing at the Masters," Prayad said.
