Image Credit : Singapore Classic Facebook Page

It's been 30 years since the DP World Tour first visited Singapore. Back in 1993, Nick Faldo held off a final-round challenge by Colin Montgomerie to win the US$800,000 Johnnie Walker Classic. At the Singapore Island Country Club, the 6-time Majors winner, fired a final round 2-under-par 68 and defeated his Scottish rival by a single stroke. Fast forward 3 decades later, the Singapore Classic will feature some of the biggest names in the world, competing for the total prize purse of $2.2 million at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club from 9-12 February. 

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn. Photo Credit : DP World Tour

Leading the charge at the Classic Course in the Lion City is the victorious 2018 Ryder Cup captain, Thomas Bjørn. The Dane returns here for the first time since 2012, when he last competed and finished in 4th place at the Singapore Open. “I’m looking forward to returning to Asia to play golf again. It’s been a few years since we’ve had the opportunity to do so and it’s a part of the world we all enjoy playing in. I have some good memories from my visits to Singapore and I’m excited to return to Laguna National, " said 51 year old Bjorn.

 Spain's Rafa Cabrera Bello. Photo Credit : DP World Tour

Joining Bjørn in Singapore is his former Ryder Cup teammate Rafa Cabrera Bello, who was unbeaten in three matches during his maiden Ryder Cup appearance in 2016. The Spanish star is a four-time winner on the DP World Tour. Also set to tee off at Laguna National are Great Britain and Ireland Hero Cup players, Jordan Smith and Ewen Ferguson. Smith secured a long-awaited second DP World Tour title last year, while Ferguson became the first Scotsman in a decade to win multiple titles in the same season. 

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Far East for the first time on the DP World Tour. I played in China on the Challenge Tour a few years ago; we were made to feel really welcome and I’m looking forward to the same when we visit Singapore," said 26 year old Ferguson.

Scotland's own Ewen Ferguson. Photo Credit : Getty Images 

The Asia-Pacific region competing here will see the likes of Li Haotong and Wu Ashun (China) Ryan Fox (New Zealand), Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Malaysian's 2-time Olympian, Gavin Green. In addition, Japan's former World Number One amateur Taiga Semikawa will make his DP World Tour debut at the Singapore Classic. The 22-year-old made headlines in 2022 by becoming the first amateur to win the Japan Open before turning pro last November. As for competing in Singapore, he said “This is an incredible opportunity and I’m very excited to be playing a DP World Tour event for the first time. I’ve heard wonderful things about Singapore and seen photos of Laguna National – it’s a beautiful venue, so playing there against some of the great names from that tour would be a fantastic experience."

Japan's Taiga Semikawa is about to compete in Singapore for his 2nd professional event. Photo Credit : Getty Images

The Singapore Classic marks the return of the DP World Tour to Singapore for the first time since 2014. The event is organised by Vantage Pointe, which delivers specialised and boutique strategic advisory to a distinct collection of golf-centric businesses. Tickets are required for entry for the 4-day golf extravaganza. Single session tickets for 9-12 February are available from $25, while a four-day event pass is priced at $80. All tickets are available here.