Following a week off between swings on the DP World Tour, the Tour heads to Singapore for the Porsche Singapore Classic.
The DP World tour now enters the Asian Swing after concluding the International Swing at the Jonsson Workwear Open two weeks ago.
The Porsche Singapore Classic returned to the DP World Tour schedule last year following a nine-year hiatus.
Like last year, this year’s installment will be played at the Laguna National, which is regarded as one of the toughest courses in all of Asia.
The Field
This week’s field is one of the best we’ve seen all season as a mix of PGA Tour players and the best of the DP World Tour will battle it out in Singapore.
Shane Lowry headlines this week’s field as he returns to Singapore for the first time in 12 years.
He’ll be joined by PGA Tour starlet Matthieu Pavon who makes his return to the DP World Tour after his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Another notable name playing this week is LIV Golf’s Paul Casey who received a sponsor’s invite for this event. This will be his first appearance on the DP World Tour in two years, last playing at the 2022 Hero Dubai Classic where he finished T12.
Ockie Strydom comes in as the defending champion. He edged out Sami Valimaki in an exciting finish to claim the title last year. Strydom will be back this year to defend his title.
Other notable names playing this week include Rasmus Hojgaard, Jordan Smith, Tom McKibbin, Ewen Ferguson, Thriston Lawrence, Richard Mansell and Yannik Paul.
The Course
The Classic Course at Laguna National Golf and Country Club in Tampines, Singapore plays host this week.
Laguna National opened in 1993 and is a par 72 that plays at 7,471 yards.
This course is no walk in the park, as previously mentioned, it is regarded as one of the most challenging courses in all of Asia. It is also known locally as ‘The Beast.’
The course’s website describes the course as visually stimulating and refreshingly bold in its presentation, the Classic has a reputation as one of the most difficult and dramatic tests of golf in Asia.
In tune with its nickname of ‘The Beast,’ this course features 146 bunkers and five water features that must be traversed by each and every golfer in this week’s field.
The greens are laid in platinum paspalum and are undulating. The greens are also bumpy and unpredictable.
The weather will be the biggest defense this week as the climate is unlike much the Tour will see. Hot, humid and sticky conditions will be the norm this week.
On top of that, afternoon storms in Singapore are the norm and are essentially a daily occurrence.
Those who are accustomed to playing in both these weather conditions and tracks in Asia will see an advantage this week.
Although it has recently returned to the DP World Tour, this track has hosted many events over the years.
Laguna National Golf Resort Club previously hosted the Singapore Masters from 2002 to 2007. It was also the venue for the DP World Tour’s last visit, when Chilean Felipe Aguilar triumphed in The Championship at Laguna National in 2014.
The Weather
As previously mentioned, precipitation should be expected each and every day here. As of the time of writing this, Thursday calls for a 25-percent chance, Friday a 15-percent chance and Saturday a 5-percent chance of isolated or scattered thunderstorms. Sunday currently looks to be the only clear day. Winds will range from ten-to-12 miles-per-hour across all four days and the temperature will remain at 90-or-91 degrees as well.
Key Stats
Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (SG: TTG)
Strokes Gained: Approach (SG: APP)
Putts per Greens in Regulation (Putts per GIR)
Strokes Gained: Around the Green (SG: ATG)
Scrambling
Average Driving Distance
Betting Card
Zander Lombard (+3300)
Lombard is a guy I can’t stop betting on. He was god awful in his last two events on home soil in the Jonsson Workwear Open and SDC Championship where he missed the cut in both. However, prior to that in eight events, his worst finish was a T25th. He placed T16th or better in seven of those events, highlighted by a T2nd at the Bahrain Championship. The pressure is off Lombard who was seeking a maiden DP World Tour victory on home soil in his last two outings. He comes into this week fifth on Tour in putts per GIR, 12th in average driving distance, 13th in SG: TTG, 27th in scrambling, 40th in SG: APP and 54th in SG: ATG. He has cooled off a bit which allows us to get a better number on him this week but his earlier season form can’t be ignored. I’m playing a unit on him.
Sebastian Soderberg (+3500)
Finishing right above Lombard in my model this week is Soderberg. He comes into this week third on Tour in SG: APP, fourth in SG: TTG, eighth in scrambling, 31st in putts per GIR and 42nd in SG: ATG. His knock to his game is his lack of distance off the tee as he ranks 117th there. He doesn’t make that up with accuracy either. However, on the season he has gained strokes off the tee, although slightly. It’s been awhile since we’ve seen Soderberg as he last played at the Qatar Masters in early February. However, on the season he placed T3rd at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, T6th at the Bahrain Championship and T9th at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. I’m playing a unit on him.
Rikuya Hoshino (+6000)
This is easily my favorite play of the week and was instantly my first click when I loaded the odds. He tops my model by a decent margin this week. He’s currently second on Tour in SG: APP, sixth in SG: TTG, 21st in scrambling, 22nd in putts per GIR, 35th in SG: ATG and 73rd in average driving distance. He has a victory on the season as he won the Qatar Masters back in early February. We also can’t forget that he posted back-to-back runner up finishes at both the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open to start the season as well. I love what he does and I’m playing a unit on him this week.
Matthew Jordan (+6500)
We haven’t seen much of Jordan this season, as he has played just five events. However, in his last appearance he placed T4th at the Magical Kenya Open. He also placed T16th at the Bahrain Championship. He is also currently ninth on Tour in average driving distance, tenth in SG: TTG, 29th in putts per GIR, 38th in SG: ATG, 64th in SG: APP and 105th in scrambling. Although he ranks below average in scrambling, he’s well above average in bogey avoidance. I’m playing a unit on him as well.
Darius van Driel (+20000)
The best value play this week is easily Van Driel. He won the Magical Kenya Open a few weeks back and also placed T4th at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and T9th at the Joburg Open on the season. He is currently fifth on Tour in SG: ATG, ninth in SG: TTG, 12th in SG: APP, 57th in putts per GIR and 84th in average driving distance. The knock to his game this week is a 110th placement in scrambling. Like Jordan who ranks below average in scrambling, van Driel too is well above average in bogey avoidance. I’m playing a unit on him.
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