Even in a Masters Tournament field that includes a gas station owner (Steve Wilson) and a 54-year-old comeback kid (Greg Norman), there is no story as emotional and incomprehensible as that of Prayad Marksaeng.

Thai golfer Prayad Marksaeng (left) sits next to Lee Westwood's caddie, Alastair McLean, on a bench at Augusta National Golf Club. (Michael Holahan/Staff)

Plenty of athletes have overcome extreme odds to make it to the heights of their sports, but Marksaeng's journey from poverty in Thailand to Masters qualifier takes a back seat to no one's.

"This is the best time of my life," Marksaeng said through his translator, Pimporn Rojsattarat. "From nothing to here, golf has changed my life from zero."

He grew up in a house where 11 siblings shared the same room. He spent his formative years pedaling a bicycle taxi from 4 to 10 a.m., caddying from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and peddling vegetables the rest of the day on the train with his mother.

He boxed two fights until he realized getting knocked out was "too painful."

He made himself Masters caliber by learning to play golf at age 14 with a club made out of a bamboo stick, with a bicycle tire grip and a spoon lashed to the end. He used it for every shot and made a new one each month.

"Some wealthy people play golf for fun; some play for trophy; I had to play well to survive," he said.

Marksaeng received a special exemption from Augusta National Golf Club into the 2008 Masters, so he felt an obligation to play despite the extreme pain from his back that gave out during the 22-hour trip to Augusta.

He tried submerging himself in hot tubs and ice all week. He suffered through the Par-3 Contest because he didn't want to be rude. He endured through an excruciating 82 in the first round.

He was halfway through the second round when he feared his struggles were negatively affecting playing partners Bernhard Langer and Woody Austin, so he reluctantly withdrew.

"I didn't want to hold down somebody making the cut," he said. "I didn't want to withdraw, but it was too painful."

Singh (PGA Tour)

That didn't hurt nearly as much as the aftermath. At home in Thailand, prominent columnists accused him of faking his injuries and said he had shamed the country so that no other Thai golfer would ever be invited to Augusta.

The harsh criticism from his countrymen stung the soft-hearted Marksaeng.

"People looked down to me, not many, but I heard some," he said. "That is the thing in my mind that made me want to come back here again."

The 43-year-old Marksaeng -- a compact player who his Asian fans refer to as "Turbo" -- embarked on a mission of redemption, not only for himself but for all Thai golfers.

"I wanted to prove something -- that Thai golfers are good enough to play in the event, and let people know that," he said.

Marksaeng's mission was nearly fulfilled at the end of 2008 when he entered the last week ranked 49th in the world, but he got bumped to 52nd by the late performances of Richard Sterne, Rory McIlroy and Lin Wen-Tang.

Still, Marksaeng rededicated himself for a three-month push.

He tied for second at the Malaysian Open and for 13th at Doral, and he rallied for second again at the Black Mountain Masters in his hometown to climb to 47th in the world on the deadline.

"I wanted to prove that I could qualify on my own merit, not by a special invitation," he said. "I am very happy now."

The humble Marksaeng feels blessed, and he was honored when he heard that Tiger Woods said his Thai mother, Tida, speaks highly of Marksaeng.

"What he's done from where he's come from and what he means to all of the people in Thailand, obviously my mom talks highly of him," Woods said. "It's pretty incredible he's been as successful as he has been considering his starting point."

"He wants to thank Tiger's mom for supporting him," Pimporn said.

Not everyone is in tune with his feel-good story. Marksaeng and his fans in Asian markets were stung when a Golf Channel analyst criticized the Masters qualifying process that left Davis Love III out and put Marksaeng in.

"Who wants to see Prayad Marksaeng?" the analyst asked rhetorically.

Many do, and more probably would if they knew where he came from to get to Augusta.

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.