Best finish for Hend, as Johnson outguns Li for Saudi International title

Published on February 3, 2019

By V. Krishnaswamy, in Saudi Arabia

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, February 3: Seasoned Scott Hend (67) showed he is on his way back with a tied-sixth finish at the Saudi International at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Jeddah on Sunday.

The result also equalled his best finish since the runner-up place at the Omega European Masters in the September 2017.

Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson (67) and Li Haotong (69) slugged it out on the back nine of the Saudi International, before the world number three American pulled off a birdie-birdie finish despite going all over desert to emerge a two-shot winner. Johnson was 19-under-par, Li was two shots behind and Tom Lewis (65), who with five birdies in first five holes got into the frame for a while, ended third at 16-under-par.

Another young star, Australian Min Woo Lee, who is playing only his second event as a pro finished the weekend 63-63 to be fourth at 15-under-par.

Hend closed with three birdies on the last four holes for his 67 and ended the week at tied-sixth alongside Joost Luiten (63), Bryson DeChambeau (65), Ian Poulter (66) and Ryan Fox (68).

Justin Harding turned on his putting machine for the second Sunday in a row and shot 63 to vault to tied-11^th alongside Malaysian Gavin Green (67) at 10-under-par. Harding’s 63 this time was seven-under-par as against nine-under-par last week.

David Lipsky (67) was tied-24^th, while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australian Jake McLeod (68) were tied-34^th.

Good finish for Hend, Harding and Green

Hend would be pleased that his comeback was coming along well. After missing out some weeks of golf due to injuries, which he battled with much of 2018, a tied-sixth, would do his confidence wonders.

“I am just started to getting back. I am working, the gym, eating well and all and trying to get back to where I was,” said Hend. “Now I am off to Australia for Vic Open and Perth Sixes and then a break and after that it will be Oman and Qatar and then Malaysia Indian Open. I want to get back to where I was.”

Hend was 59^th in the world and playing well in 2016 before injuries laid him low.

Harding was happy with his two weeks in the Middle-East.

“I got into the Dubai event through the Asian Tour and now here tied-11 is great. I have to get these rounds (63 in Dubai and Saudi) earlier to put myself in a position to have a chance to win. My game is looking good and I played solid, missed a few but also made a lot of putts. I really enjoyed myself over these last couple of weeks and now it is off to Australia for Vic Open and Perth and I am excited about the format in Perth. I will go to India, unless I get to WGC-Matchplay, but I need some more good weeks for that.”

India’s sole player to make the cut, Gaganjeet Bhullar hit the ball very well and gave himself a lot of chances on the final but never really got on top of these greens through the week. From being two-under-par through the first five holes, he ended even-par 70 and finish four-under-par for the week and in tied-34^th place. He finished at even par 70 a four-under-par 276 for the week.

“I hit the ball so well this week, but just did not get any putts to fall. Sure, they were grainy and not as firm, but that is to expected on a new and young course. However the conditions were the same for all, so I did not make it.” Next on for Bhullar is the ISPS Handa Super 6 in Perth.

Johnson thrilled to win after battling with Haotong

“It feels really good. Any time you can win a professional golf tournament, no matter where it is in the world, it’s a big win. I’m honoured to be the champion, and I’m very pleased with the win,” said Johnson. “I’m heading back to the States tonight, and you know, I’ve got three big weeks in a row. I’ve got Pebble, L.A. and México coming up. You know, to win here, obviously, the game is in good form, and I’m heading into three really big weeks for me.”

When Johnson and Li finished 16-under-par on Saturday evening, five clear of third-placed Lewis, it seemed it would be a two-horse race. But no soon had Lewis got out of the gates, he was on a tear.

When action got into the back nine, Li was one ahead. That’s when Johnson seemed to switch gears. He pulled ahead bombing drives and finding greens even from wasteland and bunkers and holing the putts. He birdied the 11^th and 12^th and moved ahead of the Chinese star. The second shot to within four feet for a birdie on 12^th was one of the crucial ones for Johnson.

Li added to his woes by not finding fairways and missing putts. He bogeyed 13^th and 14^th and suddenly Johnson was three clear. Li did not throw in the towel. He birdied 15^th which Johnson parred after missing a makeable putt.

Then as Johnson found water on 16^th another twist loomed large. A double bogey seemed likely but Johnson made an up-and-down from 150-yards for a good bogey to stay one ahead after 16 holes.

“That birdie on the 12^th and then the up-and-down for bogey on 16^th were momentum changers,” said Johnson later.

Another huge drive and a perfect pitch set up a Johnson birdie on 17^th while Li went into the wasteland and made par to fall two behind. Johnson again smashed a huge drive and put his second shot on the green for an eagle chance of which the ball stopped one roll short. He tapped in for birdie. Li, too, got a birdie and that helped him to sole second.

Published on January 31, 2019

Melbourne, Australia, January 31: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has emerged as a surprise but legitimate contender for a place in the International Team for the Presidents Cup against the United States at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club later this year.

The 23-year-old claimed his third and biggest career victory yet on the Asian Tour two weeks ago when he won the SMBC Singapore Open which featured several of the game’s leading stars including Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia and World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III, all winners on the PGA TOUR.

It was his sixth top-10 finish over his last eight starts stretching back to September which has helped the slender Thai strike the right notes and launch an early challenge for a place in Captain Ernie Els’s International Team where he is presently ranked 12th on the team rankings for the biennial competition which takes place from December 9-15, 2019.

“I saw on Twitter recently that said I had a chance to qualify for the International Team,” said Jazz. “It’s a long-term goal of mine as when you look at the rankings, there are so many top (International) players. If I can continue to play good golf and make it there, it will be a big bonus.”

Jazz recalls watching the 2009 Presidents Cup on TV when Ryo Ishikawa of Japan made the International Team as one of captain Greg Norman’s picks and he knows only too well the lone International victory in the series was secured at Royal Melbourne in 1998 when another Japanese star, Shigeki Maruyama emerged as one of the International Team’s heroes with his 5-0 winning record.

“The Americans are really strong in this format and I want to see the International players beating the Americans this year, and I’ll always be rooting for the International Team,” said Jazz, who is currently ranked 75th in the world.

With his father, who is a judge in Thailand, being an avid golfer, Jazz started hitting golf balls when he was eight. He started competing in one-day tournaments and won age-group events by 10. He turned professional before he was 15 years old after deciding it was a career he wanted to pursue. “When I was four, I was introduced to swimming and everyone outgrew me. I’m this scrawny kid and I then started playing football (soccer) at six and I was horrible at it. Maybe that’s why I changed to golf and I got really good at 12 and when I was 14, I became the youngest golfer to make the cut in an Asian Tour event (2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok),” he said.

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand

Jazz comes from a family of scholars, with his sister and cousins studying medicine or are already doctors or judges. “Almost 10 of my family members are doctors or judges … except me, I’m the weird one. I guess I always liked spending time outdoors, though I was pretty good in school too. Golf has turned out pretty good. When I turned pro before turning 15, my parents were fully supportive. It’s my job, my life now and I enjoy it. I’m going to do this for rest of my life and hopefully I can be a regular on the PGA TOUR sometime soon,” added the Thai, whose real name is Atiwit but switched to Jazz in 2013 which is the nickname given by his father who is fan of jazz music.

Currently, three Asian players – Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (4th), Haotong Li of China (5th) and Shugo Imahira of Japan (6th) – are featuring in the top-eight of the International Team rankings for automatic qualification into the International Team. Jazz’s countryman Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is competing in his first full season on the PGA TOUR, is presently 29th.

Making his first-ever start in the Farmers Insurance Open, Australia’s Adam Scott finished solo second at Torrey Pines and made the biggest move in the International Team Presidents Cup standings from No. 67 to No. 11. A berth in the 2019 Presidents Cup would make Scott the first player to make nine appearances on the International Team, eclipsing Vijay Singh and 2019 Team Captain Ernie Els who have eight appearances.

The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne, Australia and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time, December 9-15, 2019, when the International Team, led by Captain Els, will take on the U.S. Team led by Captain Tiger Woods.

Making his fourth start of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season, Scott’s runner-up finish was his second top-10 and first since he closed with a 63 on Sunday at the CJ CUP @ NINE BRIDGES to finish T10 last October. The flat stick proved vital for Scott’s success in San Diego, where the 38-year-old finished 14th in Stroked Gained: Putting after making a putter switch ahead of the tournament. Scott went on to need just 28 putts in each of his four rounds.

While Scott finished two back of eventual champion Justin Rose, two other International Team veterans cracked the top 5 at Torrey Pines: Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (T3) and Australia’s Jason Day (T5).

A two-time champion at the Farmers Insurance Open, Day bookended his tournament with matching 67s for his second top-5 finish of the season and a spot inside the top 10 in the International Team Presidents Cup standings, where the four-time International Team member jumped from No. 13 to No. 9.

Matsuyama vaulted from No. 8 to No. 4 in the standings after notching his first top-5 finish of the season as he looks toward a potential fourth appearance on the International Team. Elsewhere on the leaderboard, Cameron Smith (T9) recorded a 7-under 65 on Sunday to finish with the low round of the day and return to No. 2 in the International Team standings. Marc Leishman remains atop the International Team standings after a T43 finish at the Farmers Insurance Open.

On the U.S. side, Xander Schauffele’s T25 in his hometown event earned him enough FedExCup points to reclaim the top spot from Bryson DeChambeau, who was victorious in Dubai on the European Tour.

The top 15 players in the International and U.S. Presidents Cup Team Standings as of Jan. 28, 2019 are listed below:

INTERNATIONAL

Rank Player Country Points
1. Marc Leishman Australia 104.20

Cameron Smith Australia 82.71
Louis Oosthuizen South Africa 81.03
Hideki Matsuyama Japan 72.10
Abraham Ancer Mexico 71.15
Haotong Li China 59.57
Shugo Imahira Japan 54.17
Shaun Norris South Africa 52.96
Jason Day Australia 51.38
Emiliano Grillo Argentina 51.21
Adam Scott Australia 50.99
Jazz Janewattananond Thailand 50.81
Adam Hadwin Canada 44.74
Lucas Herbert Australia 42.43
Yuki Inamori Japan 41.77

UNITED STATES

Rank Player Points

Xander Schauffele 4,194
Bryson DeChambeau 4,160
Justin Thomas 3,934
Brooks Koepka 3,591
Dustin Johnson 3,470
Tony Finau 3,133
Gary Woodland 2,997
Matt Kuchar 2,979
Webb Simpson 2,747
Patrick Cantlay 2,697
Charles Howell III 2,536
Phil Mickelson 2,321
Patrick Reed 2,228
Andrew Putnam 2,164
Bubba Watson 2,126

International Team eligibility criteria

The top eight (8) international players (excluding those eligible for the European Ryder Cup team) from the Presidents Cup International Team Points List which shall be Official World Golf Ranking points accumulated in the time period from August 27, 2018 (Dell Technologies Championship) through August 25, 2019 (TOUR Championship).

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

U.S. Team eligibility criteria

The top eight (8) U.S. PGA TOUR members who have earned the most FedExCup points from September 11, 2017 (2017 BMW Championship) through 2019 TOUR Championship, weighted as follows:

(a) 2017 BMW Championship through 2018 TOUR Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 1 point

(b) First event of the 2018-2019 season through 2019 TOUR Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 2 points

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

The return to Melbourne, Australia, will mark the third time in the biennial event’s 25-year history it has been held at the renowned Sandbelt course, as the event was previously held in Melbourne in 1998 and 2011 at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

The 2019 Presidents Cup will bring the very best for fans interested in world-class team competition with the top 12 players from the United States taking on the top 12 from across the globe, excluding Europe. While golf fans can expect an incredible atmosphere and unmatched access to the competition, the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne will be a social, lifestyle and business gathering that will bring all backgrounds and interests together to enjoy a week-long festival atmosphere. On the course, players from across the world will be celebrated for their achievements, sportsmanship and love of the game. Off the course, fans will be able to find culinary options from around the world as well as hospitality and fan venues to match all levels of spectating and socializing, all while enjoying the very best in Australian culture.

The oldest golf club in Australia, The Royal Melbourne Golf Club was founded in 1891 and moved to its current location in 1926, becoming the anchor of what is now known as the Sandbelt. The gem of Australian golf, The Royal Melbourne Golf Club has two courses, both ranked in the World’s Top 100, which were designed by the legendary Alister MacKenzie. In 1959, in order to host the first of many international tournaments, 12 holes of the West Course and six from the East Course were combined to create what is known as the Composite Course, which also hosted the 2013 World Cup of Golf, won by Jason Day and Adam Scott.

About the Presidents Cup

The Presidents Cup is a unique golf event in that there is no purse or prize money. Players are not paid for their participation, but each competitor allocates an equal portion of the funds generated to charities of his choice. Since the event’s inception, more than $49.1 million has been raised for charity from event proceeds, as well as contributions made on behalf of the Presidents Cup, including a record charitable donation of $10.7 million from the 2017 event alone.

For more information, or to learn more about the Presidents Cup, information on travel packages, or get their names added to find out about ticket sales visit www.presidentscup.com, Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thepresidentscup, Twitter and Instagram at @presidentscup and sign up for the Presidents Cup e-newsletter.

Cit and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup.

Published on January 26, 2019

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 26: Malaysia’s representation in this year’s Maybank Championship appears to be as good as it has ever been in a big international tournament.

As always, a strong line up of the top Malaysian golfers are fielded and is something all Malaysians can look forward to in the US$3 million Championship scheduled for March 21 to 24 at Saujana Golf & Country Club.

A 13-strong Malaysian contingent was named today, spearheaded by the country’s top-ranked Gavin Green, at a Maybank Championship Media Golf Day at Saujana today. Aside from Gavin Green, two other local pros namely Ben Leong and Nicholas Fung are in the line-up by virtue of their efforts on the Asian Tour.

The other home stars selected are Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Tour Player of the Year Shahriffuddin Ariffin, Danny Chia, Amir Nazrin, Sukree Othman, Kim Leun Kwang, Arie Irawan, Ramasamy Nachimuthu, Wilson Choo, Kenneth De Silva, and Kemarol Baharin, who all qualified through the local rankings.

Speaking at the event, Datuk R Karunakaran, Director of Maybank said, “The Maybank Championship is a unique tournament, truly one ‘Where the Best Meet’. While it features the top 60 from each of the European and Asian Tours, and 15 from the world’s top 150, we have never neglected our commitment to support and develop local players. Hence, we have set aside places for the top 10 Malaysian golfers – so that they too can have the exposure of playing in a world class event.”

For Green, the Maybank Championship will present a good opportunity to make impact not only on his endeavours on the Europe Tour, but also the domestic game. A lot will also be expected from Leong and Fung – both winners on the Asian Tour. The former played alongside Green in the World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, while Fung is generally regarded as among the most consistent of Malaysia’s players on the regional circuit.

Shahriffuddin, a multiple winner on the PGM Tour and a player who secured his first Asian Development Tour crown at the co-sanctioned Labuan Championship last August – en route to retaining his Order of Merit title – is another one to watch at Saujana.

The players in general at Saujana today welcomed the improved conditions of the Palm layout, also known as the Cobra course. This follows a refurbishment of the greens, which according to John Eu, Chief Executive Officer of GlobalOne, the promoters of the event, should reach at least 10.5 feet on the Stimpmeter.

“We could maybe get it up to 11.5 during tournament week,” he said. “This is mainly because the most significant improvements made in the refurbishment centred on the 18 putting greens. What took place here was that the seed bed of all the greens was replaced with cleaner and slightly coarser washed river sand. This was vitally important as it improves the porosity of the seedbed which allows the greens to better accommodate our heavy annual rainfall.

“Other improvements included providing the greens with better morning sunlight and air circulation through selective pruning and the removal of trees and undergrowth, and selective sub-soil drainage on fairways and other closely mowed areas,” added Eu.

Added Datuk Karunakaran, “Our Maybank Championship events in the past three years have given us a new and unexpected winner each year. While we do not know if it will happen again this year, what I can assure you is that the 2019 tournament will continue to be as thrilling, or even more so – not only based on the players who have confirmed, and the activities planned, but also because the Palm Course is in great shape after its refurbishment. Saujana is well known for being a challenging course, so the revamped greens will surely add to the excitement.”

The Maybank Championship, which has become Malaysia’s premier golf tournament, is set to announce a few other star attractions soon.

Published on January 21, 2019

Sentosa, Singapore, January 21: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has been elevated into the higher echelons of professional golf after winning the US$1,000,000 SMBC Singapore Open.

The 23-year-old Jazz broke into the top-100 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in his career. He moved 37 places from 111st to 74th after earning 24 OWGR points upon his win at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Jazz was up against a star-studded field that included the best golfers from the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO), as well as global stars Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Davis Love III.

The Thai hotshot was enjoying a rich vein of form going into the Asian Tour season opener, having secured a fifth-place finish on the Asian Development Tour’s Boonchu Ruangkit Championship the previous week. He also posted top-fives at the Queen’s Cup hosted by Jaidee Foundation in late November and the BNI Indonesian Masters in December.

Jazz lived up to his tag as a top contender by lifting the coveted trophy. The key to his success at the SMBC Singapore Open was to adopt a more relaxed mindset in the final round.

“I wasn’t expecting to win. I was only going for The Open ticket,” said Jazz, now a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

He felt the pressure after the turn on Sunday, and it mounted after he made a bogey on the 13th that cut his lead to one. However, he held his nerve to win the tournament, which comes with a US$180,000 prize cheque and The Open spot that he was aiming for.

To add the icing on the cake, Jazz set a new tournament record for winning total with a score of 18-under-par 266, surpassing the mark of 267 set by Adam Scott in 2010.

Jazz added: “Breaking into the world’s top-100 is a great deal for me, and winning the Singapore Open is a great achievement. I am going home to celebrate with my family tonight. My dad went for surgery recently, and I want to see him now and share this trophy with him.”

Prom Meesawat of Thailand

Compatriot Prom Meesawat will also be heading back to Thailand in a triumphant mood as he got his season off to a good start by finishing in tied-fifth. He shares second place on the Asian Tour Habitat for Humanity Standings with Korea’s Doyeob Mun. Both Prom and Mun have also earned a spot at The 148th Open at Royal Portrush.

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul followed up his brilliant showing at the Asian Tour Qualifying School with a tied-seventh finish in Singapore. He is fourth on the money list.

The Asian Tour will be heading next to the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, which will be happening from Feb 14 to 17 at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Top players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings

Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)

1. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $180,000.00

2. Doyeob MUN (KOR) $37,150.00

2. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $37,150.00

4. Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA) $26,500.00

5. Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $19,316.67

5. Jarin TODD (USA) $19,316.67

7. Kazuki HIGA (JPN) $14,266.67

7. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $14,266.67

7. Berry HENSON (USA) $14,266.67

7. Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $14,266.67

11. Miguel TABUENA (PHI) $11,091.67

11. Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS)$11,091.67

11. Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) $11,091.67

11. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) $11,091.67

Published on January 20, 2019

Sentosa, Singapore, January 20: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond found his winning rhythm when he closed with a six-under-par 65 to take home the SMBC Singapore Open trophy for his third Asian Tour title and also seal his passage to The Open on Sunday.

The 23-year-old arrived in Singapore on the back of a rich vein of form to establish himself as one of the genuine contenders for the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open trophy at the start of the week.

He did not disappoint as he shrugged off the challenges of a host of quality players including Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Davis Love III to become the third Thai after Thaworn Wiratchant (2001) and Prayad Marksaeng (2017) to lift his third Asian Tour title with a winning total of 18-under-par 266.

Casey surmounted a strong challenge by signing for a 65 but it was never going to be enough to catch Jazz, who was unstoppable on the Sunday afternoon at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The Englishman had to settle for a share of second place with overnight leader, Yoshinori Fujimoto of Japan.

England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, who was making his debut at the SMBC Singapore Open, closed with a 69 to take outright fourth place while Thailand’s Promm Meesawat and Korea’s Doyeob Mun share not only fifth place but will also make their way together to Royal Portrush in July.

The 2019 SMBC Singapore Open was part of The Open Qualifying Series for the third consecutive year where the leading four players (not otherwise exempt) who finish in the top-12 and ties on the final leaderboard will earn coveted spots at the 148th Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland from July 18-21.

Did you know?

Jazz Janewattananond became the third Thai, following Prayad Marksaeng (2017) and Thaworn Wiratchant (2001), to win the SMBC Singapore Open.
With 24 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on offer to the winner this week, Jazz is expected to break into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career.
Jazz dropped only four shots this week. He missed only one green in his final round 65.
Jazz enjoyed a runner-up finish at the Indonesian Masters last month and came close to winning last week at the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) before settling for fifth.
The 23-year-old Thai qualified for The Open for the first time when he came in tied-fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open last year.
He claimed his third Asian Tour title at the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open and obtained The Open ticket for the second straight year.
Jazz set a new lowest winning score record with his 18-under-par 266 total. He broke the record of 17-under-par 267 set by Adam Scott in 2010.
Jazz will take home his career’s biggest prize cheque of US$180,000.
Jazz has not finished outside top-five in his last three starts worldwide.
Paul Casey hit 38/56 fairways and 61/72 greens the entire week. He made a total of 31 putts on the final day.
Casey was one of the world’s most consistent players in 2018, achieving 12 top-20 finishes, including five top-10s in addition to his victory at the Valspar Championship. He has also remained a regular fixture inside the world’s top-25 since 2016.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is the youngest Englishman to get up to five European Tour victories after successfully defending his European Masters title in September last year.
Fitzpatrick hit 11/14 fairways and 13/18 greens on the final day.
Fitzpatrick is the 2013 US amateur champion and his maiden victory on the European Tour came in October 2015 when he won the British Masters. That saw him break into the world’s top-100 at 59th.
Yoshinori Fujimoto‘s best finish at the Singapore Open came in 2016 when he finished tied-14th. The Japanese finished tied for 27th at the SMBC Singapore Open last year.
Fujimoto took an interest in golf as his grandfather owns a driving range in Japan. He started playing golf when he was seven.
Fujimoto went to the same University- Tohoku Fukushi University as Hideki Matsuyama but is two years and four months older.
He turned professional in 2011 and is a two-time winner on the Japan Tour.
Prom Meesawat will be making his second Major appearance at The Open this July. He last qualified in 2011 but missed the halfway cut.
Prom is a two-time winner on Tour. He represented Thailand, alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat, for the first time in his career at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last November.
The 34-year-old Prom marked his best result at the Singapore Open, thanks to his tied-fifth place finish. It was also his fo]urth top-10 result in the prestigious tournament. He had previously finished eighth in 2005, tied-sixth in 2006 and sixth in 2007.
Doyeob Mun is playing in the Singapore Open for the first time in his career this week.
He will be making his Major debut at The Open this July, thanks to his tied-fifth place finish.
The 27-year-old came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018 and retained his playing rights for 2019 after finishing inside top-62 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings last year. He also won on his home circuit last year.
Mun recorded the first Albatross of the 2019 season after hitting his five-iron from 190 metres on the par-five fourth hole during his second round.

Published on

Sentosa, Singapore, January 20: Jazz Janewattananond, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Doyeob Mun and Prom Meesawat have secured their places in The 148th Open after qualifying at the SMBC Singapore Open.

The SMBC Singapore Open was played over the Serapong Couse at Sentosa Golf Club and was the third event in The Open Qualifying Series, which gives golfers around the world opportunities to book their place at Royal Portrush from 14-21 July 2019.

Janewattananond posted a fantastic final round 65 that included seven birdies to triumph at the SMBC Singapore Open for the first time, his third and biggest ever win on the Asian Tour, and clinch the first qualifying place for The Open.

The 23-year-old from Thailand finished on an 18-under-par total of 266 and he will now make his second appearance in The Open after qualifying for the first time at last year’s SMBC Singapore Open when he earned a spot at Carnoustie

Yoshimori and Englishman Paul Casey, who had already secured his starting berth at Royal Portrush, finished two shots behind Janewattananond in a tie for second place on a 16-under-par total of 268.

The 29-year-old from Japan sealed the second available place on offer for The Open this week after carding a 68 during today’s final round. He will also make his second appearance in golf’s original championship following his debut at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2012.

Matthew Fitzpatrick finished in fourth place on a 14-under-par total of 270 and has already qualified for The Open meaning that Doyeob Mun and Prom Meesawat earned the two remaining qualifying places after completing the tournament in a tie for fifth place on nine-under-par, a total of 275.

Mun will make his debut in The Open at Ryal Portrush, his first ever major championship appearance, despite posting a final round 72, while Meesawat made a vital birdie putt on the 72nd hole to qualify for the Championship for the first time since 2011 at Royal St George’s.

The next event in The Open Qualifying Series will be the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill from 7-10 March.

Players’ quotes:

Jazz Janewattananond

“Playing in The Open last year was a huge moment in my career and I’m so happy to have qualified again by winning the Singapore Open.

“Getting a place in The Open is the best and I am looking forward to Royal Portrush now. I have heard it is tough and it will be a challenge so I will need to prepare well.”

Yoshinori Fujimoto

“I am very much looking forward to playing in The Open at Royal Portrush. I played The Open in 2012 and it was fantastic. It’s been a while since I last played in a major championship so I am looking forward to playing alongside the best golfers in the world and testing myself against a strong field.

“I have never played Royal Portrush and I know links golf is very difficult but I enjoyed the test the last time I played so it will be great.”

Doyeob Mun

“I am really pleased with my top 10 finish and securing a place in The Open. It will be my major debut and I am really excited about playing at Royal Portrush.

“It’s amazing. I have been wanting to play in a major championship ever since I started playing golf so my dream finally came true today.

“I haven’t been to the United Kingdom before so it will be my first visit. We have some links course in Korea but I think it’s pretty different. I will be practicing my low shots to prepare myself well for it.”

Prom Meesawat

“It’s nice to be going back to play in The Open this July for my second appearance in a major championship. When the putt on the last hole went in, I felt really good.

“I still remember the experience of playing in The Open at Royal St George’s. It is one of the greatest majors and I have been trying to qualify again ever since. I am happy to finally have the chance to play in The Open again.”

Published on January 19, 2019

Sentosa, Singapore, January 19: Japan’s Fujimoto Yoshinori returned to sign for a second straight four-under-par 67, grabbing the halfway lead by one shot at the weather-disrupted SMBC Singapore Open on Saturday morning.

Young English talent Matthew Fitzpatrick continued his bogey-free streak to card a 67 and shared second place with countryman Paul Casey (67), Japanese heartthrob Ryo Ishikawa (66) and Poom Saksansin (70) of Thailand at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The highlight of the morning went to Doyeob Mun, who nailed the first albatross of the 2019 season after his five-iron shot found the bottom of the cup from about 190 metres on the par-five fourth hole at the Serapong Course.

Mun, who is making his debut appearance at the Singapore Open this week, reeled in eight straight pars from the 10th before making an eagle on the par-five 18th hole. He dropped a shot on the second but bounced back brilliantly with the double-eagle on the fourth.

Despite dropping another shot on the sixth, Mun finished strongly with three closing birdies for a 65 to sit two shots off the pace in sixth. Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand and Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung were among those bunched in sixth place following matching 68s.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia battled to a 68 to tie in 11th place on 137 while Korean social media sensation Hosung Choi posted another 69 to trail by four shots in tied-21st.

More than five hours of play was lost over the last two days due to inclement weather. 76 players returned to complete their rounds at 7.30am local time on Saturday.

The halfway cut was set at one-under-par 141 with a total of 72 players, including two amateurs, progressing into the final two rounds at the US$1 million event, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

Published on January 18, 2019

Sentosa, Singapore, January 18: Poom showed he is the man for the big occasion again when he completed an exhausting day with a second round one-under-par 70 to share the clubhouse lead with England’s Paul Casey at the weather-hit SMBC Singapore Open on Friday.

Regarded by Casey as his ‘nemesis’, Poom got the better of the world number 24 again in their opening round and matched the Englishman’s two-day total of seven-under-par 135 at the US$1 million event which has been disrupted by several weather suspensions over the last two days.

Close to two hours of play was lost in the morning due to inclement weather. It was abandoned at 7.05pm local time due to fading light and will now resume at 7.30am where 76 players will return to their positions on Saturday. The third round is not scheduled to start before 12pm.

The Thai had to return early to the Sentosa Golf Club to complete his remaining seven holes from his first round, before heading back to the starting tee after a short 45-minute break.

He birdied four of his last five holes when first round resumed to sign for a 65. After trading two birdies against one bogey for a 70, he is now looking forward to indulge in the local delicacies before taking a much-deserved rest and coming out to fire at all cylinders again.

At 54, American legend Davis Love III showed his level of fitness is still high after completing 25 holes to trail Poom and Casey by two shots with his 137 total at the season-opening event of the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

The World Golf Hall of Famer’s efforts were also met by India’s Chikkarangappa S., Korea’s Yikeun Chang and South Africa’s Shaun Norris.

Did you know?

Poom Saksansin is making his second appearance at the SMBC Singapore Open this week. He finished tied-12th in his debut appearance last year.
Poom ended his 2018 in style by winning the season finale in Indonesia last month for his third Asian Tour title.
Poom claimed his breakthrough at the Indonesian Masters in 2016. He went on to claim a wire-to-wire victory for his second Asian Tour title in India the following year.
The 25-year-old Thai is dubbed ‘The Baby-faced Assassin’ for his high-profile defeats of Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey on the Asian Tour last year. He beat Paul Casey in the final day singles at the EurAsia Cup and he is looking to claim another scalp over the Englishman this week.
Poom missed only one fairway and three greens in regulation en route to his second round 71.
Paul Casey is the highest-ranked player in the 156-men field. He sits in 24th place on the current Official World Golf Ranking.
Casey was one of the world’s most consistent players in 2018, achieving 12 top-20 finishes, including five top-10s in addition to his victory at the Valspar Championship. He has also remained a regular fixture inside the world’s top-25 since 2016.
Casey is no stranger to winning in Asia having claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in 2011 and the Volvo China Open and TCL Classic, also in China, both in 2005.
He holds 13 titles on the European Tour and returned to the winner’s circle last year after triumphing at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour.
Poom and playing partner Casey each played a total of 25 holes today. They returned to complete their opening rounds at 7.30am local time before play was suspended due to lightning threats at 8.54am when they were on the 18th fairway.
Davis Love III arrived at this week’s SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club on the back of a seventh-place finish in Hawaii.
Love was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 following a stellar career.
He has claimed 21 titles on the PGA Tour: the first in 1987 and most recent in 2015 (the Wyndham Championship).
Most notable of those victories are the 1997 PGA Championship and The Players Championship, in 1992 and 2003.
He captained the United States to victory in the 2016 Ryder Cup and was also captain in 2012, when Europe triumphed.

Published on

Sentosa, Singapore, January 18: Thailand’s Poom Saksansin picked up from where he left off last season by carding a superb six-under-par 65 to grab a share of the opening round lead at the weather-hit SMBC Singapore Open on Friday.

Poom, who won the 2018 Asian Tour season finale in Indonesia last month, took advantage of the calm conditions and his solid iron-play when he returned to complete his opening round on Friday morning at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.

The 25-year-old Thai fired five birdies in his closing seven holes to grab a one-shot advantage alongside reigning Abema TV Tour Order of Merit winner Taihei Sato of Japan at the event, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

The first round of the SMBC Singapore Open resumed at 7.30am local time on Friday but was suspended for the third time this week at 8.45am due to lightning threats. Play was resumed later at 10.45am. Round 2 has commenced at 11.30am.

Chinese Taipei’s Chan Shih-chang returned to sign for a 66 to share third place with compatriot Hung Chien-yao and Shotaro Wada of Japan while Miguel Tabuena of the Philippines, Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and EurAsia Cup Team Asia captain Arjun Atwal of India were among those bunched in sixth place following matching 67s.

England’s Paul Casey, highest-ranked player in the field this week, posted a 68 while defending champion Sergio Garcia of Spain settled for a 69 to trail by four in the US$1 million event.

“I am very happy. I came back to resume my round early this morning and there wasn’t much wind. I hit my irons good. I have experienced a lot of rain delays before but it was never like this, taking one whole day to finish 18 holes,” said Poom, dubbed the “Baby-faced Assassin”.

“I waited three hours yesterday and it was suspended again when I was on the last hole (this morning). I don’t enjoy it so hopefully the weather gets better for everyone. It was nice playing alongside Paul Casey. I played my own game and he was focused on his too. We spoke a bit,” he added.

Ends.

Published on January 17, 2019

Sentosa, Singapore, January 17: Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao extended his bliss to the SMBC Singapore Open by carding a five-under-par 66 to snatch the first round clubhouse lead on Thursday.

Together with the Japanese pair of Yuta Ikeda and Yoshinori, Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena also had a round to remember when he returned with a 67 to trial Hung by one shot at the US$1 million event.

England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, who is making his debut at the SMBC Singapore Open, was pleased to have completed his round before tropical storms halted play at the season-opening event of the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

The Englishman signed for a 68 which was matched by Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond and Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung.

Play was first suspended at 2.08pm (local time). It resumed at 5.30pm before being suspended again due to fading light at 7.10pm. 78 players will resume their first round at 7.30am on Friday morning.

Having welcomed his baby daughter last November, Hung marked his best 18-hole score at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course which he attributed to his growing maturity.

Hung’s newfound status has also revived his flagging fortunes as his performance marked a big turnaround for the 26-year-old.

Playing in his first event since missing the cut in three consecutive events towards the end of 2018, Hung’s best result at the Singapore showpiece was a tied-60th finish last year.

Tabeuna continued to enjoy another good showing at the SMBC Singapore Open having finished tied-fourth and tied-eighth in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

The Filipino admitted he has not hit top form yet but will be ready as the week progresses.

Like last year where he finished tied-fourth, Jazz showed why he has established himself as one of the leading contenders for the SMBC Singapore Open again with another assured performance.

Major winner Sergio Garcia of Spain together with Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa returned with matching 69s to remain three shots back of Hung.

Did you know?

Hung’s best result at the Singapore Open was in 2018 when he finished tied-60th finish. It was the first time he made the cut in three starts in Singapore.
Hung had only one top-10 finish last year when he finished third at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship.
He missed the cut in his last three events in 2018.
Miguel Tabuena missed out on a place at The Open by two shots when he finished tied-eighth at the SMBC Singapore Open last year.
The Filipino is a two-time Asian Tour winner. He won his National Open in 2015 and added another victory last year when he lifted the Queen’s Cup hosted by Jaidee Foundation.
Jazz finished tied-fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open last year to earn himself a dream ticket to The Open.
The Thai first played his way into the history books of the Asian Tour in 2010 when he became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at the 2010 Asian Tour International in Bangkok at the age of 14 years and 71 days.

Ends.

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By V. Krishnaswamy, in Saudi Arabia Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, February 3: Seasoned Scott Hend (67) showed he is on his way back with a tied-sixth finish at the Saudi International at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Jeddah on Sunday. The result also equalled his best finish since the runner-up place at the […]

By V. Krishnaswamy, in Saudi Arabia

The result also equalled his best finish since the runner-up place at the Omega European Masters in the September 2017.

Another young star, Australian Min Woo Lee, who is playing only his second event as a pro finished the weekend 63-63 to be fourth at 15-under-par.

Hend closed with three birdies on the last four holes for his 67 and ended the week at tied-sixth alongside Joost Luiten (63), Bryson DeChambeau (65), Ian Poulter (66) and Ryan Fox (68).

David Lipsky (67) was tied-24^th, while India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Australian Jake McLeod (68) were tied-34^th.

Good finish for Hend, Harding and Green

Hend would be pleased that his comeback was coming along well. After missing out some weeks of golf due to injuries, which he battled with much of 2018, a tied-sixth, would do his confidence wonders.

Hend was 59^th in the world and playing well in 2016 before injuries laid him low.

Harding was happy with his two weeks in the Middle-East.

Johnson thrilled to win after battling with Haotong

When Johnson and Li finished 16-under-par on Saturday evening, five clear of third-placed Lewis, it seemed it would be a two-horse race. But no soon had Lewis got out of the gates, he was on a tear.

Then as Johnson found water on 16^th another twist loomed large. A double bogey seemed likely but Johnson made an up-and-down from 150-yards for a good bogey to stay one ahead after 16 holes.

“That birdie on the 12^th and then the up-and-down for bogey on 16^th were momentum changers,” said Johnson later.

Melbourne, Australia, January 31: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has emerged as a surprise but legitimate contender for a place in the International Team for the Presidents Cup against the United States at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club later this year. The 23-year-old claimed his third and biggest career victory yet on the Asian Tour two weeks […]

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand

On the U.S. side, Xander Schauffele’s T25 in his hometown event earned him enough FedExCup points to reclaim the top spot from Bryson DeChambeau, who was victorious in Dubai on the European Tour.

The top 15 players in the International and U.S. Presidents Cup Team Standings as of Jan. 28, 2019 are listed below:

INTERNATIONAL

Rank Player Country Points
1. Marc Leishman Australia 104.20

Cameron Smith Australia 82.71
Louis Oosthuizen South Africa 81.03
Hideki Matsuyama Japan 72.10
Abraham Ancer Mexico 71.15
Haotong Li China 59.57
Shugo Imahira Japan 54.17
Shaun Norris South Africa 52.96
Jason Day Australia 51.38
Emiliano Grillo Argentina 51.21
Adam Scott Australia 50.99
Jazz Janewattananond Thailand 50.81
Adam Hadwin Canada 44.74
Lucas Herbert Australia 42.43
Yuki Inamori Japan 41.77

UNITED STATES

Rank Player Points

Xander Schauffele 4,194
Bryson DeChambeau 4,160
Justin Thomas 3,934
Brooks Koepka 3,591
Dustin Johnson 3,470
Tony Finau 3,133
Gary Woodland 2,997
Matt Kuchar 2,979
Webb Simpson 2,747
Patrick Cantlay 2,697
Charles Howell III 2,536
Phil Mickelson 2,321
Patrick Reed 2,228
Andrew Putnam 2,164
Bubba Watson 2,126

International Team eligibility criteria

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

U.S. Team eligibility criteria

The top eight (8) U.S. PGA TOUR members who have earned the most FedExCup points from September 11, 2017 (2017 BMW Championship) through 2019 TOUR Championship, weighted as follows:

(a) 2017 BMW Championship through 2018 TOUR Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 1 point

(b) First event of the 2018-2019 season through 2019 TOUR Championship: 1 FedExCup point = 2 points

Four Captain’s selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.

About the Presidents Cup

Cit and Rolex are the exclusive Global Partners of the Presidents Cup.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 26: Malaysia’s representation in this year’s Maybank Championship appears to be as good as it has ever been in a big international tournament. As always, a strong line up of the top Malaysian golfers are fielded and is something all Malaysians can look forward to in the US$3 million Championship scheduled […]

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, January 26: Malaysia’s representation in this year’s Maybank Championship appears to be as good as it has ever been in a big international tournament.

The Maybank Championship, which has become Malaysia’s premier golf tournament, is set to announce a few other star attractions soon.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 21: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has been elevated into the higher echelons of professional golf after winning the US$1,000,000 SMBC Singapore Open. The 23-year-old Jazz broke into the top-100 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in his career. He moved 37 places from 111st to 74th after earning 24 […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 21: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond has been elevated into the higher echelons of professional golf after winning the US$1,000,000 SMBC Singapore Open.

Jazz lived up to his tag as a top contender by lifting the coveted trophy. The key to his success at the SMBC Singapore Open was to adopt a more relaxed mindset in the final round.

“I wasn’t expecting to win. I was only going for The Open ticket,” said Jazz, now a three-time winner on the Asian Tour.

To add the icing on the cake, Jazz set a new tournament record for winning total with a score of 18-under-par 266, surpassing the mark of 267 set by Adam Scott in 2010.

Prom Meesawat of Thailand

Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul followed up his brilliant showing at the Asian Tour Qualifying School with a tied-seventh finish in Singapore. He is fourth on the money list.

The Asian Tour will be heading next to the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth, which will be happening from Feb 14 to 17 at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

Top players on the Habitat for Humanity Standings

Pos Player Order of Merit (US$)

1. Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) $180,000.00

2. Doyeob MUN (KOR) $37,150.00

2. Prom MEESAWAT (THA) $37,150.00

4. Gunn CHAROENKUL (THA) $26,500.00

5. Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) $19,316.67

5. Jarin TODD (USA) $19,316.67

7. Kazuki HIGA (JPN) $14,266.67

7. Masahiro KAWAMURA (JPN) $14,266.67

7. Berry HENSON (USA) $14,266.67

7. Yikeun CHANG (KOR) $14,266.67

11. Miguel TABUENA (PHI) $11,091.67

11. Jake HIGGINBOTTOM (AUS)$11,091.67

11. Phachara KHONGWATMAI (THA) $11,091.67

11. Chapchai NIRAT (THA) $11,091.67

Sentosa, Singapore, January 20: Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond found his winning rhythm when he closed with a six-under-par 65 to take home the SMBC Singapore Open trophy for his third Asian Tour title and also seal his passage to The Open on Sunday. The 23-year-old arrived in Singapore on the back of a rich vein of form […]

The 23-year-old arrived in Singapore on the back of a rich vein of form to establish himself as one of the genuine contenders for the prestigious SMBC Singapore Open trophy at the start of the week.

Casey surmounted a strong challenge by signing for a 65 but it was never going to be enough to catch Jazz, who was unstoppable on the Sunday afternoon at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The Englishman had to settle for a share of second place with overnight leader, Yoshinori Fujimoto of Japan.

Did you know?

Jazz Janewattananond became the third Thai, following Prayad Marksaeng (2017) and Thaworn Wiratchant (2001), to win the SMBC Singapore Open.
With 24 Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points on offer to the winner this week, Jazz is expected to break into the world’s top-100 for the first time in his career.
Jazz dropped only four shots this week. He missed only one green in his final round 65.
Jazz enjoyed a runner-up finish at the Indonesian Masters last month and came close to winning last week at the Boonchu Ruangkit Championship on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) before settling for fifth.
The 23-year-old Thai qualified for The Open for the first time when he came in tied-fourth at the SMBC Singapore Open last year.
He claimed his third Asian Tour title at the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open and obtained The Open ticket for the second straight year.
Jazz set a new lowest winning score record with his 18-under-par 266 total. He broke the record of 17-under-par 267 set by Adam Scott in 2010.
Jazz will take home his career’s biggest prize cheque of US$180,000.
Jazz has not finished outside top-five in his last three starts worldwide.
Paul Casey hit 38/56 fairways and 61/72 greens the entire week. He made a total of 31 putts on the final day.
Casey was one of the world’s most consistent players in 2018, achieving 12 top-20 finishes, including five top-10s in addition to his victory at the Valspar Championship. He has also remained a regular fixture inside the world’s top-25 since 2016.
Matthew Fitzpatrick is the youngest Englishman to get up to five European Tour victories after successfully defending his European Masters title in September last year.
Fitzpatrick hit 11/14 fairways and 13/18 greens on the final day.
Fitzpatrick is the 2013 US amateur champion and his maiden victory on the European Tour came in October 2015 when he won the British Masters. That saw him break into the world’s top-100 at 59th.
Yoshinori Fujimoto‘s best finish at the Singapore Open came in 2016 when he finished tied-14th. The Japanese finished tied for 27th at the SMBC Singapore Open last year.
Fujimoto took an interest in golf as his grandfather owns a driving range in Japan. He started playing golf when he was seven.
Fujimoto went to the same University- Tohoku Fukushi University as Hideki Matsuyama but is two years and four months older.
He turned professional in 2011 and is a two-time winner on the Japan Tour.
Prom Meesawat will be making his second Major appearance at The Open this July. He last qualified in 2011 but missed the halfway cut.
Prom is a two-time winner on Tour. He represented Thailand, alongside Kiradech Aphibarnrat, for the first time in his career at the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne last November.
The 34-year-old Prom marked his best result at the Singapore Open, thanks to his tied-fifth place finish. It was also his fo]urth top-10 result in the prestigious tournament. He had previously finished eighth in 2005, tied-sixth in 2006 and sixth in 2007.
Doyeob Mun is playing in the Singapore Open for the first time in his career this week.
He will be making his Major debut at The Open this July, thanks to his tied-fifth place finish.
The 27-year-old came through the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018 and retained his playing rights for 2019 after finishing inside top-62 on the Habitat for Humanity Standings last year. He also won on his home circuit last year.
Mun recorded the first Albatross of the 2019 season after hitting his five-iron from 190 metres on the par-five fourth hole during his second round.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 20: Jazz Janewattananond, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Doyeob Mun and Prom Meesawat have secured their places in The 148th Open after qualifying at the SMBC Singapore Open. The SMBC Singapore Open was played over the Serapong Couse at Sentosa Golf Club and was the third event in The Open Qualifying Series, which gives golfers around […]

Sentosa, Singapore, January 20: Jazz Janewattananond, Yoshinori Fujimoto, Doyeob Mun and Prom Meesawat have secured their places in The 148th Open after qualifying at the SMBC Singapore Open.

Yoshimori and Englishman Paul Casey, who had already secured his starting berth at Royal Portrush, finished two shots behind Janewattananond in a tie for second place on a 16-under-par total of 268.

The next event in The Open Qualifying Series will be the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Bay Hill from 7-10 March.

Players’ quotes:

Jazz Janewattananond

“Playing in The Open last year was a huge moment in my career and I’m so happy to have qualified again by winning the Singapore Open.

“Getting a place in The Open is the best and I am looking forward to Royal Portrush now. I have heard it is tough and it will be a challenge so I will need to prepare well.”

Yoshinori Fujimoto

“I have never played Royal Portrush and I know links golf is very difficult but I enjoyed the test the last time I played so it will be great.”

Doyeob Mun

“I am really pleased with my top 10 finish and securing a place in The Open. It will be my major debut and I am really excited about playing at Royal Portrush.

“It’s amazing. I have been wanting to play in a major championship ever since I started playing golf so my dream finally came true today.

Prom Meesawat

“It’s nice to be going back to play in The Open this July for my second appearance in a major championship. When the putt on the last hole went in, I felt really good.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 19: Japan’s Fujimoto Yoshinori returned to sign for a second straight four-under-par 67, grabbing the halfway lead by one shot at the weather-disrupted SMBC Singapore Open on Saturday morning. Young English talent Matthew Fitzpatrick continued his bogey-free streak to card a 67 and shared second place with countryman Paul Casey (67), Japanese heartthrob […]

Defending champion Sergio Garcia battled to a 68 to tie in 11th place on 137 while Korean social media sensation Hosung Choi posted another 69 to trail by four shots in tied-21st.

More than five hours of play was lost over the last two days due to inclement weather. 76 players returned to complete their rounds at 7.30am local time on Saturday.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 18: Poom showed he is the man for the big occasion again when he completed an exhausting day with a second round one-under-par 70 to share the clubhouse lead with England’s Paul Casey at the weather-hit SMBC Singapore Open on Friday. Regarded by Casey as his ‘nemesis’, Poom got the better of the […]

The Thai had to return early to the Sentosa Golf Club to complete his remaining seven holes from his first round, before heading back to the starting tee after a short 45-minute break.

The World Golf Hall of Famer’s efforts were also met by India’s Chikkarangappa S., Korea’s Yikeun Chang and South Africa’s Shaun Norris.

Did you know?

Poom Saksansin is making his second appearance at the SMBC Singapore Open this week. He finished tied-12th in his debut appearance last year.
Poom ended his 2018 in style by winning the season finale in Indonesia last month for his third Asian Tour title.
Poom claimed his breakthrough at the Indonesian Masters in 2016. He went on to claim a wire-to-wire victory for his second Asian Tour title in India the following year.
The 25-year-old Thai is dubbed ‘The Baby-faced Assassin’ for his high-profile defeats of Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey on the Asian Tour last year. He beat Paul Casey in the final day singles at the EurAsia Cup and he is looking to claim another scalp over the Englishman this week.
Poom missed only one fairway and three greens in regulation en route to his second round 71.
Paul Casey is the highest-ranked player in the 156-men field. He sits in 24th place on the current Official World Golf Ranking.
Casey was one of the world’s most consistent players in 2018, achieving 12 top-20 finishes, including five top-10s in addition to his victory at the Valspar Championship. He has also remained a regular fixture inside the world’s top-25 since 2016.
Casey is no stranger to winning in Asia having claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in 2011 and the Volvo China Open and TCL Classic, also in China, both in 2005.
He holds 13 titles on the European Tour and returned to the winner’s circle last year after triumphing at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour.
Poom and playing partner Casey each played a total of 25 holes today. They returned to complete their opening rounds at 7.30am local time before play was suspended due to lightning threats at 8.54am when they were on the 18th fairway.
Davis Love III arrived at this week’s SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club on the back of a seventh-place finish in Hawaii.
Love was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2017 following a stellar career.
He has claimed 21 titles on the PGA Tour: the first in 1987 and most recent in 2015 (the Wyndham Championship).
Most notable of those victories are the 1997 PGA Championship and The Players Championship, in 1992 and 2003.
He captained the United States to victory in the 2016 Ryder Cup and was also captain in 2012, when Europe triumphed.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 18: Thailand’s Poom Saksansin picked up from where he left off last season by carding a superb six-under-par 65 to grab a share of the opening round lead at the weather-hit SMBC Singapore Open on Friday. Poom, who won the 2018 Asian Tour season finale in Indonesia last month, took advantage of the calm […]

England’s Paul Casey, highest-ranked player in the field this week, posted a 68 while defending champion Sergio Garcia of Spain settled for a 69 to trail by four in the US$1 million event.

Ends.

Sentosa, Singapore, January 17: Chinese Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao extended his bliss to the SMBC Singapore Open by carding a five-under-par 66 to snatch the first round clubhouse lead on Thursday. Together with the Japanese pair of Yuta Ikeda and Yoshinori, Philippines’ Miguel Tabuena also had a round to remember when he returned with a 67 to […]