Dubai: A trio of Dubai-based players, Shiv Kapur (Ind), Jeev Milkha Singh (Ind) and Jumeirah Golf Estates Amateur Yash Majmudar (Ind) are part of the strong field in this week’s $1.5 million International Series Singapore tournament on the Asian Tour, which is being played on the Tampines Course at Tanah Merah Country Club, Singapore.
40 year-old Shiv told Gulf News on the eve of the tournament, “The golf this week will be a tough test with the course playing long at all of its 7,535 yards as a par 72 with slopey greens. The key element out there is the wind. if it gets windy like last time around it can play very tricky."
Few birdies
He added, "However, if the conditions are mild there are a few birdies to be made. I have an early start tomorrow (Thursday) for the first round, so hopefully I can capitalize on the best of the conditions and get off to a good start. Congratulations to the organisers for attracting such a strong field. This week has the feel of a big tournament.”
Shiv is teeing off at 7.15 am alongside three-time Asian Tour winner Wade Ormsby (Aus) and Japan’s Ryosuke Kinoshita, currently ranked 103 in the OWGR and 26th on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
Yash, qualifying through his win at the 74th edition of the Singapore Open Amateur Championship last month played at the same venue, is teeing off on the 10th Tee, again in the morning at 9.05 am, with Jeev off at 12.35 pm from Tee 10, alongside Brett Rumford (Aus) and Gunn Charoenkul (Thailand).
Marquee players
Patrick Reed (US) is one of the marquee players in the field in this his second tournament on the Asian Tour, having previously played in the Saudi International earlier this year at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club.
Reed has been paired in the first two rounds with Thailand’s Phachara Khongwatmai and Justin Harding from South Africa. They tee off at 12.05 pm tomorrow.
Elliott Gray, General Manager of Tanah Merah Country Club commented, “The golf course is in good shape, and we are better prepared, in my opinion, than when we last hosted the Asian Tour in January, 2022. It is very hot and humid and we cannot wait to see how some of the best golfers in the world score this week. We especially welcome Jeev. Shiv and Yash, from Dubai, and wish them a successful week.”
