Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat hopes to do Asia proud as he heads to next week’s Masters Tournament in fine fettle following superb performances in the last two months.
Since February, the popular Thai has won two events, the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and the Richard Mille Brunei Championships. In two World Golf Championships (WGC) events, he secured T5 results at the WGC-Mexico Championships and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play last week where he was beaten by eventual winner Bubba Watson in the quarterfinals.
“I’m feeling very confident and I’ve putted very well lately. I look forward to playing at Augusta National and will try to go earlier so I can get comfortable on the greens,” said Kiradech, who finished a credible T15 in his Masters debut in 2016 – his best result in a Major so far.
“I will give it my best at The Masters because I have such good memories there. Augusta is a golf course which suits my game and I’ve been playing very well, so hopefully it will be another week to remember,” he added.
The Dell Match Play result moved Kiradech to a career-high 29th position in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), just one rung from equalling Thongchai Jaidee’s 28th in 2015, the highest recorded by a Thai.
Kiradech earned his second Masters start by finishing 2017 inside the OWGR top 50 . He was ranked 160th in September but, thanks to two runner-up finishes and a victory at the Thongchai Jaidee Foundation, had a fighting chance at the Asian Tour’s season-ending Indonesian Masters to break into the top-50. Battling a back injury, he needed a top-five result and did so in sensational style by making eagle at the last hole.
“The way I fought to qualify for The Masters is amazing. Now I want to show the world an Asian can surprise and contend in a Major,” said the Thai.
