Kiradech Aphibarnrat (; born Anujit Hirunratanakorn, 23 July 1989) is a Thai professional golfer who plays on the Asian and European tours.
Amateur career 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.
Professional career 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.
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.
In 2018, Aphibarnrat gained membership status on the PGA Tour for the 2018–19 season. He became the first PGA Tour member from Thailand.
In September 2021, Aphibarnrat shot rounds of 64–68 to hold the 36-hole lead at the BMW PGA Championship. A third round 74 saw him fall out of contention. He responded with a final-round 64 on Sunday to eventually finish in a tie for second place, one shot behind Billy Horschel.
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.
Amateur wins 2003 Junior World Golf Championships (Boys 13–14) 2004 Junior World Golf Championships (Boys 13–14)
Professional wins (12) European Tour wins (4) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up124 Mar 2013Maybank Malaysian Open1−13 (65-68-70=203)1 stroke Edoardo Molinari219 Apr 2015Shenzhen International−12 (67-69-68-72=276) Playoff Li Haotong32 Aug 2015Saltire Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play1 up Robert Karlsson411 Feb 2018ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth1,22 and 1 James Nitties 1Co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour 2Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
European Tour playoff record (1–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentResult12015Shenzhen International Li HaotongWon with birdie on first extra hole22024Porsche Singapore Classic Jesper SvenssonLost to par on third extra hole
Asian Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up125 Mar 2011SAIL Open−16 (68-67-69-68=272)1 stroke Siddikur Rahman224 Mar 2013Maybank Malaysian Open1−13 (65-68-70=203)1 stroke Edoardo Molinari311 Feb 2018ISPS Handa World Super 6 Perth1,22 and 1 James Nitties 1Co-sanctioned by the European Tour 2Co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia
Asian Tour playoff record (0–1) No.YearTournamentOpponentsResult12012Zaykabar Myanmar Open Adam Blyth, Kieran PrattPratt won with birdie on second extra holeAphibarnrat eliminated by birdie on first hole
Asian Development Tour wins (3) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up113 Sep 2015Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1−24 (67-61-68-68=264)3 strokes Prayad Marksaeng210 Dec 2017Thongchai Jaidee Foundation1 (2)−14 (65-71-68-70=274)3 strokes William Harrold310 Mar 2018Richard 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 (6) No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin ofvictoryRunner-up15 Apr 2009Singha Pattaya Open1−23 (68-65-61-67=261)11 strokes Antonio Lascuña222 Jul 2012Singha All Thailand Championship−18 (64-66-69-67=266)5 strokes33 Feb 2013(2012 season)Singha Masters−25 (263)2 strokes Baek Seuk-hyun413 Sep 2015Thongchai Jaidee Foundation2−24 (67-61-68-68=264)3 strokes Prayad Marksaeng510 Dec 2017Thongchai Jaidee Foundation2 (2)−14 (65-71-68-70=274)3 strokes William Harrold619 Dec 2021Singha Thailand Masters−19 (65-68-68-68=269)1 stroke Phachara Khongwatmai 1Co-sanctioned by the ASEAN PGA Tour 2Co-sanctioned by the Asian Development Tour
Results in major championships Tournament2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018Masters TournamentT15T44U.S. OpenCUT15The Open ChampionshipCUTCUTCUTCUTT75PGA ChampionshipT25WDT68T66CUT Tournament2019Masters TournamentT49PGA ChampionshipT41U.S. OpenCUTThe Open ChampionshipT32
CUT = missed the half-way cut WD = Withdrew "T" = tied
Summary Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made Masters Tournament 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 4U.S. Open 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1The Open Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2Totals 0 0 0 0 0 3 18 10 Most consecutive cuts made – 4 (2016 PGA – 2018 Open) Longest streak of top-10s – 0
Results in The Players Championship Tournament2016201720182019The Players ChampionshipCUTT30CUT
CUT = missed the halfway cut "T" indicates a tie for a place
Results in World Golf Championships Results not in chronological order before 2015. Tournament2010201120122013201420152016201720182019Championship67T49T5T3Match PlayR64T18QFT40InvitationalT4053T31Champions74T66T55T30T24T4
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play "T" = Tied
Team appearances Amateur Bonallack Trophy (representing Asia/Pacific): 2006 Southeast Asian Games (representing Thailand): 2007 (winners)
Professional World Cup (representing Thailand): 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018 Royal Trophy (representing Asia): 2012 (winners), 2013 EurAsia Cup (representing Asia): 2014, 2016, 2018 Amata Friendship Cup (representing Thailand): 2018 (winners)
See also 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals graduates 2022 European Tour Qualifying School graduates 2023 European Tour Qualifying School graduates
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