Weekly Tour Wrap-up #25th March

Last week, two golfers at completely different stages of their golfing careers won two contrasting yet weather-affected golf tournaments.

On the European Tour, a 23-year old Thai golfer won his first European Tour event just weeks after qualifying for the 2013 Open.

On the PGA Tour, one of the game’s all-time greats won his 99^th professional tournament to move back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Awesome Aphibarnrat triumphs in Malaysia

Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a closing 70 to post a 13-under-par 54-hole total and win the Maybank Malaysian Open by one shot from Italian Edoardo Molinari at Kuala Lumpur Golf Club.

The tournament was suspended due to inclement weather on every day, and organisers took the decision to reduce the event to three rounds after Saturday’s play.

The weather didn’t affect the 23-year-old Thai, though.

After a fourth-place finish at last week’s Avantha Masters, Aphibarnrat shot out of the blocks with an eight-birdie 65.

He led Scotland’s Marc Warren, Dane Anders Hansen, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy and Molinari by a single shot on seven-under-par.

On Friday morning, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel made his move up the leaderboard, shooting a second-round 68 to take the clubhouse lead on nine-under-par.

He was joined later in the day by Bourdy (69), Wu Ashun (68) and little-known Australian Wade Ormsby, who fired a superb 65.

But after the second round concluded on Saturday morning, they all trailed Aphibarnrat by two shots.

Showing no sign of nerves, the youngster compiled a bogey-free 68 to reach 11-under-par after 36 holes.

The third round was soon underway, but the final group only managed two holes before all the players were called off the course.

The tournament was reduced to 54 holes, and when play resumed, Aphibranrat held a slender one-shot lead over Schwartzel.

He birdied his third hole and followed it with an eagle at the fifth to put some space between him and the chasing pack.

But he stumbled with two bogies at seven and 12, and had company atop the leaderboard when the players were again called off the golf course.

That company came in the shape of Molinari, who was done and dusted for the day after firing a bogey-free 67.

Play resumed two hours later, and the big Thai birdied 14 and 16 to open up a two shot lead with two holes remaining.

He made a great par save at the 17^th, and could afford to make a scrappy bogey on the 72^nd hole to secure the title by one shot.

It was a massive day for both Aphibarnrat and Molinari, who secured his best finish since winning the 2010 Johnnie Walker Championship.

Wondrous Woods back on top

Tiger Woods shot a final-round 70 to post a 13-under-par 72-hole total and win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by two shots from Englishman Justin Rose at Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando.

The American – who has won three times in three months in 2013 – has become world number one for the 11^th time. This week will be his 624^th week at the top of the world ranking. He also matched Sam Snead’s record of eight victories in the same event.

Woods made a good start to the tournament, firing an opening three-under-par 69 to sit inside the top 10 after round one.

But he trailed playing partner Rose by four shots, with the Englishman retuning six birdies and an eagle en route to an opening 65. Remarkably, Rose didn’t miss a single putt from inside 15 feet.

John Huh, the 2012 PGA Tour rookie of the year, opened with a 67, one clear of John Rollins and Brad Fritsch on five under par.

By the time Rose teed off on his second round he’d been caught by Bill Haas, who, despite a neck injury, compiled a bogey-free 66 to reach nine-under-par.

The Englishman made it to 11 under at one point during his second round, but bogies at 14 and 18 pushed him back into a tie with Haas.

Huh shot a 69 to lie just one shot off the lead and a single stroke ahead of Ken Duke, Jimmy Walker and JJ Henry.

Woods, meanwhile, was lurking four off the pace after returning a two-under-par 70.

The 14-time major champion made a good start on Saturday and turned in 33, but trailed Rose by five shots.

The Ryder Cup star birdied one and three before an eagle at the par-5 4^th took him to 13-under-par for the tournament.

Sadly, though, his putting deserted him from that point onwards, and four dropped shots, coupled with three more Woods birdies, meant he trailed the American by two shots heading into Sunday. Huh (71) and Rickie Fowler (67) joined Rose on nine under.

Woods had won 52/56 tournaments when possessing the 54-hole lead, and a 99^th PGA Tour victory never looked in doubt.

He birdied his second hole before play was stopped for the day, and added two more at four and six on Monday to move into a commanding lead.

He would bogey the 8^th, but further birdies at 12 and 16 gave him a three-shot lead once more.

At one stage, Fowler looked poised to charge, but a disastrous eight at 16, the easiest hole on the course, put paid to his chances.

From there, Woods coasted home, and a bogey at the 72^nd hole only served to reduce his margin of victory to two shots.

Woods now looks back to his very best, and his peers will all be feeling a familiar sense of fear as we approach the first major of the year.

Next week, the European Tour heads to Morocco for the Trophee Hassan II, and the PGA Tour moves to Texas for the Shell Houston Open.