Tournament: Singapore Classic
DP World Tour Rankings: Tournament 10 of 44 events
Venue: Laguna National Golf Resort Club, Singapore
Prize Fund: US$2,000,000
Hashtag: #SingaporeClassic #DPWT
Tournament Preview
Li Haotong is relishing the prospect of teeing it up in a ‘second home’ this week as the DP World Tour returns to Singapore for the first time since 2014.
The 27-year-old is one of a number of Asian players in the field this week at Laguna National Golf Resort Club as the Tour makes its return to the Far East for the first time in four years, and Li is hoping to build on his success at last year’s BMW International Open as he made a dramatic return to the winner’s circle with his victory in Germany.
Another player enjoying home comforts this week is Gavin Green, from neighbouring Malaysia. The two-time Olympian enjoyed a strong end to the 2022 season, finishing runner-up at the Portugal Masters, seventh at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and in a share of 20th at the DP World Tour Championship.
The pair are teeing it up alongside recent Seve Ballesteros Award winner Ryan Fox and a host of DP World Tour winners, including Adri Arnaus who is hoping to build on a strong fortnight in the United Arab Emirates. The Spaniard finished 13th at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and sixth at last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
Also in the field this week is former World Amateur Number One Taiga Semikawa of Japan, who will be making his DP World Tour debut. The 22-year-old made headlines last year as he became the first amateur to win the Japan Open in its 95-year history.
Player Quotes
Li Haotong: “It’s a very exciting thing for me, especially as a Chinese person and an Asian. It’s such a great honour and opportunity to be here. Singapore is one of my favourite places. I feel like anywhere I play in Asia it’s my second home. I’m super comfortable. A lot of friends around me and my team around me. I’ll really enjoy this week.
“Last year I gained a lot of confidence from my win. This year I want to focus on my game, try and improve that and get more results like last year. Abu Dhabi wasn’t that great. But I went back home for a couple of weeks, figured out some things, especially on the family side. I guess I’ll have a good week. I just need to slowly get a better process and get back on track.”
Gavin Green: “It’s very exciting. Since the Maybank we’ve never had anything close to home. This is as close as it gets. The weather and the food makes it more homely. I have some family members coming, my mum and some friends. It’ll be an exciting week.
“I don’t have the opportunity to play in front of friends and family that much, just because it’s so far away. I’m usually in Europe and it’s too much for them to fly over, but when they can hop on a 45 minute flight and some of them live here too, it makes it a lot easier. It’s nice to see friends and family watch the game. It’s not that often I get the opportunity, so I’m going to enjoy it, do my best and see what happens.”
Ryan Fox: “I’ve not played a tournament in Singapore for 15 years. I played an amateur event. I’ve actually played this golf course socially with a mate who has lived here for five years. I’ve got good memories of this place and it’s great to be back. I always enjoyed playing in Malaysia when we used to go there, that was the last event I played in Asia.
“When I first turned pro I played a bit on the OneAsia Tour, so I’ve played quite a bit through this area, Korea and Japan and stuff like that. I feel like we are closer to home, even though it’s nine hours away. It doesn’t feel that far compared to Europe. It’s good to be here, other than the heat it’s a nice place to be.”
Adri Arnaus: “One of the lucky things we get to do in our sport is travel the world. I’ve never been to Singapore. I’ve been excited to come since the beginning of the year and here we are. I’ve started (the year) on a positive note, a bit slow at the first event but the last two have been quite good – staying at home in Dubai helps. The game is feeling good and I’m ready for this week.
“Last week I shot under 70 every day, that’s a good sign. I just need to go a bit lower and take the trophy home. Last year was huge to get my first win under my belt. This year we’re looking to add another one to the roster, hopefully more than one.”
