Kiradech Aphibarnrat In The Bag: Malaysian Open Winning Clubs

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat held-off Edoardo Molinari and Anders Hansen to win the rain-shortened Malaysian Open by a shot.

Reduced to three rounds, Aphibarnrat led by one from clubhouse leader Molinari as he approached the 16th, but a thunderstorm forced a two-hour delay.

When play resumed, the 23-year-old held his nerve on the par-3 16th and knocked it to three-feet for an easy birdie, leaving him the cushion of a par-bogey finish to win. 

“This means a lot to me,” Aphibarnrat said. “I had been struggling a lot after getting sick with my thyroid, but I fought and worked hard with my dad and my coach.

“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.”

The tournament was reduced after thunderstorms disrupted play on each of the first three days, meaning Aphibarnrat only played the first two holes of this third round on Saturday before play was suspended.

He continued on Sunday with a birdie on the 3rd and an eagle on the par-5 5th. Ireland’s Padraig Harrington kept in touch with three birdies and an eagle on the front nine, however the three-time major winner bogeyed the 12th, 13th and 14th holes to fade to joint sixth on nine-under.

Aphibarnrat dropped a couple of shotd either side of the turn and was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Wu Ashun but the Chinese’s challenge faded with a double at the 16th after shanking a pitch into the crowd.

Molinari set the target at 12-under after a closing 67, but Aphibarnrat moved one ahead of that with a birdie on the 14th, before a par at 15 and his birdie-par-bogey finish to win by one.

Anders Hansen was third on 11-under, with Victor Dubuisson and Charl Schwartzel joint fourth a shot further back.

Below are the clubs that Aphibarnrat used on his way to victory:

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (7.5 degree)
Fairway wood: Callaway RAZR Fit
Hybrid: Callaway RAZR Fit
Irons: Titleist 712 CB 
Wedge: Titleist Vokey SM4 (52 & 60)
Putter: Odyssey #7
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Shoe: FootJoy Sport BOA