Shane Lowry is aiming to continue his good run of form at this week’s Porsche Singapore Classic, his final event before the first Major Championship of the year.
Laguna National Golf Resort Club plays host to the opening event on the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing from 21-24 March, and the Irishman will tee it up in Singapore for the first time in 12 years as he makes his season bow on the 2024 Race to Dubai.
The 2019 Open Champion and Ryder Cup star arrives in Singapore in a strong vein of form, with last week’s tie for 19th at The Players Championship following back-to-back top five finishes. He is now targeting another strong result ahead of next month’s Masters Tournament, the first Major of the year.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence and feel great about my game coming off the last few weeks, so it’ll be nice to continue that on. And then I’ve got a two-week break leading into Augusta, so you never want to go into a Major off the back of a bad result so there’s a little bit of pressure on me to try and play well this week. But I’ve always got high expectations of myself, and I’m hoping to come here and give myself a good chance come Sunday afternoon and hopefully do the business,” said the Irishman.
Gavin Green of Malaysia. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Malaysia’s sole representative, Gavin Green, enters the event with a renewed sense of confidence. “I played here last year and wasn’t hitting it as well. This year there is a little more confidence and trust in the game,” said the Malaysian who is looking forward to playing the Classic Course. “If you know your way around it, you can get away with quite a good score,” he added.
Frenchman Matthieu Pavon makes his DP World Tour return this week after a life-changing few months. The 31-year-old claimed his breakthrough victory at the acciona Open de España by Madrid last year as he earned dual membership on the PGA Tour, where he has since risen to wider prominence.
In just his 11th start – and third of the season – Pavon became the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour since Arnaud Massy at The Open in 1907 when he claimed a one-shot victory in the Farmers Insurance Open in January.
The World Number 27 is the highest ranked player in the field and will be joined by a strong mixture of proven winners and rising stars in Singapore, including defending champion Ockie Strydom and Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard, who has finished no lower than 11th in his five starts in 2024.
Meanwhile, Race to Dubai Number Two Rikuya Hoshino will look to replace Rory McIlroy at the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex following his maiden victory in Qatar last month.
Singapore will be represented by three qualifiers: Nicklaus Chiam, Joshua Yap, and amateur Irvyn Tan.
Porsche is continuing its long-standing relationship with the DP World Tour by extending its global golf involvement with a new multi-year deal to become Title Partner of the Porsche Singapore Classic, which was announced earlier this year.
The US$2.5 million Porsche Singapore Classic is the first of five events on the Asian Swing, with visits to India, South Korea, Japan, and China on the schedule in weeks to come. Having finished with the opening and international swings, the Tour is now focused on the Asian Swing. Asian players certainly value the significance of the Asian Swing in golf.
Haotong Li of China. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
“It’s definitely important for Asian golfers and golf fans to grow the game. So it’s definitely super important, and hopeful we continue to do well,” said 2022 BMW International winner Li Haotong, who expressed a desire for the Asian Swing to expand its reach to include more countries in the region.
Tickets to the Porsche Singapore Classic are available here. Children aged 16 and under receive complimentary entry when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. The Porsche Singapore Classic spectator village will feature a multitude of activities, food & beverage and entertainment options for golfers and non-golfers alike.
