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Mardan poised for Singapore encore

Local hero Mardan Mamat is hoping that a big home support will lift him to another emotional high at the US$3 million Barclays Singapore Open next week. The 38-year-old Mamat stoked the patriotic fires with his memorable victory in the OSIM Singapore Masters earlier this year and is hoping to provide local golf fans with an encore at Sentosa Golf Club from September 7-10.

“There is always pressure (playing) on home ground, high expectation from the crowd who want me to play well,” said Mardan, whose winning display saw him named as Singapore’s “Achiever of the Year” by Berita Harian, a local Malay daily.

“The crowd support can be very good but also bad (for me). The good thing is they want me to play well and inspire me, the bad thing is that sometimes it is difficult to maintain my concentration and focus when people are constantly calling my name as I walk past. “I need to focus, I cannot just turn round (every time someone calls). They (the crowd) pretty much understand that now. I am looking forward to the tournament and the support.”

Mardan, the first Singaporean to win a European Tour co-sanctioned event, said that he was proud that his home Open was now one of the richest events on the continent with the cachet of the ‘Major of Asia” and a top class field including defending champion Adam Scott of Australia and golf’s ‘Big Easy’, Ernie Els of South Africa.

“It is always good when you have more money and status (for a tournament),” said Mardan. “To keep building the tournament every year, that would be great. They just restarted the Singapore Open last year, the previous three years they did not have it.

“When the news suddenly came out last year that the prize money was going to be two million (US) dollars it gave me a shock. We did not have a tournament for several years and then suddenly it came out that the purse was going to be two million, three million this year, four million next year and five million in 2008. That is a shock. I really hope they can keep the money at that level.”

He finished joint 16th in last year’s championship with rounds of 73, 74, 70 and 73 and his regular practice games over the menacing par-71 Serapong course have given him valuable inside knowledge ahead of the Barclays Singapore Open. “The course is in good shape. And it is not easy to play especially when the rough is up,” said the two-time winner on the Asian Tour.

“I like the course actually. Every time I go there to practice in normal conditions - no rough - it is nice to play. When you have a different set up, for a tournament, with high rough it changes the way you have to play it. You have got to keep the ball in play all the time no matter what club you hit.”

Mardan, a former caddie at Jurong Country Club, reflects on his victory on home soil in March with great pleasure and justifiable pride. “It was very emotional (winning in Singapore). It is always nice to win especially when you win in your home country and in front of a home crowd. And you have your family with you. Everything just came at one time. It was just a nice feeling,” said the modest Mardan.

“That was very special for me. I hope (me winning) will have encouraged youngsters to take up the game. It was especially emotional to have my wife, brother and two of my kids on the green afterwards to celebrate the victory with me. I have watched the big events on television so many times and seen all the family members come on and hug the winner on the last green. I told myself ‘I wish that could happen to me one day’.

"The wish came true. It has happened during the Masters - very nice.”

Mardan played several tournaments in Europe during the summer but was hampered by niggling injuries. He is approaching full fitness now and is hoping to play well in the Barclays Singapore Open and improve on his current Asian Tour ranking of seventh. “I am hitting the ball okay now. I have had a few injuries here and there but they are getting better. I am looking forward to a big week at the Singapore Open,” he added.

August 30, 2006