Aphibarnrat withdraws from Thai event

Kiradech Aphibarnrat has withdrawn from this week’s Boonchu Ruangkit Championship to ensure he gets a US Masters invite.

The Thai player, ranked 51 in the world this week, has been told he would have to finish in the top 10 of the Asian Tour event in order to finish the year within the top 50 and secure an invite to Augusta.

But, oddly, the world rankings body told him that if he did not tee-up in his homeland, he would jump two places and end the year ranked 49th.

The 28-year-old has taken the sensible decision not to risk his second crack at the Green Jacket and has pulled out of the event to start this week.

The three-times European Tour winner grabbed a share of 15th place on debut at the Augusta National course earlier this year.

Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira, who is this week ranked number 49 in the world, will now fall to 51st in the world – meaning he misses out on a Masters invitation by 0.0031 of a World Ranking point.

Tagged Kiradech Aphibarnrat