Thailand’s top-ranked Kiradech Aphibarnrat has already shed close to 20 kilograms and given away dozens of shirts and trousers as he continues on a massive weight-reduction campaign.
The European Tour website once listed Kiradech’s weight as 120 kilograms but that was some four months ago before the very popular Bangkok-born golfer decided to lose weight.
The 28-year old has lost an average of three kilograms a month so that Kiradech currently weighs 108 kilograms and with a goal of getting to 105 kilograms.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat withs 2015 Shenzhen International. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)
This decision has been prompted by a move at the start of the season to work with renowned England-born coach, Peter Cowen.
“I just thought now that I am working with Peter that it would be an ideal time to lose some weight and get myself stronger,” he said.
“So, I am happy with how things are going as I have lost about 12 kilos already and I feel stronger to be playing more golf.
“Also, I feel that when I can get my swing to the position Peter and I are working towards then I can keep trying to lose more weight.
“All I am doing to watching closely what I do eat and try to eat more heathier foods while I have started working out and that is something I have never undertaken before.
“I have been on the Asian Tour and European Tour for 11-years without walking into any sort of gym whatever and wouldn’t know what is a treadmill (smiling).
“So, I have started going to the gym back home with my good friends who I grew-up with and I do feel everything is going the right way.”
Kiradech’s weight-loss program has certainly kept his clothing attire and sponsors busy given the large number of shirts he says he has sought only to find a fortnight later the shirts are far too big for him.
“Losing so much weight has meant I have dozens of new shirts and trousers that no longer fit me but then my father is happy as he is the same weight I was before I started losing weight,” he said smiling.
“It is therefore difficult for my apparel sponsor to keep up with my weight reduction and sometimes I have to apologise as I would ask for say 35 to 40 shirts and two weeks later I can’t wear them because they are far too large for me.
“I have just worked so hard the last six months losing six inches on my waistline so my trousers also don’t fit so I have had like three different clothing changes over the past four months.”
Kiradech will this week tee-up in European Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in South Africa.
It will be his 10th event in a marathon run of 11 weeks and a journey that has taken Kiradech to the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Holland, Portugal, Britain, Italy, China, Turkey and now South Africa.
In this time, he has enjoyed three top-10s including finishing runner-up in the Italian Open and then last week sharing the lead heading to the last round of the Turkish Airlines Open before ending tied sixth.
The efforts see Kiradech lying 19th on the Race to Dubai and already assured of ending the European Tour season next week in Dubai inside the top-30 to automatically qualify for next year’s Open Championship at Carnoustie.
“The way I have been playing the last three months or so is really awesome,” he said.
“I am getting really comfortable with my swing since working with Peter and the move to working with him has been great for my game.
“Losing all this weight has made me feel so much better and stronger walking the golf course and before I used to feel very tired but in getting stronger as I am, I am recovering much quicker than I used to.
“And now after a round I will go back to the hotel and spend around two hours in the gym and I will do that four times a week and all the time looking after what I eat.
“What I have given up is drinking more water and give-up sweet drinks but I can still eat a big meal but not rice or anything with sugar.”
Kiradech will contest the opening round of the $US 7.5m Nedbank Challenge in the company of American Peter Uihlein and Frenchman Alex Levy.
