BANGKOK, 30 January 2004 — Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn, playing in his first event this year, sizzled in the sunshine with an eight-under-par 64 to lead the $1.8 million JW Classic in Thailand yesterday.
The tall Dane ended the day with a one-stroke advantage over six-time major champion Nick Faldo who rolled back the years with an accomplished 65 at Alpine Golf and Sports Club on the outskirts of Bangkok.
England’s Ian Poulter, who fought off back pain with painkillers, Australian duo Scott Gardiner and Jarrod Moseley and American left-hander Edward Loar were tied for third place after carding 66s.
The event is tri-sanctioned by the European, Australasian and Asian Tours.
Pre-tournament favorite and defending champion Ernie Els of South Africa was six shots off the pace following a 70.
Bjorn, who faltered down the stretch when leading last year’s British Open, credited a fitness program and some swing changes for his hot form.
“Normally I do not start the year strongly but I have done a lot of gym work and spent nine days working with my coach and I am feeling the benefits.
“This year I’ll swing the club my way and not the way books tell you,” said Bjorn, who grabbed an eagle and seven birdies.
“It was nice to go out today and hit a lot of wonderful shots, especially on the front nine. I hit a couple of loose shots later in the round but managed to get away with pars.
The 46-year-old Faldo grabbed six birdies on the back nine, including four in a row from his 11th hole.
A two-time winner of the JW Classic, Faldo has been honing his game on the holiday isle of Phuket in southern Thailand for a month and made a flying start to his seasonal debut.
“I am really pleased. I kept myself focused on every single hole — played aggressively and finished off the putts. It was a very good day to start the new year (on Tour),” said Faldo, whose last win was the Nissan Open in 1997.
“I was not really expecting a round like that to be honest. I was playing with Ernie Els and I was inspired by him on the front nine. He brushed in the putts and that brought me to life.”
Poulter, who won twice on the European Tour last year, dropped a shot at his opening hole but made amends with seven birdies in his 66.
“I did not think I was going to be able to play,” said Poulter. “I was coughing a lot last night and whether I dislodged a rib or pulled a muscle in my back I do not know. I had a massage for 40 minutes and took some painkillers.
Poulter, famed for his outrageous hairstyles, kept his current creation under his cap.
Thai teenager Prom Meesawat, one of the most exciting prospects in Asian golf, fired a four-under-par 68 in just his second tournament as a professional.
The two-time World Junior champion, nicknamed the “Big Dolphin” because of his seaside base and 100-plus kilogram (220-plus pound) frame, was bogey free on the tight par-72 layout.
