Kuala Lumpur: Kiradech Aphibarnrat became only the second Thai to lift the illustrious Seagram Trophy after negotiating a string of star names and unpredictable weather to win the Maybank Malaysian Open on Sunday.
Starting the day one clear of former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, the 23-year-old former world junior champion fended off the challenge of, among others, Ryder cup star Edoardo Molinari, Dane Anders Hansen and Victor Dubuisson of France on a fascinating final day at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club.
Aphibarnrat held resolute and even a dropped shot at the last could not prevent the big hitter, nicknamed Asia’s John Daly, from carding a two-under-par 70 for a 13-under total 203 at the US$2.75 million weather-shortened tournament, which was co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.
A prize cheque of US$458,330 was followed by a two-year exemption on the latter Tour, seeing Aphibarnrat emulate his compatriot Thongchai Jaidee, who earned his own playing stripes in Europe through back-to-back victories at the Malaysian Open in 2004 and 2005.
[simpleviewer gallery_id=”31″]
“I’m so excited and happy this week. I’m proud of myself and my family. I almost won here a few years ago and finally I made,” said Kiradech, who was tied third behind winner Noh Seung-yul in 2010.
He led by one shot through 15 holes of the third and final round when play was suspended for two hours because of a lightning storm and came back out shaking at the prospects of winning his career’s biggest title yet.
He birdied the 16th hole upon the resumption of play from four feet to open up a two-shot advantage and then enjoyed a stroke of fortune when his approach into the 17th green ended just a few feet from the water hazard. After leaving his chip some 15 feet short of the flag, Kiradech drained his par putt and celebrated with a clenched fist.
Taking a safety first approach on the last, Kiradech played his iron off the tee before scrambling a bogey to finish one clear of Molinari. “After I made birdie on 16th, I knew I had a chance to win. But in golf, you can’t say you can win when you’re not finished. I was lucky my ball was still safe (on 17th). If it rolled into the hazard, it would be tough to win. But I concentrated hard on 18th. I’ve played here for about 20 times, and on 18th, I think I’ve birdied it more than 10 times. Bogey was so tough but it was good enough to win,” said a beaming Kiradech.
“During the suspension, I couldn’t eat anything. I was so excited. When I walked out, everything was shaking, even my voice. My caddie told me to just concentrate, just two more holes. I’m lucky that I played only 54 holes. Otherwise, I am so tired due to the weather and the golf course.”
Molinari, who was getting ready to warm up for a possible play-off, was disappointed he only made par at the closing 18th hole after a wayward drive. “I felt if I birdied the last I might have won outright because it puts a lot of pressure on the guy coming up behind,” said the Italian.
“It’s mixed emotions because I’m very happy to have a good week for the first time in a long time. The swing changes (with new coach Sean Foley) are starting to pay off which is surprising because I thought it would take a lot longer. But I’m disappointed because I had a lot of chances on the back nine. The 18th is only the second fairway I missed all day which is very disappointing.”
Schwartzel, playing in the last group with Kiradech, rued the missed opportunity to emulate countryman Louis Oosthuizen, who won the Maybank Malaysian Open last season.
“It was disappointing. It’s a hard week with being on and off the course the whole time. It’s difficult to find any rhythm. I feel like I swung the club pretty well, but I didn’t play that well today,” said the South African, who was searching for his second title in Asia after winning the Thailand Golf Championship last December.
“I was hitting terrible iron shots from the middle of the fairways. That’s my strength. For some reason I was hitting short irons all over the shop. What can I do? Kiradech did well. I would’ve liked to have applied a bit more pressure on him.”
Chinese invite Wu Ashun was the next best Asian in tied 11th place on 208 after closing with a 73 while national amateur Gavin Kyle Green enjoyed a creditable equal 22nd place finish after a closing 69 for a 210 total.
Leading final round scores
203 – Kiradech Aphibarnrat (THA) 65-68-70
204 – Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 66-71-67
205 – Anders Hansen (DEN) 66-71-66
206 – Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 67-69-70 , Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 67-68-71
207 – Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 69-70-68 , Mark Foster (AUS) 69-69-69 , Alexander Noren (SWE) 69-68-70 , David Howell (ENG) 69-68 -70 , Padraig Harrington 69-68-70
