The Singapore Open, which has been absent from the golf calendar for three years, will be revived on Sentosa island this September with a massive US$2 million prize purse, making it the richest national open in Asia.
Graham Bell, Board member of the Sentosa Leisure Group - the presenting sponsors - and chairman of the Singapore Open 2005 Organising Committee said yesterday that the 42nd Singapore Open will be played over Sentosa Golf Club's award-winning Serapong course on the island resort from September 8-11.
Singapore Golf Association, the local sanctioning body, and promoters World Sport Group both heralded the return of the tournament.
The Singapore Open was last held in 2001 but the corporate sector has rallied round to ensure the resurrection of the blue riband event, which was first played in 1961. It will be a full-field tournament on the burgeoning Asian Tour with several leading players from around the world also being invited to shoot for a golden pay day in September.
The par-72 Serapong course, designed by leading golf architect Ronald Fream, measures 6,349 metres from the championship tees and will pose a severe test for the players. The course, with scenic Singapore harbour as its backdrop, hosted the World Qualifying Round of the Dunhill Cup in 1988.
'The Singapore Open will be the richest ever full-field event on the Asian Tour and underlines our growing strength. More and more companies are recognising the huge potential of the Tour,' said Asian Tour chief executive Louis Martin.
