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Singapore Open prize fund reaches $3m

Organisers of The Singapore Open kick-started the New Year with a bang by announcing a 50 per cent increase in the prize purse, bringing the total to US$3 million. Already Asia’s richest national Open in 2005 with US$2 million in prize money, the latest increase places The Singapore Open within the top five richest national Opens in the world.

For the first time in the tournament’s 43-year history, The Singapore Open 2006 will also feature a Qualifying Round on 4th September 2006. Open to male and female amateurs and professionals alike, the Qualifying Round will allow golfers from around the world to compete in the championships. At least five slots from the full field of 144 players at the tournament will be allocated through the qualifiers.

These latest developments are part of Sentosa’s plans to up the ante for The Singapore Open 2006; the first year the national tournament will be held alongside the widely anticipated Forbes Global CEO Conference, a key business event attended by leading international CEOs.

“This year’s Singapore Open will enjoy a whole new level of prestige and global attention. Held alongside Asia’s ‘Davos’ - the Forbes Global CEO Conference from 4-5 September – the combination of business and golf in a truly unique and premier event is set to command global attention,” said Graham Bell, board member of the Sentosa Leisure Group and Chairman of The Singapore Open.

“With over 350 of the world’s top business and opinion leaders coming to our shores, we’re raising the bar for The Singapore Open with Asia’s largest-ever prize purse for a national Open and elevating its status by making it one of the few national tournaments that are truly open. Like the US and British Open, The Singapore Open 2006 will give talented golfers from around the world an opportunity for to vie for their place in the field”, he added.

The increased prize purse will see the winner of The Singapore Open 2006 take home US$475,500; over 50 per cent more than Adam Scott’s US$315,000 prize when the world number seven won the 2005 Open by a convincing seven stroke margin. Second and third placed golfers will also walk away with significantly increased prize money of US$325,500 and US$183,000 respectively.

144 golfers are expected to vie for the 18-hole Qualifying Round to be held at The Sentosa Golf Club on 4th September 2006. True to guidelines by the R&A (Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews), the Qualifying Round will be open to golfers regardless of gender. At least five places at the championships will be allocated through the qualifiers.

“We set out with the ambition to make The Singapore Open the ‘Open of Asia’ and the Forbes CEO Conference the ‘Davos of Asia’. I am delighted that with The Singapore Open 2006, we’ve taken bold steps to bring us closer to achieving our goals,” said Darrell Metzger, Chief Executive Officer, Sentosa Leisure Group.

“The Forbes Global CEO Conference and The Singapore Open 2006 are premier events that etch Sentosa and Singapore firmly in the minds and schedules of business and opinion leaders alike. As Sentosa undergoes its US$5 billion transformation, such premier events will undoubtedly enhance the island’s reputation as a one of the world’s top destinations”, he added.

The Singapore Open has its permanent home on Serapong, Sentosa Golf Club. The Forbes Global CEO Conference takes place from 4-5 September 2006. The delegates from the conference have the unique opportunity to play with The Singapore Open pros on 6 September before the golf tournament takes place from 7 - 10 September.

The 43nd Singapore Open will once again be held on Sentosa’s par-71 Serapong championship course. Designed by leading golf architect Ronald Fream, Serapong’s long rough proved to be a severe challenge in 2005. Nonetheless, world number seven Adam Scott won the tournament with a strong seven-stroke lead to finish with a total of 13-under-par 271 [70-69-67-65 (-13)].

January 4, 2006