Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat could be a dark horse at this week's Masters which begins today.
"No Asian player has won the Masters Tournament in its 85-year history. Kiradech does not lack the talent and game to compete with the best players in the world," wrote Olle Nordberg, a former Asian Tour and European Tour professional, in the Asian Tour's website.
"He could potentially be a dark horse, poised to be the first ever Asian player to win at Augusta National and Thailand's first [male] major championship winner."
The 29-year-old qualified for Augusta by virtue of being inside the top-50 on the world rankings at the end of 2018.
The world No.42 has played at the Masters twice in 2016 and 2018. His best result coming in his first appearance when he finished tied for 15th.
It was a very creditable result for a first-timer, especially on a course where experience is a huge factor and approach precision and strategy is of utmost importance.
In 2018 he also made the cut and finished joint 44th after a rough start with a 79 in the first round, and scores of 70, 72 and 71 the last three days.
Kiradech's record in big events has improved steadily as proven by his results in majors and World Golf Championships in the last two years -- three top-fives in his last six WGC starts, and a 15th place in last year's US Open.
Kiradech is playing in his rookie season as a PGA Tour member.
The burly Thai and South Africa's Justin Harding are the only two Asian Tour members in the field at Augusta this week.
Harding received his Masters invitation by being in the top-50 in the world rankings after the WGC-Match Play where he beat Matthew Fitzpatrick and Luke List in the group stage matches.
He was perilously ranked No.49 going into the week and those two wins were crucial in order to guarantee a place inside the top-50 at the end of March.
Harding is making his debut at the Masters and the odds are stacked against a first-timer winning at Augusta.
It has happened only three times. The most recent one was in 1979 when Fuzzy Zoeller was crowned champion.
