Golf Asia - February 2018

GOLF ASIA 23

European Golfer of the Year had

struggled with his putts on Saturday but

was on fire as soon as play resumed early

Sunday under a hot sun and clear blue

skies. "It's always great to start with a win,

to do it here at this golf course against

a good field in Asia on conditions that

weren't easy," he said. "Hopefully I can

ride on this momentum. I'm extremely

happy with how the week went. It was

a tough day and a tough week, with the

stopping and going," he added. After the

SMBC Singapore Open, Garcia flew to

Dubai to defend his Omega Dubai Desert

Classic title.

The 38-year-old Garcia had a

monumental 2017, with three victories

including a long-awaited first Major at

the Masters, and his play at the SMBC

Singapore Open suggests another

golden year in 2018. Using a new brand

of clubs, Garcia played imperious golf

from tee to green and would have won by

an even bigger margin if his putter had

not misbehaved in the second round.

“I love the new Callaway equipment.

I love the golf ball, it is amazing, The

woods are incredible, and you know

the irons are great. The putter, they just

made me a new one, it is really, really

nice,” he commented.

Japan's Satoshi Kodaira, the six-time

Japan Golf Tour winner, shared second

place with Shaun Norris of South Africa

with a total nine-under-par 275. The Thai

duo of Jazz Janewattananond and Danthai

Boonma were tied in fourth spot after

carding eight-under-par 276 overall. Sean

Crocker of the United States and Cameron

Davis of Australia carded 69 and 70

respectively for a seven-under-par 277.

Amateur Gregory Foo, a two-time

Singapore Open amateur champion, and

countryman Choo Tze-huang flew the flag

for the host country by finishing tied for

16th. Jesse Yap, also an amateur, was

equal 33rd after a closing 71.

The US$1 million SMBC Singapore

Open was the season-opening tournament

on both the Asian and Japan Tours.

American Casey

O’Toole fired

the first ace of

the season on

the Japan and

Asian tours

at the second

hole for a three

under par 68

BMW, 10 years with

the Singapore Open