Refreshed Jazz aiming for 4th title
CHEONAN: Jazz Janewattananond will take aim at a fourth Asian Tour title and a second one this season when he tees off for the Korea Open today.
Feeling refreshed and recharged after a week’s break, the Thai is raring to get back into action at the US$1.067 million event at the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Korea Golf Association (KGA).
Despite falling just short of qualifying for last week’s US Open, Jazz finds positives as he sets sights on achieving other goals, which include breaking into the world’s top 50 to qualify for the World Golf Championships–FedEx St Jude Invitational next month.
Placed second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, the 23-year-old star will also be looking for a fine showing to close the gap on Scott Hend of Australia, a 10-time winner on the Asian Tour who is also in the 144-man field this week.
The world No.62 has been enjoying a great run of form since winning his third Asian Tour title at the season-opener in Singapore in January.
Apart from notching four other top 10s to sit in second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Jazz also enjoyed a joint 14th place finish at the PGA Championship.
“I had a week off. I was back home last week after being on the road for four weeks in a row. I’m ready to compete again this week,” said Jazz.
“I worked on my game a bit back home as well so hopefully the efforts will pay off.”
Hend, who became the first Australian to be crowned the Asian Tour Order of Merit champion in 2016, is relishing his return to the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club for the Korea Open where he last played in 2007.
Apart from the money race, the 45-year-old is also raring to qualify for next month’s Britih Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland by securing a solid result at the Korea Open, which is part of the British Open qualifying series.