Embarrassing there's no Singapore Open this year: Han

Embarrassing there's no Singapore Open this year: Han

MACAU - For local golf fans, the months of October and November usually mean that the Singapore Open is just around the corner.

Not so this year, as the tournament is a no-show for the first time since 2005.

And Asian Tour executive chairman Kyi Hla Han, widely regarded as Asia's top golf official, said that Singapore should be embarrassed for not being able to host a single professional men's golf tournament this year.

The former pro did not pull his punches when The Straits Times asked him about the cancellation of this year's Singapore Open, the Republic's premier golf event.

He added that Singapore fans and players deserve better, and that the cancellation does not help the nation's reputation as a burgeoning sports hub.

Said Han, who won the Open back in 1994: "From being one of Asia's major tournaments to nothing - for me, it's bad planning from organisers.

"Singapore itself should be embarrassed, considering Thailand has four tournaments, Malaysia has three and Indonesia has two on the Asian Tour."

Singapore Open officials have struggled to find a title sponsor to replace British bank Barclays, which chose not to extend its seven-year deal after it had ended last year.

In July, promoter World Sport Group (WSG) announced that the event - once Asia's richest national Open, with a prize purse of US$6 million (S$7.6 million) - will go on hiatus till "early 2014".

The move from the usual November slot, it added, is to stay clear of inclement weather, which has disrupted recent editions at the Sentosa Golf Club.

Besides the Singapore Open, the $400,000 Asian Tour-sanctioned ISPS Handa Singapore Classic was also not extended at the end of its three-year contract last year, again owing to a lack of sponsors.

Han was speaking on the sidelines of the US$800,000 Venetian Macau Open, which tees off today at the picturesque Macau Golf and Country Club, headlined by four-time Major winner Ernie Els.

He added that WSG has yet to approach the Tour to book a date, which is the first step towards inclusion in its 2014 calendar.

"It's hard to sell sponsorship without a date - most tournaments fix a date at least one year in advance," said Han who is from Myanmar.

"I'm not sure what Singapore Open promoters are thinking or whether they even want us involved because they're not following normal procedure."

WSG officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Since the Open was co-sanctioned by the Asian and European tours in 2009, elite golfers who have competed included Major winners Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott.

Last year, a final-day crowd of more than 20,000 witnessed young gun Matteo Manassero's play-off win over former British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen.

If organisers remain silent, Han said the Tour will organise a separate Singapore tournament on its own.

He added: "Big prize money is fantastic but I know the players just want to play in tournaments that are sustainable. We're happy to give them and the fans a nice, small event if need be."

Singapore Professional Golfers' Association president M. Murugiah concurs with Han on the current no-event situation for men's golf in Singapore.

He said: "Our pros are looking for a big event to play in, with the Singapore name on it. It doesn't need huge prize money; remember that it started with just a $500,000 pot.

"What our players want is to play in front of their home fans. All of a sudden, there's nothing on the calendar."


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