Organisers of the SMBC Singapore Open announced today that the tournament will not take place this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that the next edition of the tournament will be staged in January 2022.
The US$1 million event, jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation, has been traditionally held each January on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.
“While it is truly a shame that the tournament won’t be held this year, we have been involved in the discussions throughout the planning process and are fully supportive of the difficult decision that has been made by Sportfive. We shall all look forward to the return of the SMBC Singapore Open in 2022,” said Ross Tan, president of the Singapore Golf Association.
Patrick Feizal Joyce, senior vice president, golf – APAC of event promoter Sportfive, noted: “The SMBC Singapore Open is one of Asia’s iconic events and a highlight on the golf calendar. We worked tirelessly with all the various authorities and stakeholders to see how best to deliver a safe and significant tournament for the players and partners. All parties especially SMBC, Singapore Tourism Board and Sentosa Golf Club were extremely supportive of the various operational options that were formulated.”
“Ultimately public health and safety remain the highest priority for us and due to the evolving nature of the Covid-19 situation around the world, we felt it would be prudent for us to stay patient and work towards holding the next edition in 2022,” added Joyce.
The 2020 edition of the SMBC Singapore Open saw Matt Kuchar, the bronze medallist from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, pull off a stunning comeback in the final round. The American stalwart won the tournament with an 18-under par total, turning the tables on gold medallist Justin Rose who finished second, three shots back.
