Kiradech Aphibarnrat: Thailand’s Powerful Golf Star
The Thai professional golfer who became an Asian Tour champion, won four DP World Tour titles and opened a new path for Thai players on the PGA Tour
Last Updated on July 30, 2026 by Fame Katha Editorial Team
Introduction
Kiradech Aphibarnrat is a Thai professional golfer known for his powerful playing style and important achievements across international golf.
He won the Asian Tour Order of Merit in 2013 and has collected four titles on the DP World Tour. In 2018, he became the first golfer from Thailand to earn PGA Tour membership.
Kiradech has also represented Thailand at the Olympic Games. He finished close to the medals at Rio 2016 and later returned to Olympic competition at Paris 2024.
As of July 2026, Kiradech remains an active professional golfer. His career has helped make Thai golf more visible to audiences around the world.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kiradech Aphibarnrat |
| Former name | Anujit Hirunratanakorn |
| Date of birth | July 23, 1989 |
| Age | 37 years old as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Bangkok, Thailand |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Profession | Professional golfer |
| Turned professional | 2008 |
| Main tour | DP World Tour |
| DP World Tour wins | Four |
| Major achievement | 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion |
| Historic milestone | First Thai golfer to earn PGA Tour membership |
| Olympic appearances | Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 |
Who Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat?
Kiradech Aphibarnrat is one of the most recognised professional golfers from Thailand.
He was born in Bangkok on July 23, 1989. He began developing his golf skills at a young age and competed successfully in junior tournaments before entering the professional game.
Kiradech is known for playing attacking golf. He is often willing to take risks when he believes an aggressive shot can create a scoring opportunity.
His international career has taken him across Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States. He has competed against many of the world’s leading golfers in tour events, major championships and the Olympic Games.
Readers interested in other prominent Thai personalities can also explore the story of Dhanin Chearavanont and the growth of CP Group.
What Was Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Original Name?
Kiradech Aphibarnrat was previously known as Anujit Hirunratanakorn.
His family later changed his name. Name changes are sometimes connected with Thai cultural beliefs about good fortune and a better future.
He continued his professional career under the name Kiradech Aphibarnrat and became internationally recognised by that name.
How Did Kiradech Aphibarnrat Start Playing Golf?
Kiradech showed strong golfing ability during his youth.
He won his age group at the Junior World Golf Championships in both 2003 and 2004. These victories gave him early experience in international competition.
Junior events helped him understand how to perform under pressure and compete against talented young golfers from other countries.
He turned professional in 2008. This meant he could begin competing for prize money and building a career through professional tournaments.
His early years were mainly connected with golf competitions in Thailand and other parts of Asia.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Early Professional Career
Kiradech earned his first professional tournament victory at the Singha Pattaya Open in 2009.
He won the competition by a large margin, showing that he could perform at a high level against experienced professional players.
His first Asian Tour victory came at the SAIL Open in India in 2011. He birdied the final hole and defeated Siddikur Rahman by one stroke.
This victory was important because the Asian Tour is one of the main professional golf tours in the region. Winning there gave Kiradech greater international attention and helped him qualify for larger tournaments.
The 2013 Maybank Malaysian Open Victory
Kiradech’s major international breakthrough came at the Maybank Malaysian Open in March 2013.
The tournament was shortened because of difficult weather conditions. Kiradech remained calm and finished one stroke ahead of Italian golfer Edoardo Molinari.
The event was connected with both the Asian Tour and the European Tour, which is now called the DP World Tour.
This meant the victory counted on both major tours.
The result gave Kiradech his first European Tour title and proved that he could defeat a strong international field.
Winning the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit
The 2013 season became one of the most important periods of Kiradech’s career.
His Maybank Malaysian Open victory was supported by several other strong tournament finishes. By the end of the season, he had earned more prize money than any other player on the Asian Tour.
He was officially crowned the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
The Order of Merit is a season-long ranking based on tournament earnings. Finishing first showed that Kiradech had performed consistently across the full year rather than succeeding in only one event.
His success placed him among Thailand’s leading golfers and created more opportunities for him in European and international tournaments.
How Many DP World Tour Titles Has Kiradech Won?
Kiradech Aphibarnrat has won four DP World Tour titles.
2013 Maybank Malaysian Open
This was his first victory on the tour. He defeated Edoardo Molinari by one stroke in Malaysia.
2015 Shenzhen International
Kiradech won the Shenzhen International in China after a dramatic playoff against Li Haotong.
He made an eagle late in the final round to remain in the competition. He then won with a birdie on the first extra hole.
2015 Paul Lawrie Match Play
Later in 2015, Kiradech won the Paul Lawrie Match Play in Scotland.
Match-play golf is different from normal stroke play. A golfer competes directly against another player, and each hole can be won, lost or tied.
Kiradech defeated former Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson in the final.
2018 World Super 6 Perth
His fourth DP World Tour victory came at the World Super 6 Perth in Australia.
The tournament used a special format combining normal stroke play with short match-play contests.
Kiradech defeated Australian golfer James Nitties in the final to win the title.
A complete record of his recognised tour victories and results is available through the official DP World Tour profile.
Becoming the First Thai PGA Tour Member
Kiradech made Thai golf history in 2018.
He became the first golfer from Thailand to earn membership of the PGA Tour for the 2018–19 season.
The PGA Tour is based mainly in the United States and is widely regarded as one of the strongest professional golf tours in the world.
Earning membership gave Kiradech the opportunity to compete more regularly in major American tournaments.
His achievement was important for more than his personal career. It showed younger Thai golfers that reaching the PGA Tour was possible.
Other Thai players had achieved international success before him, especially Thongchai Jaidee. However, Kiradech became the first Thai golfer to gain full PGA Tour membership.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Major Championship Record
Kiradech has competed in all four major championships in men’s golf.
The four majors are:
- The Masters Tournament
- The PGA Championship
- The U.S. Open
- The Open Championship
His best Masters result came in 2016 when he finished tied for 15th.
He also finished 15th at the 2018 U.S. Open. This was one of his strongest performances against a major-championship field.
His best PGA Championship result was a tie for 25th in 2013, while his best Open Championship result was a tie for 32nd in 2019.
Kiradech has not won a major championship, but qualifying and competing in all four events remains an important part of his international career.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat at the Olympic Games
Kiradech represented Thailand when golf returned to the Olympic Games at Rio 2016.
He produced a strong performance and finished tied for fifth in the men’s competition.
Only a small number of shots separated him from the medal positions. His result remains one of the most important Olympic performances by a Thai male golfer.
Kiradech returned to the Olympics at Paris 2024.
His second appearance showed his long-term importance to Thai golf. Competing in two Olympic Games also allowed him to represent his country before a worldwide audience.
What Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat Doing Now?
As of July 2026, Kiradech remains an active professional golfer.
He continues to compete mainly in DP World Tour events. He also appears in selected international tournaments when he qualifies or receives a place in the field.
His fourth and latest DP World Tour title remains the 2018 World Super 6 Perth.
However, he has continued producing competitive results. In 2024, he reached a playoff at the Porsche Singapore Classic after making an eagle on the final regulation hole.
He lost the playoff to Jesper Svensson, but the performance showed that he could still challenge for major tour victories.
Kiradech also remained active during the 2026 DP World Tour season, competing in events across several countries.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Playing Style
Kiradech is known for an aggressive style of golf.
He often tries powerful shots and is willing to attack difficult holes. This approach can create birdie and eagle opportunities, although it can also involve greater risk.
His short game has also been an important part of his success. A strong short game helps a golfer save shots when the ball misses the green.
Kiradech has performed well in both stroke-play and match-play tournaments.
Stroke play counts every shot across the competition. Match play focuses on winning individual holes against one opponent.
Winning in both formats shows his ability to change his strategy depending on the competition.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Wife and Marriage
Kiradech married Tunyatorn Chaiyarat on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2016.
Their wedding took place in Thailand and included a hot-air-balloon ride over Singha Park.
Kiradech delayed the couple’s honeymoon because he was scheduled to compete in the Maybank Championship Malaysia only a few days later.
The story showed the demands of professional golf. Players often travel for long periods and must organise their personal lives around tournament schedules.
Kiradech generally keeps much of his private family life away from public attention.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Interest in Cars
Golf is not Kiradech’s only public interest.
His official professional profiles have also connected him with sports cars and motor racing.
He has spoken publicly about enjoying performance cars. However, he reportedly moved away from racing because he considered it too dangerous.
His interest in cars became one of the personal details commonly associated with him by golf audiences.
Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat Retired?
No, Kiradech Aphibarnrat has not retired from professional golf.
As of July 2026, he continues to participate in professional tournaments.
A player may compete on different tours or enter fewer tournaments during some parts of a season. This does not automatically mean the player has retired.
Kiradech remains listed as an active golfer through major professional golf organisations.
What Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s Net Worth?
There is no reliable public record that confirms Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s total net worth.
Professional golfers can earn money from tournament prizes, sponsorship agreements, appearance fees and business partnerships.
However, career prize money is not the same as net worth.
Golfers must also pay expenses such as travel, accommodation, coaching, equipment, management and caddie fees. Taxes can further reduce their final income.
For this reason, unsupported estimates from celebrity-wealth websites should not be treated as confirmed facts.
It is more accurate to discuss his documented tournament success without inventing a total value for his personal wealth.
Why Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat Important to Thai Golf?
Kiradech is important because he achieved several milestones for Thailand.
He became the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, won four DP World Tour tournaments and became Thailand’s first PGA Tour member.
He also represented Thailand at two Olympic Games and competed in every men’s major championship.
These achievements helped increase international attention around Thai golf.
His career developed during a period when more Asian golfers were entering competitions traditionally dominated by players from Europe and North America.
Kiradech’s success showed that a golfer from Thailand could win on several continents and build a long international career.
For another example of a Thai public figure building international recognition, read about Orm Kornnaphat’s acting and global career.
Interesting Facts About Kiradech Aphibarnrat
- His original name was Anujit Hirunratanakorn.
- He won his age group at the Junior World Golf Championships twice.
- He turned professional in 2008.
- He won his first Asian Tour title in India.
- He became the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion.
- He has four DP World Tour victories.
- He was the first Thai golfer to earn PGA Tour membership.
- He finished tied fifth at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
- He has competed at two Olympic Games.
- Sports cars are among his publicly documented interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kiradech Aphibarnrat?
Kiradech Aphibarnrat is a Thai professional golfer. He is known for winning four DP World Tour titles and becoming the first golfer from Thailand to earn PGA Tour membership.
How old is Kiradech Aphibarnrat?
Kiradech was born on July 23, 1989. He is 37 years old as of July 2026.
Where was Kiradech Aphibarnrat born?
He was born in Bangkok, Thailand.
What was Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s former name?
He was previously known as Anujit Hirunratanakorn.
When did Kiradech Aphibarnrat turn professional?
He turned professional in 2008.
How many DP World Tour events has Kiradech won?
He has won four DP World Tour titles.
What is Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s biggest achievement?
His major achievements include winning the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit, collecting four DP World Tour titles and becoming the first Thai PGA Tour member.
Did Kiradech Aphibarnrat play in the Olympics?
Yes. He represented Thailand at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024. He finished tied fifth in Rio.
Has Kiradech Aphibarnrat won a major championship?
No. He has competed in all four men’s major championships but has not won one.
Who is Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s wife?
Kiradech married Tunyatorn Chaiyarat in February 2016.
Is Kiradech Aphibarnrat still playing golf?
Yes. As of July 2026, he remains an active professional golfer competing mainly in DP World Tour events.
What is Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s net worth?
No trustworthy public source confirms his total net worth. Online estimates without financial evidence should not be presented as facts.
Final Thoughts
Kiradech Aphibarnrat has built one of the most important international golf careers in Thailand’s history.
He developed from a successful junior player into an Asian Tour champion and a four-time DP World Tour winner.
His career reached another historic point when he became the first Thai golfer to earn PGA Tour membership.
Kiradech has also represented Thailand at two Olympic Games and competed in every major championship in men’s golf.
As of July 2026, he remains active in professional competition. His achievements continue to make him an important figure in Thai and Asian golf.
