Singapore: Fan favourite Adam Scott will make a much-awaited return to the SMBC Singapore Open next year and bid to lift the trophy for a fourth time.
The US$1 million tournament will be played from January 19-22 on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, a Golf Course Facility Member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.
It was there that the Australian claimed the tournament title a record three times, in 2005, 2006 and 2010.
Scott joins swashbuckling Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who will make his maiden appearance in what will be the 51^st staging of Singapore’s national Open.
It was in 2012 when Scott last played in the tournament, finishing in fifth place.
“It is hard to believe it’s been 11 years since I first played in and won the Singapore Open,” said 36-year-old Scott.
“It was also the first time I had won a national Open and it meant a great deal to me. I am looking forward to playing the Serapong again. It will certainly feel like a homecoming of sorts.”
Scott’s biggest win to date is the 2013 US Masters, when he became the first Australian to claim the title.
He is a 13-time winner on the US PGA Tour and has triumphed on 10 occasions in Europe.
Other significant wins include the 2004 Players Championship, the 2011 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the 2016 WGC-Cadillac Championship.
He has also claimed all three of Australia’s hallowed titles, including the Emirates Australian Open in 2009.
Takeshi Kunibe, President and CEO, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, said: “This is fantastic news for the SMBC Singapore Open. I know everyone has been waiting for Adam Scott to return as he has a huge following in Singapore after three fine victories. With Sergio Garcia competing as well, we are in for a real golfing spectacle.”
The SMBC Singapore Open is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, and is the opening event of the season on both circuits.
Korean Song Young-han took the title in January this year, beating then world number one Jordan Spieth from the United States by one stroke.
Tickets for the 2017 event are now on sale at http://www.apactix.com/events/detail/smbc-singapore-open-2017.