As crowds at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course cheered a masterful shot by Jazz Janewattananond that landed on the green of the 18th hole, the Thai golfer smiled as he walked down the fairway knowing his second stroke had brought him an inch closer to lifting the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open trophy on Sunday.

Despite failing his eagle attempt on the last hole, the birdie the 23-year-old Thai scored was enough to guarantee him the Singapore Open title, making him the third Thai to lift the trophy of the US$1 million event after Prayad Marksaeng and Thaworn Wiratchant in 2017 and 2001, respectively.

His victory also guarantees him a spot at the 148th Open Championship, commonly known as the British Open or simply The Open, one of golf’s four major championships, which will be held at the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland in July.

“When I was sitting here doing the [pre-tournament] interview, I wasn’t planning on winning. My goal here was to grab The Open card. Even this morning I still went out there thinking, ‘just get the card,’” he said.

Teeing off alongside the United Kingdom’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Japan’s Yoshinori Fujimoto, Jazz was on fire from his fist stroke. After two birdies on the first two holes, Jazz had stolen the top spot from Fujimoto.

But it was certainly not easy for Jazz to hold the lead as he faced pressure from Brits Fitzpatrick and Paul Casey. Fujimoto struggled to stay in the battle, remaining 12-under-par on the front nine after recording a bogey on the fifth hole to go with his birdie on the third.

Jazz found himself in trouble on the seventh hole after his first shot saw the ball veer off the course to land near the stone border of the lake. Jazz then had to hit from behind a tree but still made par despite the odds.

After completing the front nine, Jazz held the lead, carding 17-under par while Casey, the highest ranked player on the course, and his compatriot Fitzpatrick, who struggled to find his mojo on Sunday, lurked behind the Thai with 14-under-par.

Fitzpatrick’s effort to close the gap proved unsuccessful again, as he missed putts on birdie attempts on the 10th and 13th holes.

As attention was shifting to the battle between the two Brits and Jazz for the crown, Fujimoto crept back into the game by carding two birdies in a row on the 12th and 13th holes.

Things became even more interesting when Jazz recorded his only bogey of the day on the 13th hole, reducing his lead to just one stroke from the three chasing golfers.

Spectators at the sunny but windy Serapong Course then witnessed the Thai push on in full spirits to extend his lead again with another birdie on the 16th hole.

Jazz’s lead was further solidified after Casey recorded his first bogey of the round on the 15th hole, followed by Fitzpatrick, who sunk into desperation after recording two bogeys in a row on the 15th and 16th holes.

“The birdie on the 16th [hole], that was the changing point,’” Jazz said.

Casey’s birdie on the last hole was not enough to dethrone Jazz from his reign atop the clubhouse as the Thai ended the fourth round six-under-par to card 18-under-par 266 in total.

Fujimoto and Casey shared second place with 16-under-par 268, while Fitzpatrick trailed in fourth place with 14-under-par 270.

Jazz’s compatriot Prom Meesawat and South Korea’s Doyeob Mun also earned spots at The Open after finishing equal fifth, as did Fujimoto. Fitzpatrick and Casey had already qualified for the major tournament.

“Playing at The Open last year was probably the best thing that has happened in my golf career,” Jazz said, adding that he would fly home directly to see his family after his victory.

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