Kiradech becomes PGA Tour special temporary member
PONTE VEDRA BEACH: Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s success on the international stage has been rewarded with a special temporary membership for the remainder of the 2017-18 PGA Tour Season.
The 28-year-old Thai has accepted the status, the tour announced on Wednesday.
Kiradech, the 2013 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, is the first Thai to accept PGA Tour membership.
In eight PGA Tour starts in 2017-18, he has two top-five finishes — a pair of tied fifths at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
He surpassed the required total of 269 non-member FedExCup points following a tied 30th at the Players Championship last month.
Most recently, he was joint 13th at the Memorial Tournament on Sunday, bringing his total to 340.
Kiradech came into t he 2017-18 PGA Tour season ranked 147th in the world rankings and climbed to 31st after the Memorial.
In 34 career starts on the PGA Tour, Kiradech has collected five top-10s, highlighted by a tied third showing at the 2013 CIMB Classic in Malaysia.
Kiradech is the winner of four European Tour titles, most recently the 2018 World Super 6 Perth.
He has also won the 2013 Malaysian Open and 2015 Shenzhen International.
As a special temporary member, Kiradech is eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the 201718 season as he attempts to earn a PGA Tour card.
To earn his card for 2018-19 tour season, Kiradech will need to match or surpass the points earned by the 125th on the FedExCup standings at the end of the current season.
Kiradech will play at this week’s St Jude Classic in Memphis and next week’s US Open at Shinnecock Hills.