Sentosa: Next year’s edition of the SMBC Singapore Open will be played from January 19 to 22 and it will once again be the opening event on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
The US$1 million jointly sanctioned tournament, won by Korean Younghan Song at the start of this year, will be played on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club – the event’s traditional home since 2005.
“The return of the Singapore Open this year for the first time since 2012 reminded everyone why it is one of the region’s best tournament’s and we are excited to be able to start revealing details about next season,” said Bob Tan, President of the Singapore Golf Association (SGA).
“Next year will be the 51st Singapore Open and another fine championship will be delivered along with our friends on the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation.”
This year marked the first time the tournament was joint sanctioned by both the Asian and Japan circuits.
“We are very excited with the return of the SMBC Singapore Open as it will give everyone the opportunity to watch the best players from the Asian Tour back in action at the Sentosa Golf Club again. Just like how we were thrilled by Korea’s Younghan Song victory this year, I’m confident the SMBC Singapore Open will continue to provide all the excitement and drama that has been synonymous with the Singapore showpiece over the years,” said Kyi Hla Han, Commissioner, Asian Tour.
With an exciting new title sponsor in Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) - starting a three-year association with the event - the tournament bounced back with a vengeance in January of this year.
“In 2016 the Japan Golf Tour Organisation saw a strong turnout by our membership at the SMBC Singapore Open and we fully expect this to happen next year,” said Isao Aoki, Chairman, JGTO.
“The event acts as an exciting start to the season with a high quality field, at one of the region’s finest venues and in a vibrant city.”
The tournament was headlined by then world number one Jordan Spieth from the United States as well Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland, Korean Y.E. Yang, the first Asian to win a Major, and his young compatriot Ben An, one of the game’s most exciting young players. Welsh Ryder Cup star Jamie Donaldson also competed.
“Over the next few months we will reveal the star players for the 2017 SMBC Singapore Open in addition to some new initiatives around the event,” said Patrick Feizal Joyce, Vice President, Golf, Lagardère Sports.
“The tournament is well known for attracting the best golfers in the world and this will certainly be the case next year. Preparations for next year’s tournament started as soon as this year’s was over and we are very confident of staging another impressive national Open of Singapore.”
Over 20,000 fans attended the tournament at Sentosa Golf Club in 2016 when Song upstaged Spieth to win by one-shot after a Monday finish.
The Singapore Open, first played in 1961, boasts an esteemed list of past champions including Australian Adam Scott, who has won the event a record three times in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
Two-major winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina triumphed in 2007, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh took top spot the following year while Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter from England won in 2009 and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero was victorious in 2012.
