Tiger Woods is not just the best golfer in the world but speaks a bit of Thai too, chatting in the language with Thongchai Jaidee at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

The two were grouped together during the opening round of the seven-million-dollar event and Thailand's Thongchai had nothing both praise for the American world number one.

According to Thongchai, Woods has learnt a few words of Thai from his mother, Kultida Woods, who comes from Thailand and is of mixed Thai, Chinese and Dutch ancestry.

- On some holes we started talking about our families and about how we were playing today - said Thongchai, who had never teed off with Woods before.

- He's a really nice guy and it was easy to talk to him.

- He makes others feel comfortable and he was even speaking in Thai to me, like saying hello and thank you in the Thai language. I enjoyed it. -

Woods's presence here has drawn huge crowds, and Thongchai said it took his full concentration to stay focused.

- It is difficult to play with Tiger as there are so many people moving after Tiger finishes his hole. You need to concentrate really well, but I played solid. -

Thongchai finished with a one-under-par 71 while Woods was five under and three behind first-round leader and fellow American Nick Watney.