Jazz looking to hit high notes
Rejuvenated Thai hopes to break into the world’s top 100 with a good show at Volvo China Open
>> BEIJING: Young Thai talent Jazz Janewattananond will be ready to take on the star-studded field when the Volvo China Open begins at the Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club this week.
The 22-year-old is eager to showcase his immense talent when he heads to the Middle Kingdom for the 99 million baht event, tri-sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour, European Tour and China Golf Association.
Jazz, a one-time Asian Tour winner, will feature in the elite field alongside 40 other Tour champions and seven Order of Merit winners, which includes the likes of Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Thongchai Jaidee and Malaysia’s Gavin Green.
Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Habitat for Humanity standings, will also spearhead the Asian Tour challenge in the 24th edition of the China Open, which is the longest-running professional golf tournament in the country.
Li Haotong, ranked 44th on the world rankings, will be looking to underline his growing credentials as China’s top player when he leads the home charge in his National Open, where he won in 2016.
The 22-year-old Li became the first ever Chinese player to break into the world’s top 50 when he won his second European Tour title in Dubai in January.
He will aim to recapture the trophy on home soil after Alexander Levy of France claimed the title for a record second time last year.
Jazz, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2011, lost his Asian Tour card for the first time in his career after finishing outside top 60 on the 2016 Order of Merit.
The Thai, however, bounced back with a breakthrough win in Bangladesh two months later before going on to claim seven top 10 results to finish a career-high ninth position on the money rankings last season.
“Last year was probably my best season so far on the Asian Tour. The win in Bangladesh was a boost in my career because it allowed me to play freely for the rest of the year knowing that I had regained my card for the next one year,” said Jazz.
Jazz continued his superb run into the 2018 season by finishing tiedfourth at the season opener in Singapore and earned for himself a coveted spot in the British Open this July where he will make his major debut.
Despite missing the halfway cut in India for the first time this season last month, Jazz is confident of regaining his best form in China after enjoying a much-needed break at home. “I had a great start to the season but I was feeling very tired from travelling and suffered from a heat stroke at that point of time,” said Jazz.
“I was really happy to have these five weeks off to just recuperate and take a step back from competitive golf. I travelled around Thailand with my friends to take my mind off golf for a while and was able to work more on my fitness.”
Currently ranked 152nd on the world rankings, Jazz will also keep his goal of breaking into the world’s top 100 at the back of his mind when he bids for the title at the tournament, which begins on Thursday.
“This is a huge event for me because it’s a tri-sanctioned event. My main goal for this year is to win a tournament on the Asian Tour and break into the top 100 in the world. It’s only my second time to China and I have seen how good some of their players are getting,” he said.
“I think my game has improved a lot this year with all the experience I get playing in different weather conditions in Europe. It’s exciting to be back and I feel like everything is good in my life so hopefully it will translate well on the golf course.”
Other Asian Tour heavyweights include Jeev Milkha Singh, Liang Wenchong of China, Australian Scott Hend and Yuta Ikeda of Japan, India’s SSP Chawrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar and Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand.