Staff WriterWith just two events left on The International Series schedule, the Moutai Singapore Open is shaping up to be a career-defining week for Thailand’s leading golfers. Ranking points, reputation, and potential golden tickets into the 2026 LIV Golf League are all on the line at Singapore Island Country Club.
For the first time, two players from The International Series Rankings will qualify directly for LIV Golf next season. Those finishing inside the top 40 will secure a place at the high-stakes LIV Golf Promotions event in Florida early next year—where two more spots will be waiting for the bold and the lucky.
Among those fighting for position are three of Thailand’s most recognisable names: Jazz Janewattananond, Nitithorn Thippong, and Pavit Tangkamolprasert—each chasing their own route to the next level.
Jazz Looking to Strike the Right Chord Again
Few players in Asia boast a résumé like Jazz’s. A former Singapore Open and International Series Morocco champion, the seven-time Asian Tour winner returns to familiar territory hoping to rediscover the magic that once made him nearly untouchable across the region.
Currently 29th in The International Series Rankings, Jazz is targeting a top-20 finish—enough to likely earn a bye into the first round of LIV Golf Promotions. His season has shown flashes of old brilliance: runner-up at the GS Caltex Maekyung Open, fourth at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, and a blistering nine-under 61 at last week’s Link Hong Kong Open that briefly had him one shot off the lead.
“It’s definitely good news that there are now more opportunities to get into LIV,” Jazz said. “My ranking is still a bit far off – I’m more in the position of chasing than being chased. I’m just hoping for a big week that can help me jump up.
“There were some sparks in my game last week, especially in the first couple of rounds. Golf’s a fine-margin game, and you’ve got to be right at the top of it if you want to win,” he added.
Despite being the 2019 Singapore Open champion, Jazz insists there’s no home-course advantage this time around.
“It’s a very different setup from where I won before, but that’s part of the challenge,” he said. “It looks like a course that rewards all-around play – hopefully that suits me.”
Nitithorn “Fever” Thippong Aiming for a Comeback
Known for his fearless play and fiery temperament, Nitithorn “Fever” Thippong is hoping the Moutai Singapore Open can reignite his season. The 2022 International Series Singapore champion sits outside the top 50 on the rankings but knows that one strong performance can rewrite the year’s story.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity,” the 26-year-old said about the expanded LIV Golf pathway. “My game hasn’t really been going my way lately, and I’ve been struggling with confidence. But in golf, one good week can change everything. Having two spots available makes it even more exciting – it gives us more motivation.”
After a mixed campaign highlighted by a hole-in-one in Morocco and a T23 at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters, Nitithorn’s been grinding both mentally and technically.
“Earlier this year I didn’t play well for quite some time, and it really affected my confidence,” he said. “But after Morocco, we had a good break, and I used that time to practice and figure things out. My game on the range is strong – it’s just about bringing that same rhythm into tournaments.”
Pavit Peaking at the Perfect Moment
Meanwhile, Pavit Tangkamolprasert has quietly worked his way into contention, arriving in Singapore full of confidence after a string of steady results.
Third at the Jakarta International Championship, T30 in the Philippines, and T9 in Hong Kong—those consistent finishes have lifted Pavit to 19th in The International Series Rankings, placing him on the cusp of an exemption straight into the second round of LIV Promotions.
“I’ve been struggling with my irons for a while, but I stayed patient and trusted my short game,” Pavit explained after his strong finish in Hong Kong. “The turning point came on the 13th hole — I finally started hitting my irons the way I wanted, and from there, everything just clicked.”
His putting, by his own admission, has been electric.
“My putting has been incredible all week, around 25 or 26 putts each round. If I can get my driver and irons going the same way, I believe I can get up there and contend,” he said.
A multiple-time Asian Tour winner, Pavit knows what it takes to perform under pressure, especially on a course he’s played since his junior days.
“I’ve played it many times, even since my junior days,” he said. “It’s been renovated since then, so it’ll feel completely new. But I’m confident in my game.”
The Final Push
The Moutai Singapore Open has long been known for drama, and this year’s edition promises plenty. With only two events remaining, every swing will carry consequence.
For Thailand’s trio of Jazz, Nitithorn, and Pavit, this week could be the difference between another season on the grind—or a golden ticket to the LIV Golf League.
And in golf, as all three know too well, sometimes all it takes is one good week.
