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European Tour: Maybank Championship power rankings

By Mike Randleman

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - FEBRUARY 12: Gregory Havret of France in action during Day Four of the Maybank Championship Malaysia at Saujana Golf and Country Club on February 12, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - FEBRUARY 12: Gregory Havret of France in action during Day Four of the Maybank Championship Malaysia at Saujana Golf and Country Club on February 12, 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images) /
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Maybank Championship
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – MARCH 24: Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand during the 3rd and final round of the Maybank Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur Golf /

Kiradech Aphibarnrat played splendidly in the fall season to earn enough ranking points to get inside the world top 50 and qualify for the Masters. With his talent, he doesn’t need to stop there.

He showed his potential with runner-ups against strong fields at the Italian Open as part of the Rolex Series and at the DP World Tour Championship. Mix in three more worldwide top-10s and a comfortable win on the Asian Development Tour and there’s reason for optimism in 2018.

Aphibarnrat got off to a modest start in the desert, going T22 in Abu Dhabi and T51 in Dubai. The big Thai just needed a real low round to turn four under-par rounds into something more special in Abu Dhabi.

A good putter like him (15th in 2017 in putts per GIR) can separate at this course, especially if he’s hitting greens at a top-30 clip as in 2017.

Aphibarnrat posted a one-under 71 to open last year in Kuala Lumpur before missing the cut. He’ll be prepared to keep that from becoming a trend this week at the Maybank.

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