SMBC Singapore Open champion Jazz Janewattananond had the crowds singing to his tune at the PGA Championship, the second Major of the year, where he finished tied 14th after a largely positive week.
With a local caddy on his bag and playing fearless golf, Jazz established himself as a fan favourite by easily making the cut and moving up to tied second place after a best-of-the-day 67 in the third round.
The talented 23-year-old Thai was still one of the closest challengers to eventual winner Brooks Koepka of the United States, who held a seven stroke lead at the start of the final round, after navigating the opening nine holes on Sunday in even par.
However, Jazz – playing his first Major on United States soil – likely pushed a bit too hard on the notoriously difficult Bethpage State Park course and carded a double bogey and five straight bogeys from the 12th hole to card a seven-over 77.
Jazz entered the PGA Championship in good form having recorded four top-five finishes since winning the SMBC Singapore Open by two strokes from England’s Paul Casey and Yoshinori Fujimoto of Japan at Sentosa Golf Club in January.
While Jazz will improve his Official World Golf Ranking of 72nd due to his efforts, he will fall short at this point of a top 60 spot required to win a place in next month’s US Open at Pebble Beach.
That said, his triumph at the SMBC Singapore Open earned Jazz a ticket to The Open at Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland, in July, where he is sure to have a big following.
Three-time Singapore Open champion Adam Scott of Australia tied eighth in the PGA Championship after a closing 74.
