Aphibarnrat cancels Maldives holiday, wins Super 6 Down Under
What happened at the World Super 6?
Kiradech Aphibarnrat only entered seven days ago and needed four trips up the 18th hole on Saturday night just to reach the last 24 before landing his fourth European Tour title.
The Thai star beat former Big Break contestant James Nitties 2&1 in the final after overcoming Ben Eccles, Yusaku Miyazato, Sean Crocker and Lucas Herbert in the previous rounds.
He also has the 2015 Paul Lawrie Match Play on his CV and he is back inside the world’s top 50 after playing the last five weeks.
In the final Aphibarnrat lost the 1st, halved the next in bogeys before pulling level with a par at the 3rd. He then moved ahead with a 3-wood to close range (see Moments of the Week) to make a necessary eagle, after the Aussie made a brilliant up-and-down for his birdie and he closed it out with this putt at the next.
Sam Horsfield, who led at Q School, finished fourth after losing 3&1 to Lucas Herbert in the 3rd/4th play-off.
The last qualifier. The last man standing ?
Aphibarnrat wins the #WS6Perth. pic.twitter.com/xUiieZTRs4
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 11, 2018
Talking point
As you might expect this week throws up all sorts of surprises. The field is cut from 156 to 80 after two rounds of strokeplay and then 24 after three days and then the top eight seeds get a bye while the other 16 begin the knockout stages over just six holes. Any ties are decided by a knockout hole from 90 yards.
Prom Meesawat was seven shots better than his countryman Aphibarnrat but he was out in his first match with Aussie amateur Min Woo Lee while Lee Westwood was the joint leader after two rounds but then slumped to a 78 to miss out.
Aphibarnrat only committed last week, he cancelled a holiday in the Maldives to be here, and had never seen the Lake Karrinyup course before teeing it up but his trip was very worthwhile and he was rewarded at the end of the week for the way he battled it out the day before.
This is his first win since Paul Lawrie’s event and, given his consistency and class, seems a bit overdue. Last season he was second in the Tour Championship in Dubai, one of six top 20s in his last nine starts to the season. He is now 28 and you can expect him to add to his win haul again this term.
This was to make the play-off.
One hour later? @kiradech advances via the play-off. pic.twitter.com/cBMm12zwDC
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 10, 2018
Moments of the week
"One of the shots of the tournament!"
Advantage @Kiradech. pic.twitter.com/BpCDQxV3gy
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 11, 2018
Inches from a shootout ace ?#WS6Perth pic.twitter.com/udBHi68wdY
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 11, 2018
Westwood's chipping game ? pic.twitter.com/WUFt6llNla
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 9, 2018
Best stats
Aphibarnrat survived 93 holes this week ?
(Including playing the 18th hole 15 times!) pic.twitter.com/ikScRWURVk
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 11, 2018
Kiradech is 0/7 in GIR on the 18th this week.
He still finds himself in the last 24 at the #WS6Perth. pic.twitter.com/nTNQ6FxV6d
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) February 10, 2018
Two young and promising future prospects contended for the 3rd place #WS6Perth.
22yo @lhgolf5 won it and he will climb to a new career best ranking (around #175)
21yo @hr59sam finished 4th to earn his 1st #OWGR points ever. He'll jump around 1180 places, somewhere around #760.
— Nosferatu (@VC606) February 11, 2018
Best tweet
So sad to hear the news of my old caddie Malcolm Mason passing away yesterday. Thoughts are with his family #RIP pic.twitter.com/tZUeHXJqkS
— Danny Willett (@Danny_Willett) February 10, 2018
Tantric golf? Let’s just have some fun, Jason
A Life in Golf: Ian Woosnam
The look of a champion
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
