PHOTO: LAGARDERE SPORTS
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.
"I wasn’t expecting to win actually. I was going for The Open ticket. I felt the pressure when I got to the back nine today. I had a three-shot lead after turning in 21. I know anything can happen on this course. I was just trying to hit the fairways and greens. I made a silly bogey on the 13th which almost cost me the lead," Jazz said.
"Getting into The Open last year was probably the best thing that has happened in my career so far. I remembered I spoke to Kiradech Aphibarnrat a lot last year before heading to Carnoustie. It was a really great experience. I learned a lot that week and I am very excited to be making my second appearance at Royal Portrush this July. I am going home to celebrate with my family tonight. My dad went for a surgery recently and I really want to see him now and share this trophy with him. "
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 is 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.
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