Jazz Janewattananond’s revitalised confidence continues to show no respite as he took a share of the clubhouse lead at the Saudi Open presented by PIF today.

He carded a four-under-par 68 in at Dirab Golf & Country Club, just outside of the capital Riyadh, for a two-round total of 10 under.

India’s Saptak Talwar, the first-round leader with a course record 64, shares top spot after shooting 70, following the morning session.

Japan’s Kazuki Higa, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, took a huge stride forward to finishing the year ranked number one by carding a 66 to sit one back of the leaders. It means Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent, in second place on the Merit list and five under for the tournament after a 69 today, when he played with Higa, needs to either win the tournament or finish second to overtake the Japanese star.

Jazz is looking more and more like the golfer who claimed the Merit title in 2019, after four victories, and says he has rediscovered his swing after years of torment.

Saptak Talwar.

“In the end of 2023 I was in a very bad spot in my golf swing,” he said.

“Just couldn’t really find the fairways, couldn’t really find the greens, and I just didn’t understand what I was doing with my swing. So I went out and asked a lot of specialists, and a lot of friends, a lot of people who know the golf swing better than me.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I did in 2019 that I didn’t do in 2023, and I just tried to implement a lot of that.”

Swaying away from the ball and not returning to the correct position, plus club and wrist position at the top of the swing are just a few things he has worked on to get his old, successful swing back

“There’s a lot of that I didn’t understand. In 2019 I just know I’m playing. I’m playing well, I aim there and the ball goes there. I feel like what happened to me in 2023, where I lost my swing, now I’m coming back to getting my swing back. I understand a bit more of like, okay, this fits me more.”

He also continues to work hard with his coach Dana Dahlquist, who he also texts regularly.

Adds Jazz: “I literally don’t pay him enough because I text him to wait way too much.”

Kazuki Higa.

After yesterday’s record-breaking round Talwar admitted today was a ‘little quiet day’.

He said: “I felt like I hit some good shots in the front, but the flags I thought were a little tricky, they had some more break around the hole. Didn’t make anything and then missed a short one on nine but bounced back pretty solid on the back. So, pleased with the day, couple more days to go.”

Pictures by Ian Walton/Asian Tour.