Golf action aplenty in 2023 as Singapore’s courses play host to top stars
Usually held in January, the Singapore Open will be staged in the second half of the year, sources say.
FOR the last six years except for Covid-hit 2021, the Singapore Open – the national golf tournament sanctioned by the Singapore Golf Association – took place right about now, in the middle of January.
But this year, the event has been postponed to much later – sources say the second half of 2023 is likely – due to a congested calendar in the next four months with many high-profile international tournaments that will put Singapore on the world golfing map.
The country has become a popular destination for big golf events because of its numerous award-winning courses, facilities, the country’s organisational capability and its connectivity with the sport’s world bodies.
When British bank Barclays ended its title sponsorship of the Singapore Open in 2012 after eight years, Japanese bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) came forward and became the title sponsor from 2016 to 2022, with the event featuring the likes of former Major winners Jordan Spieth and Sergio Garcia.
International sports marketing agency SportFive – the organiser of the Singapore Open, widely known as “Asia’s Major” – is still trying to secure a new date for the event, as well as a new title sponsor.
In the meantime, there is no shortage of golf action for fans in Singapore to enjoy. Last month, the Hana Financial Group Singapore Women’s Open was held at Tanah Merah County Club’s Tampines course.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm
Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
There are at least four major events happening here from February to April, among them the return of the DP World Tour to Singapore with the Singapore Classic at Laguna National Golf Resort Club from Feb 9-12.
Laguna, which also has the Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore hotel, previously hosted the Singapore Masters from 2002 to 2007 and was the scene of the most memorable moment in Singapore’s golfing history when home favourite Mardan Mamat lifted the trophy in 2006, finishing one stroke ahead of England’s Nick Dougherty.
The Singapore Classic is considered one of the region’s premier sporting events with a US$2 million prize purse. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who won twice on the DP World Tour in 2022, will be playing, as well as young amateur stars Ding Wenyi and Ratchanon Chantananuwat.
The DP World Tour first visited Singapore in 1993, with Major champions Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam winning the first editions of the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1993 and 1996. Fellow Major winners Vijay Singh and Adam Scott are also among the former winners on the DP World Tour in Singapore.
In the first week of March, the 15th edition of the HSBC Women’s World Championships will be staged at Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course and will feature 63 participating golfers, including defending champion Ko Jin-young and the world’s first- and second-ranked players Lydia Ko and Nelly Korda.
Later that month, the Singapore Island Country Club’s New Course will hold the fifth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championships. The winner of this event will also be invited to compete in three major championships – the AIG Women’s Open, The Chevron Championship and the Amundi Evian Championship.
Sentosa’s Serapong course is one of three marquee locations outside of the United States for the 14-tournament programme of LIV Golf, the new Saudi Arabia-backed body that has former Major winner Greg Norman fronting it as chief executive officer and commissioner.
Singaporeans will get to see one of the best line-ups in the 48-player field from April 28-30 with Major champions Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson included in LIV Golf’s roster.
After a debut season in 2022 featuring eight events boasting a total prize purse of US$255 million, this year’s series will consist of 14 events and golfers playing for US$405 million.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
