Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat has an old score to settle when he competes in the 300,000-dollar Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters from Wednesday, but admits he is not on top form.
The 21-year-old former world junior champion is desperate to claim a first Asian Tour victory and hopes to cross the finish line first at the Seri Selangor Golf Club after being pipped by Rick Kulacz of Australia in 2009.
Kiradech, ranked seventh on the order of merit, will face a field which includes home favourites Ben Leong and Danny Chia and last week’s Brunei Open champion Siddikur, the first Bangladeshi to win on the Tour.
American Jason Knutzon, Australia’s Scott Hend, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Hideto Tanihara from Japan are also in contention.
Over the past 12 months, Kiradech has led into the final round of three tournaments, including last year’s Selangor Masters when Kulacz shot a course-record equalling 63 to win by one.
“I want to find my first win on the Asian Tour. I have played some good golf and I think it's time for me to win. I’ll have to keep at it to give myself chances. My form is not 100 per cent but I’ll do my best,” said Kiradech.
The burly Thai was also the joint third-round leader in the Maybank Malaysian Open in March but finished third, and recognises he must putt better when the heat is on.
“My putting has often let me down in the last round,” he said. “I think I have felt the pressure on the back nine and missed some short putts. The feeling is getting better through each experience. Last year, I played a good final round but Rick played a great round. You've got to get lucky to win on the Asian Tour. I also played well in the Malaysian Open. It’s very difficult to win out here.”
The 24-year-old Leong, winner of the 2008 Selangor Masters, hopes the good vibes that he feels at the par-71 Seri Selangor will translate into a second Asian Tour victory.
After his breakthrough, his form dipped but the Malaysian prospect has shown some good results of late, including at last week's event, where he was the joint third-round leader before finishing 10th.
“I have great feelings and great memories coming back here,” he said. “They've lengthened the course and put in some bunkers and the rough is up this week. It'll play one or two shots tougher. Overall, I'm feeling good and ready to go.”