Aphibarnrat steals victory in Shenzen
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat produced a late surge to win his second ever European Tour event at the Shenzhen Open in China on Sunday.
Aphibarnrat held at two-shot lead at the start of the final day’s play, after carding scores of 67, 69 and 68 in the first three rounds.
Bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes saw his lead evaporate fairly quickly but the 25-year-old recovered with birdies on the ninth and tenth, before two more bogeys saw him head into the last three at two over.
Aphibarnrat managed to par the 16th, then gave himself the opportunity to win with a 17-foot putt to eagle the 17th hole.
He looked set to win the tournament when an excellent approach shot set him up with a standard putt for another birdie on 18, but the Thai sent his shot wide and was forced to settle for par.
The even-par 74 in round four took Aphibarnrat to 12-under and level with Chinese teenager Li Hao-Tong.
Hao-Tong birdied the 18th on the first hole of the play-off, but his opponent went one better and birdied to win the title.
“Special thanks to my caddie, he was always pushing me,” Aphibarnrat told the European Tour website after the win.
“When we were two behind on the last two holes he said you have not lost, we have not signed the scorecard yet and he was completely right and I just got the job done.
“I had a chance to win in 72 holes but the putt in the play-off is the best putt I have ever made in my life.”
Hao-Tong, who missed out on becoming the first Chinese player to win a European Tour event on home soil, may feel slightly hard-done-by.
The 19-year-old fired six birdies and a solitary bogey to card 67 and match two other players for the lowest round on the final day.
Trailing him on 11-under is England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who shot five birdies and a bogey to card a 69 in round four – and remain among the sports betting favourites.
Seven players, including England’s David Howell and Tom Lewis, shared fourth place on the leaderboard on 10-under.
Latest
-
PGA ChampionshipGraeme Storm recalls ‘surreal’ US PGA adventure after battle with Rory McIlroy
His famous victory over McIlroy came on the third extra hole in the 2017 South African Open in Johannesburg
-
PGA TourLee Kyoung-Hoon shoots his lowest round on the tour to retain Texas title
Dallas-born Jordan Spieth went close with a chip for eagle on the 18th which would have forced a play-off.
-
European TourSam Horsfield ‘so happy’ after winning Soudal Open to secure another title
Horsfield overcame overnight leader Ryan Fox in a thrilling final-round battle.
-
PGA ChampionshipJustin Rose still has drive to succeed as ‘exciting challenge’ of US PGA arrives
Rose won the US Open in 2013 and Olympic gold in Rio three years later, but has not tasted victory since February 2019.
-
PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods will expect to do better at US PGA Championship – Curtis Strange
Woods returned to top-level action after a long injury absence with a 47th-placed finished at the Masters.
-
PGA ChampionshipDefending champion Phil Mickelson withdraws from US PGA Championship
The six-time major winner has been taking a break from golf.
-
PGA TourEnglish rookie David Skinns shares lead in Texas
The 40-year-old from Lincoln shot a second-round 63 in the AT&T Byron Nelson.
-
PGA ChampionshipJordan Spieth looking for career grand slam at US PGA Championship
The presence or absence of defending champion Phil Mickelson which will dominate the conversation at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship5 contenders to win the US PGA Championship
Tiger Woods could contend for victory in Tulsa.
-
NewsWe’ve got your back – Greg Norman promises to defend players on breakaway tour
Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood are among the professionals to have asked for the required release to play the first event at Centurion Club.