Jazz hopes to rediscover winning form
LINKOU: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond is determined to get back to his winning ways at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, which starts today in Taiwan.
The 22-year-old came up short after being in contention at the Taiwan Masters last week before finishing tied for ninth.
But he is confident of redeeming himself and stake his claim for a place in the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic, which gets underway in Malaysia next week with a US$500,000 prize money.
Despite being placed 15th on the current Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings, Jazz has a good chance of qualifying for the CIMB Classic by breaking into top-10 with a good result this week.
“I really got it up there last week, especially the first three days. I was still looking good on the front-nine on the last day but then it all fell apart on the last nine holes,” Jazz said.
“But this week is a redemption week for me as I know it can be redeemed. You can say it’s a top-10 finish and a good week but I feel I can play so much better than that. I like this golf course. I was in the final group two years ago and I know how to play this course. I have a good track record here and I’ll use that to my advantage.”
Taiwan’s Lu Wei-chih, who is the only local in the field to have won the Yeangder TPC in 2011, will be hoping to dash Jazz’s title ambitions as the thought of bringing home the trophy is firmly etched on his mind.
Lu believes the familiarity of the Linkou International Golf and Country Club course will be advantageous for local players and could prove decisive in reclaiming the Yeangder TPC, which is celebrating its ninth edition this week.
India’s Viraj Madappa is looking forward to post a stellar result away from home despite missing three consecutive cuts since his maiden Asian Tour victory in August.