LIV Golf players to compete in this month’s Singapore Open at Sentosa

[SINGAPORE] Between six and eight LIV Golf players will play at this month’s Singapore Open golf tournament at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course, said one of the Asian Tour’s most senior executives.

David Rollo, the chief operating officer of the Asian Tour, revealed this in an interview on the sidelines of a media golf day. The US$2 million Singapore Open presented by The Business Times tees off on Apr 23.

LIV Golf is a men’s professional league that was founded in 2021 and financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund. Among the many stars that play in this league are Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Smith.

“We will talk to a few LIV players in the coming days and ensure that at least half a dozen players are in the 144-player field for the Singapore Open,” said Rollo, without disclosing exact names.

The Asian Tour has an ongoing investment and strategic partnership with LIV Golf that grew its coffers by US$200 million.

The partnership resulted in the establishment of the International Series, a set of tournaments sanctioned by the Asian Tour and backed by LIV Golf that offers players a pathway into the LIV Golf League.

“Our aim is to grow the Singapore Open to be a major fixture in the region... We want to make it as big as what it was during the years when Barclays was the title sponsor,” said Rollo, a Scotsman who has been in his current role at the Asian Tour since 2022.

British bank Barclays was the title sponsor from 2006 to 2012, with the prize purse for what was known as Asia’s richest national Open growing to an all-time high of US$6 million in each of the last three years of the deal.

During that period, the sport’s biggest stars such as US Masters winners Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Angel Cabrera competed in Singapore.

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As the build-up towards the big day looms, Rollo also commented on the recent announcement that The Business Times – a publication of SPH Media – become the Singapore Open’s new presenting partner for the first time.

“This new relationship with such a respected publication and brand is great. The paper is an institution, and I’m delighted to see such a connection,” he said.

Singaporean golfers to the fore

A total of 12 spots will be set aside for Singaporeans at the national open this year.

Leading the local charge is the in-form Nicklaus Chiam, who won his maiden professional title at the Asian Development Tour’s PKNS Selangor Masters in Malaysia in February.

The 31-year-old, who joined the professional ranks in 2021, said of his achievement: “It was a nice breakthrough. Lately, I have been playing well, and I hope to maintain this form – especially with the support of the home fans at the Singapore Open.”

Chiam will leave for two tournaments abroad on Tuesday (April 7). He will return to Singapore soon to begin practice for the Sentosa event.

Another familiar face that fans can look forward to seeing on the course is the veteran Mardan Mamat. The 58-year-old qualified due to his presence on the Asian Tour’s money-earning list.

Also flying the Singapore flag high will be Marc Ong, who sealed his spot as the Singapore Professional Golfers Association’s Order of Merit winner for 2025.

Among the other Singapore players scheduled to compete are James Leow, Gregory Foo, Koh Dengshan, Ryan Ang, Dennis Lim, Joshua Yap and Wong Qi Wen.

Two amateurs, Troy Storm and Brayden Lee, who also qualified last year and have made the cut once more, will complete the Singapore line-up.

The two best finishers of the Singapore Open, who are not already eligible, will get the chance to play in the British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, in July.