01벼랑 끝에서 맞이한 한국 출전… "스스로를 믿는다"
태국의 베테랑 골퍼 키라데크 아피바른라트가 DP월드투어 잔류를 결정짓는 중요한 시점에 한국에서 열리는 대회에 출전한다. 이번 대회는 올 시즌 그의 투어 카드 유치 여부가 걸린 성패의 무대가 될 전망이다.
절박한 상황 속에서도 아피바른라트는 자신에 대한 강한 믿음을 잃지 않고 있다. 시드 확보를 위해 반드시 상위권 성적을 내야 하는 부담감이 크지만, 그는 흔들리지 않는 마음가짐으로 경기에 임하겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다.
수많은 경험을 쌓아온 아피바른라트가 배수의 진을 치고 나서는 이번 한국 대회에서 반등의 계기를 마련하고 투어 생존에 성공할 수 있을지 주목된다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
Pictures they may just be, but for Kiradech Aphibarnrat the value of being reminded of his four DP World Tour titles is immeasurable as the regular season reaches a high-stakes climax.
The Thai arrives in South Korea for this week’s Genesis Championship in 108th place on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, needing to finish 26th or better as a minimum to play his way into the top 100 and with it stand a chance of securing Category 10 membership and the ability to plan a near full 2027 schedule.
So, with the stakes raised, in a likely bid to inspire, his coach sought to remind his charge of his career success, including titles in Malaysia, China, Scotland and Australia on golf's Global Tour.
In a week where it can be hard to balance staying patient with the need to chase, Aphibarnrat is counting on his experience in pressure situations as he retains the belief he can return to the DP World Tour winner's circle for the first time since 2018.
"My coach just sent me the photos two days ago [of] all four wins that I got on tour," he told the DP World Tour.
"He's still seeing it in me there. It's really pushing me. I believe that I can get my fifth one really soon. If I can still see it [too], things can happen."
Aphibarnrat has played on golf's biggest stages, appearing multiple times at all four of golf's four men's Major Championships, while he became the first Thai golfer to hold PGA Tour membership for the 2018-19 season after reaching a career-high 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
If things do not pan out as he would like this week at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, a trip to the Final Stage of Qualifying School will await the 37-year-old.
While the marathon nature of competing across two courses over a potential six days might be daunting for most, Aphibarnrat is an experienced hand having retained his DP World Tour playing rights through that route recently in both 2022 and 2023.
But, while he has those positive memories to fall back on if required, this scenario of needing something in the final regular event of the campaigtn brings with it a level of pressure he hasn't faced before.
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Asked whether he is feeling the mental strain, he replied simply: "Yes, I have to say so.
"To secure the card or to be in the bubble, it's more than when you try to grind yourself up to top 50 in the world to get in the World Golf Championships or try to be in top 30 to get in the Race to Dubai. At that point, you have nothing to lose.
"Even if you don't make it, you still earn your card. My position right now is about my career in the next season or next two seasons. It's quite difficult.
"It's the first time I'm in the bubble. Because the last two times, I didn't play much here [on the DP World Tour]. I was way down. Even if I played the last event, it was a win that I needed.
"But I think this week, even finishing in the top ten, I think I'll be good enough to secure [his card]."
Aphibarnrat is set for his 30th start of the season in Korea, with a tie for sixth - one of two top tens - at the Estrella Damm Catalunya Championship his best result of the 2026 campaign.
But one big performance now could provide a much-desired springboard. Look at Marco Penge and Jordan Gumberg over the past two seasons.
In 2024, Penge needed a birdie on the final hole of his second round at this event to make the cut and seal his playing privileges before winning three times in the following season.
For Gumberg, it was even more dramatic as the American holed an approach shot at the final hole of his final round to climb inside the cut-off to retain his card. Since then, he has claimed a second DP World Tour title.
"I've seen the situation a lot," said Aphibarnrat. "All I need to do, like I'm saying, is just really think about the present. Play my shot, my game, and let the result answer everything.
"I know it's not easy, but it's not an impossible result. If I do everything I need, it still can be done."
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Fans in the UK and Ireland along with the US and Canada can watch coverage of the Genesis Championship live via the DP World Tour free streaming channel.
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