One of the rising stars of the game, the 23-year-old will arrive in New Zealand off the back of his win last month at the SMBC Singapore Open after beating off a host of world-class players including Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Davis Love III.
Jazz says he is determined to put up another good showing in New Zealand: “That win in Singapore was pretty exciting. I got back home to Hua Hin and everyone threw me a party. But now it’s back to business; this will be my first time playing in New Zealand and I’m excited by the prospect.”
Jazz’s victory in Singapore played a huge role in launching him into the top-100 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for the first time in his career. However, while the young Thai is pleased with his achievements which will set him up for bigger playing opportunities, he knows how cruel the sport can be and why it is important for him to stay on top of his game.
“I didn’t think I would be able to break into the world’s top-100 so fast. Now that it has happened, I’m aiming higher and want to break into the top-50. It’s a step-by-step process,” he says.
Jazz was just 14 when he played his way into the history books in 2010 by becoming the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut at an Asian Tour event.
The quietly-spoken Thai has won three times on the Asian Tour and goes into the New Zealand Open tournament as one of the favourites.
Tournament Director Michael Glading enthused about securing a player who will be the highest ranking player in the field: “I tried to get Jazz to come down in 2018 but it just didn’t fit his schedule, but as is often the case, patience pays off!
“It’s especially pleasing that he has elected to come this year, as he has status on the European Tour and is a player in huge demand all over the world.”
Jazz will be joined in Queenstown by another of Thailand’s leading young professionals Poom Saksansin, who has a world-ranking of 145 and has also already won three times on the Asian tour in his short career.
“We’re delighted to have secured two of Thailand’s fastest rising stars to compete in the 100th New Zealand Open. They’re two players to watch and will be hugely competitive,” says Glading.
