Singapore Open cancelled after 40 years

The Singapore Open, one of Asia's oldest golf tournaments, will not be held this year because of poor sponsorship and fears that top players would stay away.

Justin Strachen, a spokesman for the tournament's promoters, the World Sports Group, cited the economic downturn in the region as a reason for the sponsorship problems.

The tournament was first staged in 1961 but has struggled in recent years. The neighboring Malaysian Open offered $1 million in prize money, making it Asia's richest national open.

The Singapore Open was held in June in 2001. Singapore Golf Association head Lim Kim Yew told The Straits Times on Tuesday that a date had not been set for this year. Lim is working to have the tournament return next year.

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