Published July 17, 2008 on April 20, 2018

Rejuvenated Jazz Looking to Regain Top Form at the Volvo China Open

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Young Thai talent Jazz Janewattananond will be ready to take on the star-studded field when the prestigious Volvo China Open gets underway at the Beijing Topwin Golf and Country Club next week.

The 22-year-old Thai is eager to showcase his immense talent when he heads to the Middle Kingdom for the CN¥20,000,000 (approx. US$3,178,000) event, tri-sanctioned for the first time by the Asian Tour, European Tour, and the China Golf Association.

Jazz, a one-time Asian Tour winner, will feature in the elite field alongside 40 other Tour champions and seven Order of Merit winners, which includes the likes of Thai stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thongchai Jaidee and Gavin Green of Malaysia.

Indian talent Shubhankar Sharma, who leads the current Habitat for Humanity standings, will also spearhead the Asian Tour challenge in the 24th edition of the Volvo China Open, which is the longest-running professional golf tournament in the country.

Haotong Li ranked 44th on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), will be looking to underline his growing credentials as China’s number one when he leads the home charge in his National Open, where he won in 2016.

The 22-year-old Li became the first ever Chinese player to break into the world’s top-50 when he won his second European Tour title in Dubai in January. He will aim to recapture the trophy on home soil after Alexander Levy of France claimed the title for a record second time last year.

Jazz, who joined the play-for-pay ranks in 2011, lost his Asian Tour card for the first time in his career after finishing outside top-60 on the 2016 Order of Merit.

The young Thai, however, bounced back with a breakthrough win in Bangladesh two months later before going on to claim seven top-10 results to finish a career-high ninth position on the Merit rankings last season.

“Last year was probably my best season so far on the Asian Tour. The win in Bangladesh was a boost in my career because it allowed me to play freely for the rest of the year knowing that I had regained my card for the next one year,” said Jazz.

Jazz continued his superb run into the 2018 season by finishing tied-fourth at the season opener in Singapore and earned for himself a coveted spot in The Open this July where he will make his Major debut.

Despite missing the halfway cut in India for the first time this season last month, Jazz is confident of regaining his best form in China after enjoying a much-needed break at home.

“I had a great start to the season but I was honestly feeling very tired from travelling and was suffering from a heat stroke at that point of time.

“I was really happy to have these five weeks off to just recuperate and take a step back from competitive golf. I travelled around Thailand with my friends to take my mind off golf for a bit and was able to work more on my fitness,” said Jazz.

Currently ranked 152nd on the OWGR, Jazz will also keep his goal of breaking into the world’s top-100 at the back of his mind when he bids for the title at the Volvo China Open next week.

“This is a huge event for me because it’s a tri-sanctioned event. My main goal for this year is to win a tournament on the Asian Tour and break into the top-100 in the world. It’s only my second time to China and I have seen how good some of their players are getting.

“I think my game has improved a lot this year with all the experience I get playing in different weather conditions in Europe. It’s exciting to be back and I feel like everything is good in my life so hopefully it will translate well on the golf course.” added Jazz.

Other Asian Tour heavyweights include Jeev Milkha Singh, Wenchong Liang of China, Australian Scott Hend and Yuta Ikeda of Japan, who represented Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in January.

S.S.P. Chawrasia and Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, who holds a combined total of 14 victories on the Asian Tour, will also be vying for glory alongside a host of rising stars which include 18-year-old Phachara Khongwatmai of Thailand and American Micah Lauren Shin.