October 8: Thailand’s rising star Jazz Janewattananond knows he has everything to gain after securing starts in two of the PGA TOUR’S biggest events in Asia – The CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges in Korea and World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in China – this month.

And if the golfing gods remain kind to him, the 23-year-old could see himself taking on the likes of 81-time PGA TOUR winner Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as well in Japan’s first official PGA TOUR tournament, the Zozo Championship.

Two wins and 10 other top-10s on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour have earned the prodigious talent the opportunity to go head-to-head with stars from the PGA TOUR, and with ambitions to compete regularly  on the world’s premier Tour, Jazz knows The CJ Cup and WGC-HSBC Champions offer him a great chance to assess his standing against the world’s best.

“I’m really looking forward to the next few weeks. Getting into two, maybe three, of the PGA TOUR’s biggest tournaments in Asia is a great opportunity to continue to test my game at the highest level,” said Jazz.

“All three tournaments will have really strong fields and I’m keen to play my best golf and see where it leads me. It’s been a really good year with the two wins on the Asian Tour and other top finishes both in Asia and Japan and I feel my game has continued to develop in the right direction.”

The young Thai has been one of the revelations this season with wins at the SMBC Singapore Open in January, where he beat a field which included Sergio Garcia and Paul Casey, and Kolon Korea Open in June. He has also been impressively consistent, achieving multiple top-10s on both the Japan Golf Tour and Asian Tour, where he currently leads the money list race, and has also risen to 57^th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

In May, Jazz came to global prominence at the PGA Championship where he entered the final round in T2 before closing with a 77 to settle for T14. Such impressive form helped the Thai finish two rungs outside the top-8 to qualify for the International Team to face the United States Team in the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia in December. He is hoping to keep his name in conversations when Captain Ernie Els names his four picks in early November to round up his 12-man squad.

“I’m not sure where I stand with the Presidents Cup as I know Captain Ernie will make his four picks after HSBC,” said Jazz, who finished top-5 for the second straight week in Japan on Sunday.

“All I hope to do is to continue playing some good golf, put in a few top finishes and hopefully be part of the conversation when Ernie and his assistants decide on the remaining players. Of course it’ll be a great honour to be picked but if I don’t, I’m still going to support the International Team to beat the U.S,” added Jazz, who is hoping to become the second Thai after Thongchai Jaidee to feature in the biennial team competition.

First up next week for Jazz is his debut appearance at The CJ CUP, which will be headlined by world No. 1 and defending champion Brooks Koepka. Being the reigning Korea Open champion, Jazz hopes to draw some new fan support as he attempts to maintain his rich vein of form in the Land of Morning Calm.

“It’ll be fun to play in Korea at The CJ CUP as I won the Korean Open, so hopefully my new Korean fans will come out to support me in Jeju. And then I’m hoping to get into the Zozo Championship through the Japan Tour money list (he’s top-3 currently with the top-4 after this week qualifying for the new event) and it’s always an additional thrill when you have Tiger in the field.

“It’ll then be a nice way to finish the Asian Swing with my first ever appearance in the World Golf Championships at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai. We’ll have the top golfers gathering from all the international tours and I’m looking forward to it.”

The three PGA TOUR tournaments in Asia this month offer nearly US$30 million in total prize money and feature 78-man fields with no halfway cut. With FedExCup points on offer as well, players like Jazz can gain points as a Non-Member to enhance his bid to earn playing rights on the PGA TOUR.

Sentosa, Singapore, October 7: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Scott Hend of Australia are set to lead the Asian Tour’s charge at the World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions following the conclusion of the US$900,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Sunday.

Jazz and Hend, ranked first and second respectively on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will be joined by South African Jbe Kruger and Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura at the highly rated Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai from October 31 to November 3.

The quartet qualified for the 2019 WGC-HSBC Champions by virtue of being the leading four members, not otherwise exempt, with the best aggregate prize money earned from Asian Tour prize money counting events.

The qualifying period, which commenced at the conclusion of the 2018 WGC-HSBC Champions, will conclude on October 21 and the Mercuries Taiwan Masters is the Tour’s last qualifying event for the prestigious tournament prior to the cut-off date.

“I came to Chinese Taipei for a reason and that was to complete a full-field event for my qualification for the WGC-HSBC Champions. Last week has shown me what I need to work on for my game and hopefully, I can improve on that and bring back my A game soon.

“I’m looking forward to playing in another WGC event in Shanghai at the end of the month. Sheshan is a great golf course and I look forward to playing well there,” said the 46-year-old Hend, who claimed his 10th Asian Tour title at the Maybank Championship earlier in March.

Jazz, who will be making his WGC debut in Shanghai, also secured a coveted spot at the CJ Cup next week by being the leading player on the Asian Tour money list following the Mercuries Taiwan Masters. Taehee Lee also earned his berth in the PGA TOUR event by being the top Korean in fourth place on the Merit rankings.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai broke into top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit thanks to his breakthrough win at the storied Mercuries Taiwan Masters. The 20-year-old was sitting outside top-80 at the start of September but back-to-back top-10 finishes in Chinese Taipei and India pushed him inside the top-60 at the middle of the month.

Despite missing the halfway cut at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea, Suradit capped a commendable tied-18^th place result at the Panasonic OPEN Golf Championship in Japan before securing his maiden Asian Tour victory in Chinese Taipei to propel to a career-best eighth position on the Order of Merit.

The 2019 Asian Tour season will resume at the Thailand Open, which will be held once again at the Thai Country Club from November 7 to 10. The US$300,000 event, won by Thailand’s Panuphol Pittayarat last year, will also mark the start of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing series.

Ends.

Top-20 players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings
Pos       Player   Order of Merit (US$)
1. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $833,524.71

2. Scott HEND (AUS) $535,810.94

3. Yosuke ASAJI (JPN) $300,957.19

4. Taehee LEE (KOR) $284,661.95

5. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $260,100.96

6. Jbe KRUGER (RSA) $257,289.40

7. Scott VINCENT (ZIM) $251,643.84

8. Suradit YONGCHAROENCHAI (THA) $232,108.48

9. Zach MURRAY (AUS) $221,011.92

10. Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $200,613.01

11. Micah Lauren SHIN (USA) $187,218.98

12. Johannes VEERMAN (USA) $177,288.30

13. Sanghyun PARK (KOR) $167,502.45

14. Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) $157,171.95

15. Miguel TABUENA (PHI) $146,506.05

16. Adilson DA SILVA (BRA) $146,072.93

17. David LIPSKY (USA) $137,309.79

18. Miguel CARBALLO (ARG) $135,043.46

19. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $134,636.86

20. Sadom KAEWKANJANA (THA) $126,796.53

Tamsui, Chinese Taipei, October 6: Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai pocketed his career’s biggest prize cheque and win when he held on for a one-shot victory after his closest rivals failed to mount a challenge at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Sunday.

Suradit, who started his final round at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club one shot back of overnight leaders, Ajeetesh Sandhu of India and Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena, closed with a two-under-par 70 to clinch his breakthrough on the Asian Tour where he made his debut as a 17-year-old in 2015.

Suradit started well with a birdie on his third hole but gave two shots back with a double-bogey six on the next hole. The Thai was quick to make amends when he charged to the turn with three birdies in his next four holes.

But after making another birdie on 13, he dropped a shot on 14 before making four straight pars to sign off with a four-day total of 10-under-par 278.

The Thai was left to wait for close to 30 minutes where he watched the final group in action from the sidelines.

While Sandhu signed off with a birdie, a costly double-bogey on 16 effectively ruined his chances of clinching his second Asian Tour title.

Tabuena had the best chance to force a play-off with Suradit on 18 but his approach landed in the bunker from where he could not get his ball onto the green, resulting in a bogey, which also confirmed Suradit’s entry into the winner’s circle for the first time.

Ends.

Did you know?

• Suradit Yongcharoenchai turned professional at the young age of 17.
• Before his breakthrough this week, Suradit’s career-best finishes on the Asian Tour came at the Indonesian Masters and TAKE Solution Masters in 2016 and 2018 respectively where he finished tied-second on both occasions.
• The Thai enjoyed his best-ever Asian Tour season in 2018, finishing 34th on the Order of Merit with US$134,246 in earnings and four top-10 finishes.
• Miguel Tabuena is a two-time Asian Tour winner.
• He won his first Asian Tour title on home soil in 2015. He became the first Filipino to win his National Open since 2008 at just 21-years-old.
• Tabuena has now recorded two runner-up finishes at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2016 and 2019.
• Mardan Mamat recorded his first top-10 in three years with his tied-fifth finish this week. Prior to this week, his eighth place finish in Perth, Australia in 2016 was the last time he finished inside the top-10.
• Despite ending the week in a share of 28^th place, Australia’s Scott Hend has secured his place for the upcoming WGC-HSBC Champions which will be held in Shanghai later this month.

Suradit Yongcharoenchai (Tha) Fourth round 70, Total 278 (-10)

I played without any pressure today. I was very sharp with my short game and I guess that helped. But I’m proud with how I played today because it’s not easy especially against a quality field. I did not start off well as I double bogeyed the fourth hole but luckily I managed to make three birdies after that on my front nine. I birdied 13 but bogeyed the next hole. At that point, I was not really looking at the leaderboard but I was just telling myself to play my own game and whatever happens will happen. Miguel had a good chance to win but unfortunately, he bogeyed his last two holes. I’m an Asian Tour winner now and it feels really good to know that. I’ve been working hard all these years and I’m glad I’ve been finally rewarded with this win today. I know today’s victory will lead to more opportunities and better things to come for me.

Miguel Tabuena (Phi) Fourth round 72 (Even) Total 279 (-9)

I gave a good fight today but I really struggled with the greens. It was a bit too slow but that’s not an excuse. I played solid and managed to hole some putts whenever I had the chance. But it’s a good confidence-booster week which you make me an even better player in my next event.

Ajeetesh Sandhu (Ind) Fourth round 72 (Even) Total 279 (-9)

It was a tough day so it was really nice to end it as well as the week with that birdie on 18. I left a few shots out there and that really cost me the tournament. I made two wrong decisions on 16 and that led to a double bogey and you cannot afford to do that especially when you’re trying to close out the tournament. But I’m happy with how I played and where my game is heading and I can only look forward to the rest of season.

Adilson Da Silva (Bra) Fourth round 68 (-4), Total 279 (-9)

I sort of was in two minds today. I was really quite focused. I really wanted to go low today because I knew that was what I had to do. And yeah, I had a number in my mind and was just trying to achieve that and forget the rest and you know just concentrate what I was doing. I was a little bit cheeky with my number in my head. But I yeah, I was happy with myself, only made one bogey on 14. I was basically solid, I hit the ball well, I made some nice putts and missed a couple. But yeah, overall, I was happy with myself. It has been an absolutely great week. I really love coming to Taiwan, you know, people here are just amazing. George is such an amazing person man, he takes his time to come and watch us play and he mixes with the guys and it’s just incredible to see that. You don’t see that just about anywhere else. So we were very lucky to have him on our side.

Mardan Mamat (Sgp) Fourth round 69 (-3), Total 284 (-4)

It has been a struggle the last couple of years but I’m still enjoying the game. I’m going to turn 52 at the end of this month but I still love to compete. I’ve been putting very well especially the last two days and if you can putt well, you can have a good score. Physically, I think not as fit as last time but mentally, I’m still very strong and I can manage myself well under pressure.

Scott Hend (Aus) Fourth round 71 (-1), Total 291 (+3)

I came here for a reason and that was to complete a full field event for my qualification for the WGC-HSBC Champions. This week has shown me what I need to work on for my game and hopefully, I can improve on that and bring back my game to Italy next week. I’m looking forward to playing in another WGC event in Shanghai at the end of the month. Sheshan is a great golf course and I look forward to playing well there. As for the Order of Merit, Jazz is playing great golf at the moment and I’m not. So, I’m just trying to work on getting better and we’ll see how it goes, come the end of the season.

Tamsui, Chinese Taipei, October 5: Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu will head into the final round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in pole position after posting a third round four-under-par 68 and 70 respectively on Saturday.

Both Tabuena and Sandhu had the opportunity to take the outright lead at the last hole, but they identically dropped a shot on the par-four 18 and had to settle for matching three-day total of nine-under-par 207.

Thailand’s Suradit Yongcharoenchai returned with a 68 while India’s Viraj Madappa signed for a 65 to share fourth place with Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman, who posted a 68 at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club.

Tabuena started the day two shots back of Sandhu, who was the overnight leader. After making five straight pars, the Filipino started to make his move with birdies on holes six and eight.

He continued to charge ahead after the turn with another three birdies in his next five holes before dropping his only shot of the day on 18.

Sandhu meanwhile stumbled early with a bogey on the par-three second before steadying the ship with birdies on holes nine, 11, 13 and 15.

The Indian, who is searching for his second Asian Tour win this week, parred the 16^th and 17^th holes before another bogey on 18 denied him the outright lead.

Ends.

Did you know?

• Miguel Tabuena’s best result at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters came in 2016 when he finished second. He posted a final round 70 to finish one shot back of eventual champion Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei then.
• Tabuena’s best result to date this season was his fifth-place finish at the Sarawak Championship in August.
• Tabuena won his first Asian Tour title on home soil in 2015. He became the first Filipino to win his National Open since 2008 at just 21-years-old.
• Ajeetesh Sandhu is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. A week after claiming his first Asian Tour title in Chinese Taipei in 2017, Sandhu went on to win the Taiheiyo Club Challenge Tournament on the Japan Challenge Tour.
• The Indian notched three top-10 finishes in 2018 to finish in 28th position on the Order of Merit.
• Sandhu’s second-place finish at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in Bangladesh is his best result so far this season.
• Viraj Madappa will be chasing for his second Asian Tour title this week. The 21-year-old claimed his breakthrough on home soil when he was still a rookie last August.
• Madappa holds the record of being the youngest Indian player, at the age of 20, to win on the Asian Tour. He finished his rookie season in 35th place on the 2018 Order of Merit.
• Madappa posted back-to-back top-25 finishes in Indonesia and Chinese Taipei before recording two top-20 finishes in India and Korea last month.
• Siddikur Rahman became the first player from Bangladesh to win on the Asian Tour when he emerged victorious at the Brunei Open in 2010.
• He also became the first sportsman from his country to qualify for the 2016 Olympics on merit and was accorded the honour of becoming Bangladesh’s flagbearer during the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
• Siddikur has posted three top-15s this season so far with his best result coming on home soil at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open where he finished tied-12^th.

Tamsui, Chinese Taipei, October 3: Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena and Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung shared more than just a room together, returning with matching five-under-par 67s to be tied for the first round lead together with South Africa’s Keith Horne at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Thursday.

India’s Ajeetesh Sandhu signed for a 68 to trail the trio by a single shot in outright fourth place while Thailand’s Danthai Boonma is tied for fifth with Chinese Taipei’s Wang Wei-lun and Lin Yung-lung.

Tabeuna, a two-time Asian Tour winner, enjoyed a bogey-free round while Fung almost matched his roommate’s flawless efforts until a wayward shot at his closing ninth hole saw him drop his only shot of the day which denied him the outright lead in the morning.

Tabuena has enjoyed a proud record at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club, finishing second in 2016 and is pleased to have rediscovered his form which has seen him pass his opening test with flying colours.

Fung also had a round to remember as he returned with his best showing by far at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Horne, who finished tied-second at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in 2017, has yet to win on the Asian Tour but showed he is ready to contend at a venue which he knows he can excel.

Did you know?

• Miguel Tabuena’s best result at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters came in 2016 when he finished second. He posted a final round 70 to finish one shot back of eventual champion Lu Wei-chih of Chinese Taipei then.
• Tabuena’s best result to date this season was his fifth-place finish at the Sarawak Championship in August.
• Tabuena won his first Asian Tour title on home soil in 2015. He became the first Filipino to win his National Open since 2008 at just 21-years-old.
• Fung, who turned professional in 2010, is a proud graduate of the region’s secondary circuit, where he has recorded three victories.
• He was crowned the Asian Development Tour (ADT) Order of Merit champion in 2013.
• Fung represented Team Asia in all three editions of the EurAsia Cup and was hailed as Malaysia’s number one through his Order of Merit success on the PGM Tour in 2012, 2013 and 2016.
• Ajeetesh Sandhu is a one-time winner on the Asian Tour. A week after claiming his first Asian Tour title in Chinese Taipei in 2017, Sandhu went on to win the Taiheiyo Club Challenge Tournament on the Japan Challenge Tour.
• The Indian notched three top-10 finishes in 2018 to finish in 28th position on the Order of Merit.
• Keith Horne’s best result on the Asian Tour came at the 2017 Mercuries Taiwan Masters where he finished in a share of second place, two shots back of Malaysia’s Gavin Green then.
• Horne’s last professional victory was in 2017 when he won the Vodacom Origins on the Sunshine Tour.
• Sandhu’s second-place finish at the Bangabandhu Cup Golf Open in Bangladesh is his best result so far this season.