Hoylake: Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat hopes to prove the old adage that \u2018Mothers know best\u2019 by producing a season-changing performance at The Open Championship which starts on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The big-hitting Thai has endured a run of lackluster form following a magical 2013 campaign where he won once and enjoyed eight other top-10s to become the region\u2019s top player.<\/p>\n
However, words of wisdom from his number one supporter, his mum Supunnikar, has helped the talented 24-year-old regain the self-belief that he truly belongs amongst the world\u2019s elite at Royal Liverpool.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got my mum here. When I was a junior golfer, I\u2019ve always travelled around the world with her and we are very close. My parents know I\u2019ve lost some confidence but we\u2019re sticking together and they are trying to push me up,\u201d said Kiradech, who has only one top-10 this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the start of this year, I\u2019m playing bad golf and I have told them that my swing and feel have changed but mum has reminded me that I\u2019m still the same guy … still the same golfer. She believes I can do it, even win this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith her in the rented home here, we have Thai food every night and I feel comfortable, it feels just like home. Unfortunately, my dad is not here as he doesn\u2019t like to travel too far.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kiradech will make his second appearance at The Open after a disappointing debut last year. He opened with a solid 72 at Muirfield but ballooned to a disastrous 85 after opening his second round with a triple bogey which shook him up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Open was my first Major last year and I made a lot of mistakes. It was a good experience and I believe I will not be so nervous as before,\u201d said Kiradech.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing this week is the wind and bunkers but I do feel comfortable out here. I\u2019m hitting it sharper than previously and I\u2019ve got my confidence back. I just have to find one good week and hopefully everything will come back.
\u201cI think the second half of the year should be a better one. The way I\u2019m striking the ball in the last couple of weeks, I\u2019m happy. I have a lot of confidence with my swing. My putting is getting better and every part seems to be improving. I\u2019m looking forward to better results and I also want to move back into the world\u2019s top-100 after this week to qualify for the PGA Championship next month,\u201d added the 106th ranked golfer.<\/p>\n
Kiradech spent a week in a Thai Buddhist temple in May to learn to become a monk which he said taught him to become more patient with himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the beginning of the year until now, I felt like I haven\u2019t been mentally strong and focused. I want to learn to be more patient with myself and enjoy my golf and hopefully my time in the temple will help me appreciate what I do for a living,\u201d said Kiradech, who holds two wins on the Asian Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the temple grounds, I did a lot of meditation and prayer every day. We also walked without shoes with the other monks for several kilometres daily to collect food which was another experience. I had to work and clean the temple grounds every day,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Kiradech will play the opening two rounds with Italian Edoardo Molinari and American Books Koepka<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hoylake: Asian Tour number one Kiradech Aphibarnrat hopes to prove the old adage that \u2018Mothers know best\u2019 by producing a season-changing performance at The Open Championship which starts on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The big-hitting Thai has endured a run of lackluster form following a magical 2013 campaign where he won once and enjoyed eight other top-10s to become the region\u2019s top player.<\/p>\n
However, words of wisdom from his number one supporter, his mum Supunnikar, has helped the talented 24-year-old regain the self-belief that he truly belongs amongst the world\u2019s elite at Royal Liverpool.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got my mum here. When I was a junior golfer, I\u2019ve always travelled around the world with her and we are very close. My parents know I\u2019ve lost some confidence but we\u2019re sticking together and they are trying to push me up,\u201d said Kiradech, who has only one top-10 this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the start of this year, I\u2019m playing bad golf and I have told them that my swing and feel have changed but mum has reminded me that I\u2019m still the same guy … still the same golfer. She believes I can do it, even win this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith her in the rented home here, we have Thai food every night and I feel comfortable, it feels just like home. Unfortunately, my dad is not here as he doesn\u2019t like to travel too far.\u201d<\/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":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world-golf-news"],"yoast_head":"\n