Jordan Spieth during a press conference ahead of the SMBC Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Lagardère Sports.
Singapore:
World number one
Jordan Spieth will go into this week’s US$1 million SMBC Singapore Open with just 18 holes at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course under his belt.
The 22-year-old American arrived from Abu Dhabi on Monday morning and spent the day resting. Tuesday was taken up with media engagements while he will use today’s Pro-Am as his main practice round.
The event is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Tour and also features Ryder Cup captain
Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland, Korean stars
YE Yang and
Ben An, Welshman
Jamie Donaldson and Japan’s
Shingo Katayama.
“This golf course is ranked in the top-60 in the world, which is pretty special,” said Spieth, of the club that is a Golf Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
It’s the American’s first time in Singapore and reflects his desire to play golf, and popularise the game, across the globe.
Spieth, who last year won the US Masters and US Open, said: “I’ve looked over the yardage book already and it looks like a tricky golf course so I’m going to need to get as much information as I can. I’m sure the wind will play a factor, and sometimes the downfall in playing a couple of weeks in a row where you have to travel long distances is that you don’t get the preparation or knowledge of the golf course. But we can still go with it.”
Spieth finished tied for fifth in Abu Dhabi last weekend saying his putter let him down. But it was a solid performance which many feel will be the calm before he storms to victory this week. He finished five strokes behind compatriot
Rickie Fowler, who Spieth says is the best player in the world right now after that win.
Although a little fatigued from his travel schedule, Spieth has been in laid back mode and is enjoying his Singapore sojourn.
“Since arriving, I’ve spent yesterday resting, just laying low trying to catch up on sleep, strength, hydration and long trips. Last night we went for a nice dinner and I got to see a little bit of Sentosa Island,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to getting into downtown Singapore at least one night to see what this island has to offer. It’s pretty unique and I’ve heard a lot about it over time. I’ve only heard great things about the city in Singapore.
“Once Thursday starts I don’t mind the humidity (and heat). I am used to it in the summer in Texas.”
After nearly winning all four Majors last year – he was second in the US PGA Championship and equal fourth in the Open Championship – Spieth is once again focusing on success in the big four events starting with Augusta.
“To do what we did last year, that’d be nice! Hopefully we have a nice momentum going into the Masters. I play a couple of weeks prior, so I’ll be running in as, I think, my third event in a row, which is normal for me there. That’s what it was last year,” he said.