Paul Lawrie Matchplay: Kiradech Aphibarnrat lifts inaugural trophy

ABERDEEN, Scotland – Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand won the inaugural Paul Lawrie Match Play by holing a 4-foot putt for birdie on No. 18 to beat Sweden’s Robert Karlsson by one hole in the final.

Aphibarnrat, who also defeated Marc Warren, Michael Hoey, Thomas Aiken, Graeme Storm and Wade Ormsby in the event north of the border, was delighted with his performance and at being able to tick off one of his goals this season.

Karlsson, who had needed 20 holes to defeat former Ryder Cup team-mate David Howell in the semi-finals, was handed a lifeline when Aphibarnrat found water with his approach to the 15th green and did not even attempt to take a penalty drop and hole his fourth shot. “I was happy with that”.

The 26-year-old was three ahead with four holes to play, but he lost three holes in a row before winning on the final green at Murcar Golf Links.

“My body was getting so exhausted, so my swing wasn’t at 100 per cent, but I just tried to hit my shots”, the Thai told the European Tour website.

“I remember a long time ago some guy kept telling me that if I had a long backswing like that I would not grow up to be a professional”.

Karlsson reduced the deficit to just one hole after firing birdies at the eighth and ninth but this year’s Shenzhen global victor Aphibarnrat took the 11th and 14th to return to three up.

“It looks like a great golf course, so I’m looking forward to seeing that and playing there”, he said of the Bridgestone.

“It was much better than I expected coming in here”. “I started pulling some drives but I have to say I putted very well today and sank a lot of important putts – especially the putt to win”.

While disappointed to fall at the final hurdle, Karlsson was pleased to have ended a dismal run of six missed cuts by giving himself a chance of his first European Tour triumph in almost five years. “It has been a great week and the players have really enjoyed it”.

There was no denying that and it was fitting that the event got a victor whose game was made for match-play. In the first four days I was hitting it miles and down the fairways.