Jazz tuning up for another run at glory in Japan

The International Series makes its debut in Japan this week, and serial Asian Tour champion Jazz Janewattananond is showing some good form ahead of the Caledonian Golf Club date.

International Series Japan presented by Moutai is the third of 10 LIV Golf-backed tournaments on the Asian Tour calendar.

The elevated event in Chiba prefecture has attracted LIV Golf players and a host of Japanese talent including local hero Ryo Ishikawa. A host of Asian Tour players will also be there, vying for the automatic spot on the 2026 LIV Golf roster that comes with the end-of-season Rankings title.

Jazz was named Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year in 2019 and the seven-time Asian Tour champion is looking to recreate some of that form this week.

He’s certainly trending in the right direction. The 29-year-old was tied for the lead going into the final round of the 44th GS Caltex Maekyung Open Golf Championship in Korea at the weekend and in with a great shout of making it tournament victory no.8.

On a challenging final day, Jazz had to settle for a tie for second, after posting a one-over round of 72 while home hope Doyeob Mun roared to a sensational three-shot victory with a flawless eight-under round – including six back-nine birdies – on the testing course at Namseoul Country Club.

The T2 is still a positive for the 2022 International Series Morocco champion, who feels there is still a lot more to come this season. He said: “The swing is trending, but just not there yet - it's not automatic yet. I still have some shots where I don't feel comfortable, but I know what to work on.

“I haven't been to Japan in so long. I used to play a full schedule there in 2019, and it is something special. Every golf course is perfectly manicured. You know you're going to get a good level of golf, and a challenging golf course.

“So I’m looking forward to that, and catching up with some old friends I haven't seen in a while,” added Jazz, who won the SMBC Singapore Open by two shots from Paul Casey and Yoshinori Fujimoto in 2019 when the event was co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour.