One stick took away the dreams of Thongchai Jaidee. Another stick allowed him to go places he never imagined.
The next stop of a journey that keeps getting better is the Presidents Cup, where Thongchai will be the first player from Thailand to compete in the matches.
Thongchai, a 45-year-old former paratrooper, will be playing the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea this week with players like Jordan Spieth and Jason Day, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott, none of whom had to cut such a rugged path to reach such an elite stage.
“Guys come from all over,” said Bubba Watson, who struck up a friendship with Thongchai late last year.