![\"kiradech](\"images\/golf\/kiradech%20aphibarnrat.jpg\")
Kuala Lumpur: Thai rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat overcame fatigue to fire a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for the first round clubhouse lead in a storm-hit US$2.75 million Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday.<\/p>\nKuala Lumpur: Thai rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat overcame fatigue to fire a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for the first round clubhouse lead in a storm-hit US$2.75 million Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The burly Thai, nicknamed Asia\u2019s John Daly for his gung-ho style of play, needed to preserve his energy levels due to a thyroid problem but still had enough firepower to shoot eight birdies against one bogey at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club\u2019s West course.<\/p>\n
Denmark\u2019s Anders Hansen, playing with Kiradech, birdied his last three holes for a fine 66 which was matched by Ryder Cup star Edoardo Molinari of Italy and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.<\/p>\n
Play was abandoned at 4.05pm due to a heavy thunderstorm, with 78 players to resume their opening round on Friday morning (7.45am). Scott Jamieson of Scotland was six-under through 10 holes while 2011 Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and China\u2019s Wu Ashun stood at four-under through 11 and 12 holes respectively.<\/p>\n
Malaysian veteran S. Murthy carded an impressive bogey-free 67 to raise local cheers but world number three Luke Donald of England opened with a disappointing 74 in his Maybank Malaysian Open debut.<\/p>\n
Kiradech has been beleaguered by a thyroid disease, which causes tiredness since the start of the year but it has not prevented him from producing some top finishes. He was third at the Asian Tour\u2019s season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open, fourth at the Avantha Masters in India last week and also qualified for his maiden appearance at The Open Championship by winning the International Final Qualifying \u2013 Asia in Thailand earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe weather is too hot and the thyroid disease is making me feel tired. Honestly, I didn\u2019t have enough energy to hit long drives. I\u2019m still taking medication for my thyroid condition and I\u2019ll consider going for an operation when I consult my doctor in six months\u2019 time,\u201d said Kiradech.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t force myself or any of my golf shots. I didn\u2019t set any goals. I didn\u2019t tell myself that I should finish in the top-five or win this event. I want to take it shot by shot. When you don\u2019t have power or energy, you can\u2019t force yourself,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Molinari, a two-time European Tour winner, produced his best round since last March after starting to work with Sean Foley, who also trains 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe (Foley) is making big changes. I need big changes because I didn\u2019t like the way I was playing last year. I felt it wasn\u2019t right. I felt it was time to change. I like what he says and I have a lot more knowledge on what I\u2019m doing on the golf course. As soon as I missed a shot on the course then I know how to fix it,\u201d said the Italian, who carded eight birdies.<\/p>\n
Frenchman Bourdy, winner of the 2009 Hong Kong Open, renewed his love affair with Asia with a round that included seven birdies. It gave him a chance to go one better than his runner-up finish at the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very hot. I can\u2019t say I love it but I don\u2019t mind it. I feel good when it is warm and I usually play well when it\u2019s like this, so I hope it continues. I like the course a lot. It\u2019s maybe one of the best we play all season and it\u2019s in great shape again this year. I hope my game stays like this until Sunday,\u201d said a delighted Bourdy.<\/p>\n
Local hope Murthy was the surprise of the day. Playing some of his best golf since turning 40 two years ago where he has won two titles on the domestic PGM Tour, Murthy shot up the leaderboard with five birdies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel very young now. I don\u2019t feel old. My wife (Nanthini) really takes care of me by giving me a lot of good food \u2026 that\u2019s all. Don\u2019t look here (pointing to his stomach),\u201d smiled Murthy, whose best finish in the event was tied 56th in 1999.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no secret. I\u2019ve tried to stay fit and play more golf. I\u2019m working with my coach on a few things and I try to work out as well. But I felt good today. I hit it really good and made a few good putts. Hit a lot of greens and I hope I can keep doing it. Just have to stay patient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former world number one Donald struggled to get any momentum going in his round but remained upbeat. \u201cI made a slow start \u2013 three over through four \u2013 and I was just hanging on after that. There\u2019s a lot of trouble out there and I found too much of it. Golf is hard sometimes and not always going to go your way. I gave it my all but the result wasn\u2019t very good,\u201d said the Englishman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a low round out there though, and tomorrow hopefully I can shoot a low one. I\u2019m going to need one to get back in the mix for this tournament,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Scores after round 1 of the Maybank Malaysian Open being played at the par 72, 6967 Yards Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club course (a- denotes amateur):<\/p>\n
65 – Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA).<\/p>\n
66 – Anders HANSEN (DEN), Edoardo MOLINARI (ITA), Gregory BOURDY (FRA).<\/p>\n
67 – S. Murthy (MAS), Victor DUBUISSON (FRA).<\/p>\n
68 – LEE Sung (KOR), Fredrik ANDERSSON HED (SWE), Peter LAWRIE (IRL), Adilson DA SILVA (BRA).<\/p>\n
69 – Padraig HARRINGTON (IRL), David HOWELL (ENG), Alexander NOREN (SWE), Marcus FRASER (AUS), Andrew DODT (AUS), Mark FOSTER (ENG), Joost LUITEN (NED), Marcus BOTH (AUS), Oliver FISHER (ENG).<\/p>\n
70 – Angelo QUE (PHI), Mikko ILONEN (FIN), R. Nachimuthu (MAS), Chinnarat PHADUNGSIL (THA), Thongchai JAIDEE (THA), Emilliano GRILLO (ARG), Wade ORMSBY (AUS), Mardan MAMAT (SIN), Tommy FLEETWOOD (ENG).<\/p>\n
71 – Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA), Steve WEBSTER (ENG), Stephen GALLACHER (SCO), Danny CHIA (MAS), Simon KHAN (ENG), Thomas AIKEN (RSA), LEE In-woo (KOR), MO Joong-kyung (KOR), Soren KJELDSEN (DEN), Matthew BALDWIN (ENG), Berry HENSON (USA), Jaakko MAKITALO (FIN).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kuala Lumpur: Thai rising star Kiradech Aphibarnrat overcame fatigue to fire a sizzling seven-under-par 65 for the first round clubhouse lead in a storm-hit US$2.75 million Maybank Malaysian Open on Thursday. The burly Thai, nicknamed Asia\u2019s John Daly for his gung-ho style of play, needed to preserve his energy levels due to a thyroid problem […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"tags":[8394,6293,8393,8411,8412],"class_list":["post-13979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-latest","tag-anders-hansen","tag-indian-sports-news-network","tag-kiradech-aphibarnat","tag-malyasian-open","tag-scott-jamieson"],"yoast_head":"\n