Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng received an unexpected birthday present on Saturday when he was paired with world number one Jordan Spieth for the third round of the SMBC Singapore Open.
Prayad, who turned 50 today, shot a second round 68 to tie Spieth on five under 137 after two rounds and be rewarded with 18 holes in the spotlight with the Masters and US Open champion.
The evergreen Prayad wants to win the title as a gift to himself.
“I am just four behind the leader so yes I am still hoping to celebrate my birthday with a win,” said Prayad, who has nine Asian Tour and five Japan Golf Tour titles to his name.
Prayad, one of the best ball strikers in the Asian game, shot four birdies in the last five holes to roar up the leaderboard.
“I putted well today,” he said. “I like the greens here, they are very fast and I putt well on speedy greens.”
Prayad, Spieth and Paul Peterson of the United States tee off from the first hole at 2.50pm.
