New Delhi Feb 21 (IANS) Thai star golfer Kiradech Aphibarnrat has confirmed his participation for the upcoming Hero Indian Open to be held in Gurugram from March 9 to 12 it was announced on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old big-built Thai has six professional titles three of which came in 2013 when he was crowned Asia No.1.
Former Asia No.1 Kiradech who is now ranked 76th in the world -- his best was 37th in December 2015 is no stranger to India having played a few times till 2013. In 2011 he won his first Asian Tour title at the SAIL Open in India.
Kiradech who spent 2016 playing three Tours -- Asian European and US Tours has had a great start to the season with two Top-10 finishes in the Middle-East where he was tied fourth in Abu Dhabi and T-9 in Qatar.
Former World Junior champion Kiradech ended the 2013 season as the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion on the strength of one victory and five other top-five finishes.
Another rising Thai to be seen in Hero Indian Open 2017 will be the 17-year-old prodigy Phachara Khongwatmai who was runner-up to Brett Rumford at the ISPS Handa World Super Six in Perth last week. Phachara who has twice finished runner-up -- at Singapore and Perth -- is now world ranked 149.
The Indian Open will be held at the Gary Player course at the DLF Golf & Country Club.
The prize purse has been enhanced to $1.75 million which is almost six times more than $300 000 which it was when Hero took on the title sponsorship of the Indian Open in 2005.
--IANS
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Thai star golfer Kiradech to compete at Hero Indian Open
