Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat suffered a first-round loss to Australian star Marc Leishman in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play on Wednesday, taking the closely-fought match all the way to the 18th green.

 

 

 

 

The big-hitting Thai, who qualified for the quarterfinals at Austin Country Club last year before bowing out to eventual winner Bubba Watson, stayed on Leishman’s heels throughout their opening Group 6 match before the Aussie ran out a 2-up win with a birdie at the final hole.

 

 

Kiradech had several chances to swing the match in his favour but his flat stick misbehaved as he made just three birdies in the match.

 

“I fought hard but didn't make too many putts. I had some chances but the putts didn't want to go in. It was good that I kept fighting until the 18th hole and Marc just hit a great shot into 18 to make birdie for the win. I've got no choice now but to try and win my next match against Bryson (DeChambeau) tomorrow. He is a great player but I will give it my best,” said Kiradech, the first Thai to play on the PGA TOUR.

 

 

 

 

Kiradech showed great character as he twice tied the match after going 1-down to Leishman, a four-time PGA TOUR winner, on the front nine at the Pete Dye-designed layout. Leishman birdied nine to turn 1-up but once again, the 29-year-old Kiradech birdied 12 to level the match. After losing holes 12 and 15, Kiradech ensured the match went the full distance with an eight-foot birdie on the par-3 17th hole but Leishman proved too good in the end with a three-foot birdie on the last hole.

 

 

China’s Haotong Li enjoyed a convincing opening win as he took down last year’s third-place finisher and Ryder Cup star Alex Noren of Sweden 5 and 4 to emerge as the lone Asian winner in the first round.

 

 

 

The 23-year-old Li did not trail in his Group 3 match as a combination of hot putting and some uncharacteristic mistakes by Noren gave the Chinese his first ever triumph at the elite 64-man showpiece following three losses in his debut here last season.

 

 

 

Other Asian golfers in the field – Korea’s Si Woo Kim and Byeong Hun An and Japanese duo Satoshi Kodaira and Hideki Matsuyama – all suffered defeats in the first of three group matches.

 

The slender Li, who is a two-time European Tour winner, said: “It feels incredible, especially tomorrow, you know, against Brooks (Koepka). It's going to make me more comfortable, at least I'm up, got one win already.”

 

 

(PGA)