Kiradech receives berth at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Kiradech receives berth at Arnold Palmer Invitational

Newly-engaged Kiradech Aphibarnrat has received an invitation to play at next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.

It will be the first PGA Tour event of the year for the former Asian Tour No.1 who is currently ranked 138th in the world.

The US$6.2 million tournament will be held at Bay Hill from March 19-22.

He will then play at the European Tour's Trophee Hassan II in Morocco the following week.

Kiradech was engaged to his long-time girlfriend Thanyarat Chaiyarat in Pattaya on Saturday.

Thongchai Jaidee has withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer event to take a break before the Masters.

The veteran dropped to No.41 from No.38 in the world after finishing 69th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday.

The six-time European Tour winner is scheduled to return to action at the Masters, the first major of the year, from April 9-12.

Meanwhile, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem said Tiger Woods' legacy is on solid ground and the sport will continue to prosper even after the 14-time major winner eventually steps away for good.

Finchem said he doesn't know when Woods will play next but he compared Woods' latest hiatus to Michael Jordan leaving the NBA to try his luck at professional baseball.

"The PGA Tour is going to be fine," Finchem said on Sunday.

"How concerned are we about him stepping away? You know, it's the same thing we had in 2012.

"We had it for a period of time in 2009 and 2010. It's good news and bad news.

"I mean, it's more bad news than good news because it's like Michael Jordan stepping away to play baseball that year. He's your No.1 player. He's the player that on balance fans want to watch play more than any other.

"But when you lose your No.1 player, in a time when he's still in an age where he can really play if he can get back to that level; it's not going to let you perform at the same level as you would with him."

Woods announced on Feb 11 he would not return to competition until his game shows improvement. bangkok post/afp

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