I came close to nailing the winner in the last DP World Tour event, with Shaun Norris (my pick) and Jacques Kruyswijk losing out to Calum Hill in a dramatic three-man playoff at the Joburg Open.
2025 DP World Tour
Porsche Singapore Classic
Classic Course, Laguna National Golf and Country Club, Tampines, Singapore
20th-23rd March
The tour took a one-week hiatus following the conclusion of the International Swing and returns with the first leg of the Asian Swing: the Porsche Singapore Classic. This event only debuted in 2023, with Ockie Strydom clinching the inaugural edition. Jesper Svensson won last year’s renewal in eerily similar fashion to Strydom, surging with a Sunday 63 to clinch the title. The tournament will once again be staged at Laguna National Golf and Country Club. This was the host venue for the Singapore Masters between 2002 and 2007 (it also hosted the Ballantine’s Championship between 2008 and 2014).
Those two aforementioned events were played on the Masters Course. This year’s event- as with the first two editions- will be hosted on the Classic Course (which is affectionately known as the Beast). Widely considered one of the most intimidating tests in Asian golf, the Classic Course measures just a shade over 7,400 yards (earning that Beast moniker). The sheer length of this bad boy makes me lean in the direction of power over accuracy. The course features undulating fairways and 146 bunkers (with five water hazards to boot). This course visually reminds me of an Asian Augusta. Like Augusta, ball-striking and scrambling should come to the fore. Having said that, GIR appears to be the most crucial stat in the brief history of this event (though it’s hard to gauge with so few renewals). Four of the six winners of the old Singapore Masters were Asian players, indicating that familiarity with the clammy conditions (and unique platinum paspalum putting surfaces) could prove vital to success.
Robert MacIntyre will add a bit of razzmatazz this week, surprisingly choosing to cross the pond after a highly creditable top ten finish at TPC Sawgrass. I wonder if the quick, post-Sawgrass turnaround might be too much for the Scot to overcome (he also missed the cut here two years back). A couple of high-profile LIV golfers will also be in the field (no doubt looking to gain some precious world ranking points). Paul Casey and Tom McKibben- who has had a solid start to life on LIV- will feature from the breakaway league. Jordan Smith has been in humdrum form and could do with a strong showing. The ever-mercurial Haotong Li won at the Qatar Masters, and he could be a factor this week (the Qatar Masters has dovetailed nicely with this event in the past). Elsewhere, the likes of Joost Luiten and Keita Nakajima jump off the page in what is a rather weak lineup.
Past Winners
2024: Jesper Svensson (–17) *playoff
2023: Ockie Strydom (-19)
Betting Favourites (To Win): Robert MacIntyre (7/1), Paul Casey (16/1), Tom McKibben (16/1), Jordan Smith (28/1), Haotong Li (28/1)
Value Bets
Marco Penge- To Win (50/1)
Marco Penge is an interesting option this week. I think some people are sleeping on him due to his three-month suspension for betting on golf tournaments. However, Penge played solid golf prior to the ban and has been even better since, earning a spot at the Open with some of his recent showings. Penge ended last year with decent form figures of 28-22-MC-27. The ban kicked in at the end of the year and he has only just returned to action, going 20-3-19 in his three events this season. He had a chance to win his maiden title in Durban (the SA Open shortened to 54 holes due to torrential rain (he was in 3rd place after 54 holes).
Kiradech Aphibarnrat- To Win (90/1)
This is a bit of a ‘horses for courses’ pick. The burly Thai player finished T49 here back in 2023. Sure, that doesn’t sound very impressive, but there is more to the story. His putter let him down badly that week (he was 6th on approach and 3rd around the greens). His putter cooperated last year, and he ended up making it into the playoff (where he obviously lost to Svensson). His form has been patchy but there’s enough to suggest that he could be a factor this week. He finished 5th at the Aussie Open before Christmas and 8th at Al Hamra. His erratic putter has been a tad more reliable of late and he should be nice dark horse option.
The Man to Beat- Sam Bairstow- To Win (28/1)
English lefty Sam Bairstow looks like magnificent value at 28/1. Bairstow came close to winning this title last year, missing out on a spot in the playoff by one shot (he ultimately finished 3rd at 16-under-par). He came close to winning his maiden DP World Tour title later in the later, finishing T2 at the French Open. Bairstow arrives in solid form, going T9-T11-T10 in his last three starts. That combination of current and course form makes him an irresistible option at 28/1 (especially in this field).
