Kiradech Aphibarnrat

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thai: กิรเดช อภิบาลรัตน์; born Anujit Hirunratanakorn,[2] 23 July 1989) is a Thai professional golfer who plays on the Asian, European, and PGA Tours.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat
July 2014
Personal information
Born (1989-07-23) 23 July 1989
Bangkok, Thailand
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight104 kg (229 lb; 16.4 st)
Nationality Thailand
ResidenceBangkok, Thailand
Career
Turned professional2008
Current tour(s)European Tour
Asian Tour
PGA Tour
Former tour(s)Japan Golf Tour
Professional wins11
Highest ranking29 (25 March 2018)[1]
(as of 21 June 2020)
Number of wins by tour
European Tour4
Asian Tour3
PGA Tour of Australasia1
Other6
Best results in major championships
Masters TournamentT15: 2016
PGA ChampionshipT25: 2013
U.S. Open15th: 2018
The Open ChampionshipT32: 2019
Achievements and awards
Asian Tour
Order of Merit		2013
Medal record
Representing  Thailand
Summer Universiade
2007 BangkokMen's team

In both 2003 and 2004, Aphibarnrat won his age group at the Junior World Golf Championships. In 2007, he was on the gold medal team at the 2007 Summer Universiade and took a silver in the individual event at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games.

Aphibarnrat turned professional in 2008 and began playing on the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour in 2009. HIs first professional victory came in 2009 at the Mercedes-Benz Tour's Singha Pattaya Open, which he won by 11 strokes, earning US$50,000. Aphibarnrat's first Asian Tour win was at the 2011 SAIL Open.[3]

Aphibarnrat's first victory on the European Tour was at the Maybank Malaysian Open in March 2013. The event was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour, thus giving him a second win on that tour. In the event, which shortened to 54 holes due to thunderstorms, Aphibarnrat defeated Edoardo Molinari by one stroke.

He won his second European Tour title at the Shenzhen International in a sudden death playoff over Li Haotong. Having led the tournament at the 54 hole stage, he trailed late in the back nine, but eagled the 17th hole and then missed a birdie putt on the 18th for the outright victory. He would go on to birdie the first extra hole to claim victory. Aphibarnrat became only the second player from Thailand, after Thongchai Jaidee, to record multiple European Tour wins.

Aphibarnrat is sometimes referred to as "Asia's John Daly", a comparison of his "unathletic" physique to the similarly large body type of two-time major championship winner John Daly.[4]

In 2018, Aphibarnrat earned Special Temporary Member status on the PGA Tour. He is the first Thai PGA Tour member.

In 2019, Aphibarnrat started full membership on the PGA Tour.

Amateur wins

Professional wins (11)

European Tour wins (4)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 24 Mar 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open1 −13 (65-68-70=203)* 1 stroke Edoardo Molinari
2 19 Apr 2015 Shenzhen International −12 (67-69-68-72=276) Playoff Li Haotong
3 2 Aug 2015 Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Matchplay 1 up Robert Karlsson
4 11 Feb 2018 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth1,2 2 & 1 James Nitties

*Note: The 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open was shortened to 54 holes due to bad weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour
2Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia

European Tour playoff record (1–0)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
1 2015 Shenzhen International Li Haotong Won with birdie on first extra hole

Asian Tour wins (3)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 25 Mar 2011 SAIL Open −16 (68-67-69-68=272) 1 stroke Siddikur Rahman
2 24 Mar 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open1 −13 (65-68-70=203)* 1 stroke Edoardo Molinari
3 11 Feb 2018 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth1,2 2 & 1 James Nitties

*Note: The 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open was shortened to 54 holes due to bad weather.
1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour
2Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia

Asian Tour playoff record (0–1)

No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult
1 2012 Zaykabar Myanmar Open Adam Blyth, Kieran Pratt Pratt won with birdie on second extra hole
Aphibarnrat eliminated by birdie on first hole

PGA Tour of Australasia wins (1)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 11 Feb 2018 ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth1 2 & 1 James Nitties

1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour and the Asian Tour

Asian Development Tour wins (3)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 13 Sep 2015 Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1 −24 (67-61-68-68=264) 3 strokes Prayad Marksaeng
2 10 Dec 2017 Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1 (2) −14 (65-71-68-70=274) 3 strokes William Harrold
3 10 Mar 2018 Richard Mille Brunei Championships −23 (65-64-64-68=261) 6 strokes John Catlin

1Co-sanctioned by the All Thailand Golf Tour

All Thailand Golf Tour wins (5)
No. Date Tournament Winning score Margin of
victory		 Runner-up
1 5 Apr 2009 Singha Pattaya Open −23 (68-65-61-67=261) 11 strokes Antonio Lascuña
2 22 Jul 2012 Singha All Thailand Championship
3 3 Feb 2013 Singha Masters
4 13 Sep 2015 Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1 −24 (67-61-68-68=264) 3 strokes Prayad Marksaeng
5 10 Dec 2017 Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1 (2) −14 (65-71-68-70=274) 3 strokes William Harrold

1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour

Results in major championships
Tournament 201320142015201620172018
Masters Tournament T15 T44
U.S. Open CUT 15
The Open Championship CUT CUT CUT CUT T75
PGA Championship T25 WD T68 T66 CUT
Tournament 2019
Masters Tournament T49
PGA Championship T41
U.S. Open CUT
The Open Championship T32
  Did not play

CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = Withdrew
"T" = tied

Summary
TournamentWins2nd3rdTop-5Top-10Top-25EventsCuts made
Masters Tournament00000133
PGA Championship00000164
U.S. Open00000131
The Open Championship00000062
Totals0000031810
  • Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (2016 PGA – 2018 Open)
  • Longest streak of top-10s – 0

Results in The Players Championship
Tournament 2016201720182019
The Players Championship CUT T30 CUT
  Did not play

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Results not in chronological order before 2015.

Tournament2010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Championship 67 T49 T5 T3
Match Play R64 T18 QF T40
Invitational T40 53 T31
Champions 74 T66 T55 T30 T24 T4
  Top 10
  Did not play

QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied

Team appearances

Amateur

Professional

References
  1. "Week 12 2018 Ending 25 Mar 2018" (pdf). OWGR. Retrieved 5 October 2019.
  2. Ballengee, Ryan (10 August 2013). "Kiradech Aphibarnrat: Why did he change his name from Anujit Hirunratanakorn?". Golf News Net. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  3. "Kiradech seals maiden Asian Tour victory at the SAIL Open". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  4. "Asia's 'John Daly' denies Ryder Cup winner to triumph in Malaysia". CNN. 24 March 2013.
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