Who's who: Kiradech Aphibarnrat

  • Padraig Harrington
  • Laura Davies
  • Annika Sörenstam
  • José María Olazábal
  • Michelle Wie
  • Edoardo Molinari
  • Lee Trevino
  • Natalie Gulbis

Who's who: Kiradech Aphibarnrat

  • Name:

    Kiradech Aphibarnrat
  • Country:

    Thailand
  • Born:

    July 23, 1989 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    2008

Roll of Honour

World Junior Champion (2003, '04). Multiple wins on the Asian and European Tours. Asian Tour Order of Merit winner (2013).

Did you know?

Kiradech Aphibarnrat (formerly known as Anujit Hirunratanakorn) is one of the most exciting young players to emerge from Thailand. He is sometimes described as Asia’s version of John Daly owing to a rather hefty physique and go-for-broke style of play.

He enjoyed a successful amateur career, winning the Junior World Championship in 2003 and 2004 for his age bracket (boys 13-14). After turning professional in 2008, he predominantly played on the Asian and Japan Tours. His breakthrough win on the Asian Tour came in 2011 at the SAIL Open in India. This was followed two years later by victory at the Malaysian Open, an event co-sanctioned with the European Tour. Aged just 24, he won the Asian Tour Order of Merit for the 2013 season.

Top tournaments won by Kiradech Aphibarnrat

2018
Aus/NZ
2 & 1
A$283,330
ISPS Handa

Category

Aus/NZ

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Score

2 & 1

Prize money

A$283,330

Title sponsor

ISPS Handa

Played as the ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth (Feb 8-11; Aus/Asian/Eurpn Trs event; after three rounds of strokeplay, the top 24 went into knockout matches on the final day; each match played over over 6 holes). Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thai) beat James Nitties (Aus) 2 and 1 in the 6-hole final. A nine-man playoff followed round three of the strokeplay, to determine who would fill the last eight berths in Sunday's match play finale. Aphibarnrat beat Anthony Quayle (Aus) with a birdie at the fourth playoff hole to claim the very last of the eight spots. [Lake Karrinyup CC, Perth, WA, Aus].

2015
Europe
1 up
€171,000
Saltire Energy

Category

Europe

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Score

1 up

Prize money

€171,000

Title sponsor

Saltire Energy

Played as the inaugural Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play (Jul 30-Aug 2). Aphibarnrat (Thai) beat Robert Karlsson (Swe) by 1 hole in the 18-hole final. This was Aphibarnrat's third European Tour win, and first on European soil. [Murcar Links GC, Aberdeen, Scotland].

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Score

276 (-12)

Prize money

€386,168

Title sponsor

x

Played as the inaugural Shenzhen International (April 16-19; Eurpn Tr/CGA event). Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thai) beat 19-year-old Haotong Li (China) with a birdie at the first playoff hole (par-4 18th). [Hidden Grace GC, Langgang, nr Shenzhen, China; at the time called Genzon GC].

2013
Awards
$1,127,855
see Score
Asian Tr

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Venue

Score

$1,127,855

Prize money

see Score

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Aphibarnrat (Thai) won the Asian Tour 2013 Order of Merit, with earnings of US$1,127,855 on the Tour. Scott Hend (Aus) was second with $597,900; Anirban Lahiri (India) was third with $517,030.

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Score

203 (-13)

Prize money

US$458,330

Title sponsor

Maybank

Played as the Maybank Malaysian Open (March 21-24; Asian/Eurpn Trs event). Second-placed Edoardo Molinari (Italy) finished 1 shot behind first-time European Tour winner Aphibarnrat (Thai). Reduced to 54 holes due to severe storms on last two days. [West course, TPC Kuala Lumpur, KL, Malaysia; at the time known as Kuala Lumpur G&CC].

Category

Awards

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Venue

Score

x

Prize money

n/a

Title sponsor

Asian Tr

Aphibarnrat (Thai) won the Asian Tour Players' Player of the Year Award, based on the votes of his peers.

2011
Asia
272 (-16)
US$47,550
SAIL

Category

Asia

Winner (holder)

Aphibarnrat, Kiradech

Score

272 (-16)

Prize money

US$47,550

Title sponsor

SAIL

Played as the SAIL Open (March 22-25; Asian Tr event). Second-placed Siddikur Rahman (Ban) finished 1 shot behind first-time Asian Tour winner Aphibarnrat (Thai). [Delhi GC, New Delhi, India].

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