Singapore, December 20: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has confirmed he will be returning to defend the SMBC Singapore Open title he won in stylish fashion in January.

The 24-year-old Jazz jumped 12 places to 45th in the Official World Golf Ranking – sealing a coveted spot at The Masters – after his runaway win in the Indonesian Masters, his third success on the Asian Tour this year and fifth overall.

With his confidence sky high, Jazz will take on Major winners Justin Rose of England and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, American Matt Kuchar – buoyed by securing the half point that assured the United States retained the Presidents Cup – and the finest players from the Asian and Japan Tours at Sentosa Golf Club from January 16-19, 2020.

“After winning in Singapore (SMBC Singapore Open) and breaking into the top-100, my next goal was top 50. I am really happy to achieve it. Maybe next goal is top-40?,” said Jazz after his Indonesian Masters victory.

“It’s been a very fulfilling year so I am excited about what lies ahead in 2020 (with the defence of the SMBC Singapore Open title coming early in the year).”

Jazz made a fast start to 2019 by holding off challenges from Ryder Cup men Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick and the highly rated Yoshinori Fujimoto of Japan to win the SMBC Singapore Open in January.

He became the youngest winner of the Singapore Open and his 18-under-par 266 went into the record books as the tournament’s best ever four-round total.

“I got emotional, but happy emotional (at the victory). I was like ‘wow, I actually did it’. I could not believe that I beat Paul Casey down the stretch or Matthew Fitzpatrick who was in my group. It kind of boosted the confidence in me a little bit for sure,” he said.

“The last day at (SMBC Singapore Open) has got to be my (best) round (ever). I did not think I had a chance of winning – I was (111th) in the world and never had a big win before.

“It was definitely one of the best tournaments of my life, so far.”

After his win at Sentosa Golf Club, Jazz won the Kolon Korea Open in June followed by the Indonesian Masters.

His previous victories came at the Bangladesh Open in 2017 and the Queen’s Cup on home soil in 2018, successes that marked him down as a player to watch.

Jazz, who turned professional just ahead of his 15th birthday, topped the Asian Tour moneylist for 2019 with winnings of US$968,524 ahead of this week’s season-concluding Thailand Masters.

Also during an outstanding year, Jazz tied for 14th spot at the PGA Championship and had a string of top-10 finishes on the Asian and Japan Tours.

The SMBC Singapore Open is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation.

Photo: (3rd from left) Cho Minn Thant, CEO, Asian Tour, Tang Meng Loon, Kota Permai Director, Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor, MGA President, Zulkifly Said, Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director General and Arep Kulal, CEO Winning Matters.

Kuala Lumpur, December 16: The Malaysian Open, one of the most highly regarded events in the region, will make a welcome return to the Asian Tour schedule from March 5 to 8, 2020, following a four-year hiatus, officials announced today.

The highly acclaimed event is the flagship event for the Malaysian Golf Association (MGA) where the upcoming edition will be sanctioned by the Asian Tour in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO). The Malaysian Open 2020 will offer a prize purse of USD$1,000,000 and will be held at the award-winning Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, which last staged the National Open of Malaysia in 2008.

Inaugurated in 1962 and boosting a new tagline ‘Pride, Passion, Prominence‘, the prestigious Malaysian Open has crowned many notable champions which include the likes of former world number ones Vijay Singh (1992 and 2001) and Lee Westwood (1997 and 2014), who have both won the tournament twice.

A host of past winners such as Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Korea’s Noh Seung-yul, India’s Arjun Atwal and Anirban Lahiri have also gone on to lift the coveted Asian Tour Order of Merit crowns following their victories in the storied event.

Lahiri won the last edition in 2015 for his sixth Asian Tour title and first on the European Tour while Atwal, who recorded the tournament’s lowest winning score with a 24-under-par 260 total in 2003, emerged victorious at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club in 2008.

“The Malaysian Open is arguably the most prestigious and long-standing professional golf event in the region. It has provided a platform for Malaysian professional golfers and amateurs ample opportunities to compete against some of the best players from around the world, such as Rory McIlroy, Martin Kaymer, Louis Oouisthuizen, Thongchai Jaidee, Lee Westwood, Ernie Els and Charles Schwartzel,” said MGA President, Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.

Tan Sri Anwar further added: “For the 2020 edition, 40 slots will be offered to our local players, comprising 30 slots reserved for eligible Malaysian professionals and 10 slots for Malaysian amateurs made up of national players and top Malaysian juniors.  We hope that our Malaysian players will take this opportunity to train hard to compete with their peers from the Asian and Japan Tours and vie for the top honours in this Championship”.

Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, lauded the return of the Malaysian Open on the Asian Tour. “The Malaysian Open is one of the oldest National Opens in the region and we are excited and honoured to welcome the storied event back into our fold.

“I would like to express our gratitude to the Malaysian Golf Association for their outstanding support of the game at the highest level in Asia. The tournament’s return to our schedule is a massive boost for the Tour as we continue to strive in promoting professional golf across Asia.

“Malaysia has always been a key market for the Asian Tour. The return of the country’s National Open will not only inspire a new generation of Malaysian golfers but also create further opportunities for our members to showcase their talents,” said Cho.

The Malaysian Open has featured prominently on the annual Asian Tour schedule from 1999 to 2015. It also became the first event to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour in 1999.

Other notable past winners include Chinese Taipei’s Lu Chien-soon (1984) and Yeh Wei-tze (2000), American Anthony Kang (2009), Italian Matteo Manassero (2011) and Louis Oosthuizen (2012) of South Africa.

Ends.

Jakarta, December 15: Thai rising star Jazz Janewattananond made his remarkable season even more memorable when he secured his fifth Asian Tour victory and a third one this season at the BNI Indonesian Masters supported by Bank BRI and MedcoEnergi on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Jazz, who sealed the 2019 Asian Tour Order of Merit crown last week, signed for a closing seven-under-par 65 and a four-day total of 23-under-par 265 to win by five shots over countryman Gunn Charoenkul at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

With a total of 20 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on offer at the BNI Indonesian Masters, which is the flagship event of the Asian Tour, Jazz is set to break into the world’s top-50 following his victory and secure a coveted berth at The Masters next April.

Starting the day with a one-shot lead, Jazz reeled in five straight pars before sinking three birdies to turn in 33. He would pull four shots clear after striking a brilliant approach shot to three feet en route to a second straight eagle on the 574-yard par-five 12^th hole.

Jazz would seal the deal with three birdies against one bogey in his closing five holes to become the second Thai following Poom Saksansin to triumph in the US$750,000 event, which forms the third leg of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – DECEMBER 15:Jazz Janewattannond of Thailand pictured during the final round of the BNI Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club on December 15, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. pic By Khalid Redza

At the age of 24, Jazz is also the youngest player to achieve five victories on the Asian Tour. He will be the third Thai, following Thongchai Jaidee in 2009 and Kiradech Aphibarnrat in 2015, to break into the world’s top-50.

Jazz will take home a winner’s prize purse of US$135,000 and bring his season’s haul to US$968,524 and break the US$2million mark in his career earnings on the Asian Tour, where he started playing as a full member in 2012.

He has also secured a coveted berth at the World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational in 2020, thanks to his victory at the Indonesian showpiece, which celebrated its ninth consecutive edition on the Asian Tour this week.

Gunn posted a 69 to finish second while Korea’s Taewoo Kim and Australian Josh Younger carded respective rounds of 65 and 66 to share third place on 271. Kim and Young would break into top-60 on the Merit rankings, giving themselves a chance to secure their cards for the 2020 season.

Danny Masrin wrote a slice of history by becoming the best local finisher in the tournament. He ended his campaign in style with an eagle on the 18 to sign for a 66 and grab a share of fifth place on 273. The record was last held by Rory Hie when he finished tied-ninth in 2011.

JAKARTA, INDONESIA – DECEMBER 15: Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand pictured during the final round of the BNI Indonesian Masters at Royale Jakarta Golf Club on December 15, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. pic By Khalid Redza

Did you know?

• Jazz Janewattananond will be the third Thai after Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to break into the world’s top-50. Thongchai and Kiradech achieved the feat in 2009 and 2015 respectively.
• This victory will also saw Jazz break the US$2million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour where he started plying his trade in 2012.
• Jazz will be the 11^th player in history, third one in consecutive years after Shiv Kapur (2017) and John Catlin (2018), to win three titles in a single season on the Asian Tour.
• Jazz started the day with a one-shot lead. He had propelled to the top of the leaderboard after signing for a sensational third-round 62.
• He played the par-fives in 16-under for the week, making a total of three eagles. He hit 10 fairways and 12 greens and needed only 24 putts in his commendable closing round of 65.
• Jazz closed with an eagle on the 18th to finish second at the 2018 BNI Indonesian Masters.
• Jazz sealed the 2019 Habitat for Humanity Standings crown last week after his closest rival Scott Hend of Australia opted not to tee up at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, making his Merit lead unassailable with only two events left to play for the 2019 season.
• Jazz is the fourth Thai after Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• Jazz claimed his third Asian Tour title at the season-opening Singapore Open in January to break into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career. He went on to claim his fourth win in Korea in June before sealing his fifth victory and third one this year at the BNI Indonesian Masters this week to break into top-50.
• Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand secured his 2019 Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School last December where he came in runner-up. He quickly posted a top-10 finish at the SMBC Singapore Open, the first event of the season.
• By finishing tied-seventh at this event, Gunn missed qualifying for The Open by the narrowest of margins, only one shot. He would redeem himself a few months later when a tied-third place finish at the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour secured his place at Royal Portrush, his first appearance in a Major.
• Gunn has spent most of this season playing on the Japan Golf Tour where he has racked up 10 top-10 finishes, including a tied-fourth at last week’s season ending Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, finishing 21st in the Money Rankings for the year.
• Gunn would match his career best result on the Asian Tour with his runner-up finish at the BNI Indonesian Masters. He last came in runner-up at the 2016 Queen’s Cup, where he finished one shot back of winner Scott Hend of Australia.
• Taewoo Kim secured his Asian Tour card for the first time when he finished tied-seventh at the 2019 Qualifying School last December.
• He turned professional in 2016 and enjoyed a joint runner-up finish in his Asian Tour debut at the Shinhan Donghae Open that same year. He would match his record with another tied-second place finish this week. It remains his best outing on the region’s premier Tour since.
• The 26-year-old Korean is playing in his first Indonesian Masters this week. He started the week in 129^th place on the Order of Merit but a tied-third result in the Indonesian showpiece would propel him to 58^th on the money list.
• By finishing inside top-five at the 2019 BNI Indonesian Masters, Taewoo Kim also earns a spot in the season-ending Thailand Masters next week.

Jakarta, December 15: Read what players have to say following the final round of the BNI Indonesian Masters supported by Bank BRI and MedcoEnergi on Sunday.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Final round 65 (-7), Total 265 (-23)

It’s very good to to win the flagship event of the Asian tour. It’s the biggest full-field Asian Tour event of the year. All the good players and here and everyone’s trying to win. It will be a good ending to my season although I still have another tournament to go next week.

After winning in Singapore and broke into top-100, my next goal was top 50. I am really happy to achieve it this week. Maybe next goal is top-40?

I played a lot of times with Gunn, especially in Japan. He has been playing great. I know he’s going to come in strong today. I just need to play my game, you know, like yesterday. If I can kind of replicate that, I know I can win so I just try to keep calm and just putt my way through out there.

I know this golf course can bite you anytime so I didn’t let my guard down until I hit the green on the last hole.This is my best season so far. I get to play not only on the Asiain Tour but also around the world. It’s been a very fulfilling year so I am excited about what lies ahead in 2020. A lot of people say I’m going to be a busy man next year but I think this is good to be busy in golf, so I’m looking forward to it.

A lot of people asked me like how and why am I playing better now. I can’t answer it. It just got better. Everyone in my life has been helping me to this point, especially my parents, they been helping me since I was young. I’m really glad and I’ll get to see them tomorrow so I’m really happy to bring home a trophy.

Gunn Charoenkul (Tha) – Fourth round 69 (-3), Total 270 (-18)

It was tough. I mean, I was hitting them good but he (Jazz) was hitting it way better than I do. I mean I had a lot of mistakes but coming in with birdies too. I’m way behind ball-striking wise, putting and driving. I know why he wins.

We were on each other’s necks for like awhile, and then after that eagle he just took off. I think he found something in this game I guess, and then he was dialed in.

I’m really happy honestly, like the whole year has been very consistent, the most consistent I’ve been throughout my career. I’ve been working really hard on my game last year and I think it worked out really well. And I pretty much found something in my game.

But there’s still a lot of room for improvement to get to where Jazz is, it’s an eye candy to watch him play. I’m really looking forward to next year, I got three weeks off after Thailand Masters and I’m going to grind and hopefully I do win Singapore.

Danny Masrin (Ina) – Final round 66 (-6), Total 273 (-15)

I got to get off to a hot start on that front-nine, because I think that front-nine for me is easier.

Been hitting the ball really well, the key for me has been just my tempo. I have been rolling it really well last few days, it was good to get two birdies in those first three holes there. I had to make some good saves on the front nine.

But yeah, I took advantage of the par-fives which is very important for me, playing them five-under today. And obviously, to finish the way I did is always nice. I hit a big drive, hit a five iron there to about six feet and made eagle. I had to 229 yards to the pin.

Everyone kept telling me at the beginning of the week that I’m safe to keep my card, but I kind of want to make sure I can get into that top 40 or top 45 to really confirm a few more playing rights so I don’t have to wait last minute to get in. So hopefully this does the job for me.

Jakarta, December 14: Thai rising star Jazz Janewattananond proved his credentials as the newest Asia’s number one by firing a scintillating 10-under-par 62 to seize the third-round lead at the BNI Indonesian Masters supported by Bank BRI and MedcoEnergi on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Thai, who is enjoying a stellar season with two wins and six top-10s, blazed the course with two eagles and seven birdies against a bogey to lead by one shot over countryman Gunn Charoenkul on 16-under-par 200 total at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club.

Jazz, world’s highest-ranked Thai in 57^th place on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), is chasing a career fifth Asian Tour title and a third one this season at the popular US$750,000 event, which forms the third leg of the 2019/20 Panasonic Swing.

With a total of 20 OWGR points on offer in what is the flagship event of the Asian Tour this week, Jazz will need to win the 2019 BNI Indonesian Masters to break into the world’s top-50 at the end of the season and secure his berth at The Masters next April.

Gunn, seeking his Asian Tour breakthrough, returned with three birdies in his closing four holes to grab second place while veteran Keith Horne of South Africa remained in contention for his maiden win on the region’s premier Tour after battling to a 71 to take third place on 203.

PGA Tour winner Alex Cejka of Germany, who is playing on a sponsor’s invitation this week, posted a 70 to settle four shots off the pace in fourth while overnight leader Josh Younger of Australia slipped to tied-fifth on 205 following a disappointing 74.

Danny Masrin emerged as the highest-placed Indonesian in tied-10^th place on 207 after signing for a commendable 68 in the event, which is celebrating its ninth straight edition on the Asian Tour this week.

The winner of the 2019 BNI Indonesian Masters will also receive a coveted spot in the World Golf Championships – FedEx St. Jude Invitational in 2020.

Did you know?

• Jazz Janewattananond tied the lowest 18-hole score in the tournament history with his third-round 62. Justin Rose of England carded two 62s in 2017 while Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung closed with a similar 62 in the last edition.
• Jazz opened with two successive birdies from the first before going on to birdie the fourth. He three-putted for bogey on sixth but a birdie on the eighth sparked a hot stretch as he nailed two eagles and two birdies in his next seven holes before closing with another one on 18.
• Jazz hit a total of 17 greens in his brilliant round of 62 today. He amassed 28 putts in total.
• Jazz sealed the 2019 Habitat for Humanity Standings crown last week after his closest rival Scott Hend of Australia opted not to tee up at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, making his Merit lead unassailable with only two events left to play for the 2019 season.
• The 24-year-old Jazz is the fourth Thai after Thongchai Jaidee, Thaworn Wiratchant and Kiradech Aphibarnrat to win the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
• Jazz will be looking to break into the world’s top-50 by the end of the season to secure his place at The Masters next April. A win at the BNI Indonesian Masters will help him achieve the feat.
• Jazz closed with an eagle on the 18th to finish second on his own at the 2018 BNI Indonesian Masters.
• Jazz was also crowned the 2019 Rookie of the Year following a commendable season on the Japan Golf Tour.
• Gunn Charoenkul of Thailand secured his 2019 Asian Tour card at the Qualifying School last December where he came in runner-up. He quickly posted a top-10 finish at the SMBC Singapore Open, the first event of the season.
• By finishing tied-seventh at this event, Gunn missed qualifying for The Open by the narrowest of margins, only one shot. He would redeem himself a few months later when a tied-third place finish at the Gate Way To The Open Mizuno Open on the Japan Golf Tour secured his place at Royal Portrush, his first appearance in a Major.
• Gunn has spent most of this season playing on the Japan Golf Tour where he has racked up 10 top-10 finishes, including a tied-fourth at last week’s season ending Golf Nippon Series JT Cup, finishing 21st in the Money Rankings for the year.
• The Thai’s best career result on the Asian Tour is a second-place finish in the 2016 Queen’s Cup when he finished one shot back of winner Scott Hend of Australia.
• Keith Horne of South Africa locked up his Asian Tour card for 2020 earlier in the season, thanks to two top-10 finishes in India and Chinese Taipei. He sits in 38^th place on the current Order of Merit.
• Horne has won nine tournaments on the Sunshine Tour, the latest of those wins came in 2017 at the Vodacom Origins – Arabella.
• That same year, he also had his best result in an Asian Tour event finishing tied-second at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, improving on his previous best of three tied-third finishes.
• The 48-year-old South African turned pro in 1996 and has been a regular figure on the Asian Tour since 2003. His best season to date was in 2010 when he finished 14th on the Order of Merit.

Jakarta, December 14: Read what players have to say following the penultimate round of the BNI Indonesian Masters supported by Bank BRI and MedcoEnergi on Saturday.

Jazz Janewattananond (Tha) – Third round 62 (-10), Total 200 (-16)

I am pretty pleased. I was surprised to go out there and shoot this low round today. I was struggling with my putting in the first two rounds but seems like it got better today.

I put in a new putter today. Maybe I’ll stick with it tomorrow. I was surprised to see some balls go in actually. I didn’t expect anything like this today. I just thought I would go out and post a solid round, but I am really happy with the result.

Trying to break into the world’s top-50 with a win tomorrow and secure my place in The Masters will be at the back of my mind for sure. It will be a motivating factor for me tomorrow. I just want to go out and play my best again.

Gunn Charoenkul (Tha) – Third round 68 (-4), Total 201 (-15)

It was kind of slow at the start today. I missed a lot of putts. A lot of players were coming close and I had to stay very patient out there today. Pretty fortunate to get a good finish in the last few holes to get to play in the last group tomorrow.

I wasn’t thinking much out there. I was just having fun and was smiling all the time, just being patient and enjoy it out there. It’s nice to come back and play on the Asian Tour again. I kind of miss playing on the Asian Tour.

It’s like a big family here. Whereas in Japan, you kind of feel more tension out there. I feel a little more relaxed out here and I think that’s the reason why I am playing well.

I tee off with my driver off the deck often, especially in Japan. I started doing that in China last year because I just couldn’t get my three-wood right. I gave it a lot of chance but I kept snapping it so I decided to just hit the driver off the deck and get it on the fairway first.

I tired that in Japan again and it’s been great for me since then. The season’s been great for me. I played well in Japan this year and the experience has helped me a lot.

It’s been awhile since I last played here. I am very happy to be back and it’s good to meet a lot of familiar faces. It’s probably going to be my first time playing in the final group in the final round on the Asian Tour tomorrow. I am pretty excited.

Same mindset for tomorrow. I would be happy with an under-par round. I think I may need more experience playing in the last group. I did have some opportunities in Japan but couldn’t really hold my nerves well.

I played with Jazz sometimes in practice rounds when we were in Japan, but we haven’t really played together in tournaments. He’s been playing well the last few years so looking forward to learning some stuff from him tomorrow.

Keith Horne (Rsa) – Third round 71 (-1), Total 203 (-13)

Obviously, the wind picked up a little bit today and it was quite difficult, I think it dried the greens out. And I think they pulled a little sneaky one, I don’t know what they did to the greens last night, but they were twice as fast as today.

I really struggled with the pace the whole day, I had some really quick putts and just hit so many past the hole. Eventually I just got way too tentative and couldn’t get my stroke back.

The wind helped and kept it a bit cooler out there so it wasn’t too bad, maybe a little bit hotter but actually nothing too excessive.

You know, I just looked at my results of about a month ago or whatever and they really are not very good, they just very scattered around. I have been making a lot of cuts, but I haven’t been up in contention at all and that’s been my disappointment this year. So, let’s see if we can take advantage of this one now that I’m up there.