Rising Thai star Jazz Janewattananond will be hoping to hit all the right notes when he tees it up at the PGA Tour’s DEAN & DELUCA Invitational at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth in Texas from May 25 to 28.
Jazz has been handed a special invitation to compete in the celebrated PGA Tour event by the Pace Development Corporation, the owner of gourmet food and beverage brand ‘DEAN & DELUCA’ and title sponsor of the $6.7 million tournament, following his impressive victory in the MENA Tour’s MahaSamutr Masters at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand, earlier this month.
Jazz flashed a glimpse of his burgeoning talent when he held off a spirited challenge from fellow Thai professional Varanyu Rattanaphaibulkij to take the honours in a playoff in a first for a Thai player on the MENA Tour.
The 21-year-old prodigy, who will be the first-ever Thai professional to play in the PGA Tour’s longest-running event, will join a star-studded cast at Colonial, headlined by defending champion Jordan Spieth, Hideki Matsuyama, Masters and Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion Sergio Garcia, Jon Rahm and Matt Kuchar among other top draws.
“It is a great honour and opportunity to represent Thailand at such a world-class professional tournament,” said Jazz, who turned professional in 2010 and became the youngest ever player to make the halfway cut on the 2010 Asian Tour, aged just 14 years and 71 days.
“My sincere thanks to PACE Development Corporation and DEAN & DELUCA for offering me such a valuable spot. I will try and do my best. The experience of playing alongside world-class player will certainly come handy for the future.
Sorapoj Techakraisri, Chief Executive Officer, PACE Development Corporation, said: “As a Thai entrepreneur, PACE continuously sees the importance of showcasing Thai potential and talent on the world stage in many aspects.
“Apart from operating business in Thailand and internationally, PACE continually supports local golf development. This will mark the second year as title sponsor of DEAN & DELUCA Invitational, which is one of the world’s most famous and longest-running professional golf tournaments.
“We are pleased to offer this great opportunity to a young passionate Thai professional like Jazz. As the first-ever Thai professional golfer to attend this tournament, Jazz will be able to showcase his talent at a world class tournament on the PGA Tour, while competing alongside the world’s top players.
“We hope that Jazz will gain much experience from this tournament and we believe that he will be a good inspiration to the younger generation of Thai golfers.
In addition, PACE, under MahaSamutr Country Club Hua Hin, sponsored the ‘MahaSamutr Masters Pro-Am’ to select two lucky Country Club members to play alongside the PGA Tour stars at DEAN & DELUCA Invitational Pro-Am 2017.”
