Rory McIlroy had to settle for third place as Thongchai Jaidee romped to a four-shot victory in the 100th French Open at Golf National on Sunday.
Thailand’s Thongchai went into final round with a two-stroke lead and a fantastic three-under-par 68 helped him easily hold off the chasing pack on 11 under par.
The 46-year-old went 39 holes without a bogey on the challenging Albatros course, until he opted for safety on the 72nd hole with the title already all but assured.
A brace of birdies on each nine were enough for the world number 57 to seal his eighth European Tour title, with what was amazingly his first top-10 finish of the season.
The closest anyone got to Thongchai on the back nine was when Andy Sullivan made three consecutive birdies to get to eight under.
But the Englishman’s challenge came to a disappointing end with a bogey on 17 followed by a watery triple bogey at the last.
McIlroy failed to find his best from tee to green, and narrowly missed a succession of birdie putts.
The world number four began the day tied for second place with Jeunghun Wang, but his only birdie came at the par-five 14th as he was forced to settle for an even-par closing effort of 71.
Nevertheless, this was a decent week for the four-time major champion on his return to action after missing the US Open cut at Oakmont, and a solid week on the 2018 Ryder Cup course is good preparation for the upcoming British Open at Royal Troon.
Italian Francesco Molinari ended up in second place after shooting a five-under-par 66, the joint-best round of the week.
The two-time Ryder Cup winner rolled in seven birdies to give his hopes of making Darren Clarke’s European team for the matches at Hazeltine in September a massive boost.
This tournament just outside Paris offered double points for the Ryder Cup hopefuls, as well as counting as two events on the Race to Dubai.
German Martin Kaymer, the 2009 winner, briefly threatened around the turn, but a flurry of dropped shots on the inward half saw the former world number one finish on four under par.
Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello finished in fourth place thanks to a closing round of 67, while defending champion Bernd Wiesberger of Austria faded out of contention.
The French Open offered four spots for the British Open to the highest players in the top 12 yet to qualify.
South African Brandon Stone, who was one of five joint-leaders after the second round, Swede Alex Noren, England’s Callum Shinkwin and Stone’s compatriot Richard Sterne took those places.
AFP
Sun Jul 03 2016
![Golf: Thongchai Jaidee wins French Open, Rory McIlroy settles for third Golf: Thongchai Jaidee wins French Open, Rory McIlroy settles for third](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/61467563423_jaidee.jpg)
Photo: AFP/DOMINIQUE FAGET
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.
![Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723674774_TayyipEMahmoudAbbas.jpg)
Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan
Erdogan maklumkan kepada Presiden Mahmoud Abbas, Turkiye akan terus sokong perjuangan Palestin.
![Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/71467442821_SheikhHasina.jpg)
Bekas pemimpin Bangladesh, Hasina didakwa lakukan genosid
Sheikh Hasina didakwa melakukan "genosid dan jenayah terhadap kemanusiaan" semasa beberapa minggu protes ganas yang mengakibatkan ratusan orang terbunuh.
![Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024 Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723674456_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Fadillah tiba di Peru untuk hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah akan mengetengahkan pendirian Malaysia dalam melaksanakan usaha peralihan tenaga negara.
![Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721630406_TBAnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Lawatan PM Anwar ke India dijangka kukuhkan hubungan ekonomi - Ramanan
Perdana Menteri Anwar dijadualkan membuat lawatan rasmi pertama ke India dari 19 hingga 20 Ogos.
![Tenis Terbuka Perancis: Nadal mudah lepasi pusingan pertama Tenis Terbuka Perancis: Nadal mudah lepasi pusingan pertama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/71653365539_FranceTennisFrench.jpg)
Tenis Terbuka Perancis: Nadal mudah lepasi pusingan pertama
Nadal yang mempamerkan aksi dominan, menang 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 untuk mara ke pusingan kedua dengan mudah.
![Rafael Nadal raih gelaran ke-12 Terbuka Perancis Rafael Nadal raih gelaran ke-12 Terbuka Perancis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2019-06/81560100885_TBRafaelNadal.jpg)
Rafael Nadal raih gelaran ke-12 Terbuka Perancis
Rafael Nadal meraih gelaran ke-12 kejuaraan tenis Terbuka Perancis selepas menewaskan Dominic Thiem 6-3 5-7 6-1 6-1 sebentar tadi.
![Ranking ke-10 dunia milik Chong Wei Ranking ke-10 dunia milik Chong Wei](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/81441899366_LeeChongWei.jpg)
Ranking ke-10 dunia milik Chong Wei
Menurut senarai terbaru yang dikeluarkan Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF), Chong Wei melonjak sembilan tangga daripada ranking ke-19 susulan kejuaraan Terbuka Perancis pada Ahad lalu.
![Wei Feng mara ke undian utama Terbuka Perancis Wei Feng mara ke undian utama Terbuka Perancis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://www.stadiumastro.com/Portals/0/Badminton/WeiFeng200613SAL.jpg)
Wei Feng mara ke undian utama Terbuka Perancis
Pemain perseorangan kedua negara, Chong Wei Feng layak ke undian utama badminton Siri Super Terbuka Perancis selepas melepasi dua halangan peringkat kelayakan malam tadi.
![Stan Wawrinka menang Terbuka Perancis, Djokovic gagal buat kali ketiga Stan Wawrinka menang Terbuka Perancis, Djokovic gagal buat kali ketiga](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-06/71433722436_295x200.jpg)
Stan Wawrinka menang Terbuka Perancis, Djokovic gagal buat kali ketiga
Stan Wawrinka musnahkan harapan Novak Djokovic untuk meraih career grand slam pada Ahad dan terus menjadi pemenang Terbuka Perancis paling tua dalam tempoh 25 tahun.