CHEONAN — Kiradech Aphibarnrat's battle to retain his DP World Tour card ended in heartbreak at the Genesis Championship after the Thai star was forced to withdraw during his second round at Woo Jeong Hills and subsequently lost his playing privileges for the 2027 season.
The 37-year-old, a four-time DP World Tour winner and former World No.29, opened with a four-over 75 and was five over after just nine holes on Friday when he called it quits. Having played 11 straight weeks in a bid to keep his card, Aphibarnrat said his body — especially his back — was worn out and his swing was already struggling on arrival in Korea. “First of all, I just have to apologise. I really let them (the fans) down,” he told the DP World Tour. “There’s not many times in my life that I have disappointed people, especially my family and all the fans. In the last 15 years I’ve had a really good career but just the last three or four years haven’t been easy. I’m a fighter so I believe I’m going to get past all of this and we’ll come back strong.”
Aphibarnrat offered a candid insight into the physical and mental strain of life at the other end of the standings, where players are fighting for their futures rather than trophies. “It's really difficult,” he added. “The last 10 weeks were so tough, I made the cut on the number many times so I feel like on the mental part I'm working twice as hard as everybody else. My game was not quite there so I was trying hard from the first hole to the last one on the second day to make sure I make the cut. So every week after the round I felt like I didn't have any gas left in the tank."
Despite the disappointment, the popular crowd favourite was bullish about an immediate return. He has come through Qualifying School before, winning his card back in successive years in 2022 and 2023, and will head to Q School in Spain next month. "I've got my tour card back twice on Q School, I need to go back there again and who knows it might be my best year next season," he said. "I just want to rest my mental side and my body and make sure I've prepared everything for Q School. And just keep moving forward."
A flamboyant crowd-pleaser at his best, Aphibarnrat's withdrawal underlined the relentless pressure facing those battling to keep their cards as the season reaches its climax, with every shot carrying huge consequences for next year's status.