Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond hopes victory will be a footstep away when he tees off for the inaugural True Thailand Classic presented by Black Mountain which starts next week.
Although the 19-year-old has yet to win a title on the region’s premier Tour, the Thai hotshot believes he stands a good chance of breaking that title drought at the Black Mountain Golf Club, which is also his sponsor and home course.
“It’s going to be a new feeling. The first tee is a five minute walk from my house. It’s going to be a good week and I’m looking forward to enjoying the week in my home town,” said Jazz.
The young Thai has enjoyed a significant measure of success abroad with four top-10s in India, Philippines and Malaysia last year.
He is now seeking to replicate that form on home soil next week.
“My family will be out there for sure. I hope to show them I can play good golf. So far, I’ve been playing well outside Thailand but I also want to show that I can play good at home too.
“It will be good if I can contend next week. I live there and I see all the members there. Black Mountain is like family to me and if I play well, they will support me. There are a lot of Swedish people there and they could be cheering for me too,” said Jazz.
The Thailand Classic is the first tournament in the Kingdom to be co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour in eight years and with a prize fund of US$2 million, it is also the most lucrative golf event in Thailand.
The 7,350 yards, par-72 course at the Black Mountain Golf Club will offer a stern test for the best players from both continents and it will be a challenge that Jazz is well aware of.
“The course at Black Mountain is pretty wide but it will test the players’ performance, rather than your knowledge of the golf course.
“There is not much rough now as we had a bit of a cold season in Thailand and we couldn’t grow the rough. The long hitters can bomb it far but the greens are still sloppy,” said Jazz.
Among the other top Asian Tour players vying for top honours at the Thailand Classic include reigning Order of Merit champion David Lipsky of the United States, India’s Anirban Lahiri, voted Players’ Player of the Year in 2014, Australia’s Scott Hend and Philippines’ Angelo Que.
Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts along with England’s Tommy Fleetwood and David Howell will also feature alongside Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn at the Black Mountain Golf Club.
Tickets are now available for purchase at ThaiticketMajor, with admission fees of 400 THB for a single day pass on Thursday (R1) and Friday (R2). The fee is 800 THB for a single day pass on Saturday (R3) and Sunday (Final Round).
There is a four-day season pass priced at 1,200 THB. Children and youths (under 16 years old) and senior citizens (over 65 years old) are allowed to enter for free. For further ticketing reservations, purchasing and information, please contact 02-262-3456 or www.thaiticketmajor.com
More details about the Thailand Classic are available on www.golfthailandclassic.com, www.facebook.com/golfthailandclassic and www.twitter.com/golfthaiclassic
