Day 4
Dramatic finish to an enthralling 2024 Porsche Singapore Classic – Jesper Svensson celebrates a historical win in the first staging of the DP World Tour tournament. In a high-class golfing finale, the rookie came out on top in his only 14th start on the DP World Tour at the third play-off hole. Svensson (63, -9) and Aphibarnrat (64, -8) were tied in first place on a score of 271 (17 under par) Laguna National Golf Resort Club’s Classic Course after brilliant final rounds.
In the resulting play-off, the pair were equal after two extra holes but then at the third attempt, a par for Svensson was eventually enough – it was the most emotional par of his career. “It’s something I’ve always dreamt of, a win on the DP World Tour,” said a jubilant Svensson, who in his first season has been a runner-up on two occasions. “It was a long journey up until then. It’s so hard to win here. Now the dream has come true.”
The English duo of Sam Bairstow (-16) and Andy Sullivan (-15) finished the tight competition in third and fourth. The French top star Matthieu Pavon, who recently won on the US PGA Tour, placed fifth (-14). Porsche Brand Ambassador Paul Casey crowned an exceptional week in Singapore with an impressive sixth place finish (-13).
“The first edition of the Porsche Singapore Classic has far exceeded our expectations. Right up until the end, the very good field of players delivered an exciting competition which produced a worthy winner,” says Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG. “This impressive event is the new highlight of our international professional golf commitment. The large number of Asian customers that enjoyed a live emotional brand experience emphasises the international relevance.” During the five days of the tournament, customers from Singapore, Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan markets were welcomed to the Laguna National Golf Resort Club where they were exhilarated by the exclusive VIP experience of a Porsche event.
Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid as the hole-in-one prize
The special on-site attractions included, amongst others, a display of vehicles centring on the impressive Porsche 996 Swan Car designed by the artist Chris Labrooy. In Singapore, there was also a fully electric fleet of Taycan models that acted as the courtesy cars for the players. A highlight was the spectacular hole-in-one prize, a Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid in Madeira Gold Metallic. Only recently launched this winter, the Porsche lured the players on the 17th as the first hole-in-one vehicle from Porsche on the DP World Tour in Asia.
Tournament visitors were also able to qualify for the ultimate hole-in-one prize via a Nearest-to-the-Pin competition in the Spectator Village. After the close of the tournament on Sunday, the best participants contested the Porsche Panamera Shootout in an attempt to win the exceptional sports car, just like the pros had done on the 17th during their four rounds. The pros above all only missed out by millimetres on several occasions. Title holder Ockie Strydom, the French world class golfer Matthieu Pavon and Amateur TK Ratchanon Chantananuwat from Thailand came closest to discovering the Porsche driving feel with their excellent attempts.
Porsche works driver: “Perfect day of golf”
The Porsche Brand Ambassador Casey and the Porsche works driver Kévin Estre officially opened the Panamera Shootout before the tournament in a magnificent night setting. It was the crowning finale of a memorable golf experience for Estre, the 2018 Le Mans winner, at Casey’s on the day of the Pro-Am tournament. The Frenchman immersed himself deeply in the world of golf with the help of the 15-time DP World Tour winner at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club. The pair enjoyed a great time competing against each other at several stations in the Spectator Village, and during a personal golf coaching session on the club’s driving range.
“We got on super well and had a great time together,” said Casey. Estre was also thrilled saying, “It really was a perfect day of golf right from the very first second.” In the Pro-Am, they teed off one after the other. Estre, who a few weeks ago won the season’s opening World Endurance Championship race in Doha in a Porsche 963, was over the moon after a “fabulous experience” in the group that included golf influencer Rebecca De Foe and in particular the pro Rafa Cabrera Bello, the Spanish 2016 Ryder Cup player. Casey and Estre also gave Porsche customers enthralling insights into their lives and their sports at a Meet&Greet.
Casey visits Porsche Studio Singapore
“Ahead of the event, Paul Casey rang in the tournament week with a “cool trip to a fantastic place”. The former world No. 3 took advantage of an afternoon off to drive a 911 Carrera from the Laguna National Golf Resort to the new Porsche Studio in the centre of the pulsating world metropolis. “It’s naturally a great opportunity for me to take a look at the new studio,” raved Casey. “The location is a spectacular destination, not only for Porsche fans. Everybody can feel at home here.” The two-storey Porsche Studio Singapore is situated in the famous Guoco Midtown quarter close to the historical Bugis district in downtown Singapore. It thrills visiting Porsche Community members as an innovative meeting place, and as a location for special brand experiences.
Day 3
David Micheluzzi finished strong to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Porsche Singapore Classic. The Australian carded just one bogey in a six under par 66 to move into the lead on 13 under par, one clear of overnight co-leader Andy Sullivan and fellow Englishman Sam Bairstow who share second place on 12 under at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
The swirling winds of the first two days dropped on day three, but 27-year-old Micheluzzi breezed to the top of the leaderboard on what was still a red-hot day in Singapore. The four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner started with a birdie at the first but then gave it back with a bogey at the second, with further birdies arriving at the fifth and eighth to make the turn on two under. The Melbourne native then put his foot down on the back nine, with back-to-back gains at the 12th and 13th adding to the closing pair to take the 54-hole lead for the first time in his DP World Tour career. “It’s been good. Today was very hot, you could see me with a towel over my head. Basically, the whole day just literally every water station, we just put it straight in and just kept myself cool”, said Micheluzzi. “The first eight holes I didn’t play so great, and then the last ten I really got dialed in and holed some putts which was nice.”
Second round co-leader Sullivan experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on day three. After starting with four birdies in his first eight holes, the double bogeyed both the ninth and tenth, as well as bogeying the 11th. The four-time DP World Tour winner steadied the ship, however, with four birdies in his next seven to post a three under 69 and remain in contention.
“I went through everything today. It was colourful in every sense of the word”, said Sullivan. “Recently when it has been going wrong, I’ve tended to let it get to me a little bit. So, I’m proud of myself today for coming back in and putting up a fight. I feel like my game is getting back and my confidence has grown with it.” India’s Shubhankar Sharma is a shot further back in fourth on 11 under par and is finding form ahead of his home event at the Hero Indian Open next week.
Elsewhere, 2019 Open Champion Shane Lowry gave himself a shot at contending for the title with a six under 66 on moving day to earn a share of 13th on eight under par. The Irish golfer said: “It was nice. I played really good today, longest putt I holed was about six or seven feet. Shooting 66 is pretty good but I’d like to hole more putts, obviously it could have been better but put myself back up near the top of the leaderboard, just hope the leaders don’t run away too much today and I can go out and maybe shoot a low front nine tomorrow and give myself a bit of a chance.” Porsche Brand Ambassador Paul Casey is also lurking just behind the leaders in fifth place on ten under par.
Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, winner on the US PGA Tour a few weeks ago, came within an inch of winning the Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, on offer to the first player to ace the par three 17th this week.
Day 2
Andy Sullivan came home in just 28 shots to charge into a share of the Porsche Singapore Classic alongside German Freddy Schott and Richard Mansell, England, after day two at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
The Englishman Sullivan came alive after making the turn, carding five birdies and an eagle to finish off a bogey-free nine under par 63 to reach nine under overall, set the course record and move to the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes in Singapore. The Ryder Cup player from 2016 was later joined on that number by Germany’s Freddy Schott and fellow Englishman Richard Mansell, who raced against the fading light to move one clear of the group of five in a share of fourth (-8).
The day, however, belonged to Sullivan who played quite faultless golf in the searing Singaporean temperatures – especially after the turn, beginning his second part of the round on 1. “It was unreal. Like I said, it just caught fire. Knocked it close on the first, and then held a good one on the second and then literally three feet for eagle on the third”, said the four-time DP World Tour winner. “So, it just felt like from there onwards you can push on a little bit especially on that 9 where you feel like you can get at pins a little bit more. I was just waiting for it a little bit and it paid off”, he said after his last birdie on his finishing hole.
Mansell closes in late
That tricky ninth hole proved to be the only blot on an otherwise blemish-free scorecard for Mansell, who hit his approach into the water and eventually signed for a double bogey six. However, he did not let that dampen his spirits as he reeled off six successive pars and added birdies at the 16th and 18th to post a three under 69 and join Schott and Sullivan at the summit.
“I played quite nice on the front today and that ninth hole had me, it did last year as well”, said Mansell. “So I’m hoping over the weekend we can kind of figure that one out a little bit, but it’s a tough hole.” And Schott added: “Feels good to see the trend coming up again, it was a very solid two days and I’m looking forward to the weekend. And when I got here feeling way better than I felt last year, I thought, well it’s actually not that difficult if you put yourself in good positions and that’s what I executed very well and that’s what makes the course enjoyable for me now.”
Pavon and Casey near the top
Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, who earlier this year won his maiden PGA TOUR title at the Farmers Insurance Open, shares fourth place with countryman Romain Langasque, English duo Sam Bairstow and Paul Waring, and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (-7). Paul Casey sits two strokes back at tied 15th place (-6). Irish Major Champion Shane Lowry enters the weekend in tied 50th place (-2).
Day 1
Local stars Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Gavin Green and English golfer Jordan Smith, winner of the 2017 Porsche European Open, started the DP World Tour’s Asian Swing in brilliant fashion as an eight under par round of 64 earned them the first round lead at the Porsche Singapore Classic.
The 34-year-old Aphibarnrat mixed a single bogey with nine birdies to set the target on the Classic Course – and the course record – before being joined by Malaysian Gavin Green and England’s Jordan Smith on eight under par after the opening day at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
The DP World Tour’s Asian Swing, consisting of five events on the Asian continent, begins this week and four-time winner Aphibarnrat made the perfect start to proceedings in Singapore – with his lowest round since the 2022 Portugal Masters.
“It’s a very good start”, said Aphibarnrat. “Ball-striking was great the whole day, putting was light work, made an easy mistake and bogeyed a par five hole on the third. From 53 yards I missed a shot and the bunker, it was really up-and-down but there was a nice bounce back after, I picked up another three birdies in the last four holes which is a great finish.”
Gavin Green posted the best effort of the afternoon wave
The lead was quickly shared with Englishman Smith, who pulled alongside the 2023 Qualifying School graduate in the very next group after posting a bogey-free eight under par effort. The winner of the 2017 Porsche European Open in Hamburg said: “Really happy with how I played today. I had a great day, it was nice and relaxed. I had a lot of fun out there. It was great to finish well.”
Malaysia’s Green made the most of being close to home by posting the best effort of the afternoon wave. The 30-year-old dropped just a single shot on a hot day at Laguna National, with his younger brother walking the fairways with him in support. “We played well, we didn’t do anything crazy. Nothing special – we just kept hitting fairways, kept hitting greens and made some putts”, said Green. “It was good, I think it’s a good stepping stone for him when he’s out here looking at where he wants to be. It’s good motivation for him and hopefully he takes something from this.”
The leading trio share a one-stroke advantage from Frenchman Ugo Coussaud, who continued his impressive run of form with a seven under round of 65. The DP World Tour rookie was nine under after 13 holes, but a dropped shot at his 14th and a double bogey to finish meant he had to settle for second after 18 holes.
Four players share fifth on six under, including Scotland’s Grant Forrest, Englishman Richard Mansell, Andrea Pavan of Italy, and Germany’s Freddy Schott. Porsche Brand Ambassador Paul Casey is tied for 21st on four under par after a good start. Irish major champion Shane Lowry is tied for 31st on three under par after day one.
Preview
The Porsche Singapore Classic is set to present high class professional golf and an attractive live experience at the start of the new title partnership. World class international players and the local elite will be competing for the prestigious title – and the first ever hole-in-one Porsche vehicle on the DP World Tour in Asia – at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club from 21 to 24 March.
Spectacular premiere in Asia – the first staging of the Porsche Singapore Classic from 21 to 24 March will present a multi-faceted event experience with world class golf and special Porsche moments on an exceptional golf course. As a part of the process to internationalise its professional golf activities, the sports car manufacturer will act as the title partner for the first time in Asia. It will serve up an impressive combination consisting of top international players and an attractive brand experience at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club in the middle of the world metropolis.
World class golfers to tee off
At the start of the DP World Tour’s Asian swing, a high-class field of players will be competing for the title on the Classic Course. Alongside top stars like the Porsche Brand Ambassador Paul Casey from England, the Irish Major and Ryder Cup winner Shane Lowry and title holder Ockie Strydom from South Africa, Matthieu Pavon, this season’s third ranked player on the US PGA Tour, will also be teeing off at the Porsche Singapore Classic. After claiming Farmers Insurance Open title on the US PGA Tour in California at the beginning of the year, the Frenchman will be lining up for the first time this year on the DP World Tour. The starting list includes about two dozen DP World Tour winners in the past two years, numerous Ryder Cup stars plus prominent top Asian players and the local elite from Singapore.
“We’re looking forward expectantly to the first edition of the Porsche Singapore Classic,” says Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG. “The mixture of top golf with world class players, big stars from Asia and the opportunity to savour exclusive Porsche moments promises to be a memorable brand experience. This event fits perfectly to the internationalisation of our sponsoring strategy and will hopefully leave a lasting impression here in Singapore.”
Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid as the hole-in-one car for players and visitors
Alongside the tournament prize money totalling 2.5 million dollars, the focus at the high-class competition will also be on the first Porsche hole-in-one prize on the DP World Tour in Asia. Only recently launched in winter, the Madeira Gold Metallic Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid is the enticing reward for an ace on the 17th hole during the four days of the tournament.
Not only the pros however have the unique chance to win the exclusive sports car. The highlights at the venue this year include the Porsche Panamera Shootout whereby visitors can qualify for the ultimate chance to win the hole-in-one prize via the Nearest-to-the-Pin competition in the Fan Village. After the tournament finishes on Sunday, the best participants will go to the 17th to attempt to win the dream car with a dream shot.
Exclusive Porsche brand experience
In addition to the hole-in-one car and the Porsche Panamera Shootout, other highlights await golf and sports car fans in collaboration with Porsche Asia Pacific and Porsche Singapore. One is the display of cars including the impressive Porsche 996 Swan from the artist Chris Labrooy. Over and above this, a fully electric fleet of Taycan models will shuttle the players to and from the venue. The international importance of the commitment also reflects the interest the Asian markets have in the tournament. Porsche customers from the Singapore, Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan markets will be able to savour an exclusive VIP experience.
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Some of the guests will enjoy an unforgettable day of golf partnered by a top international player on a perfectly prepared course at the Pro-Am on Wednesday before the pros embark on the first round. Kévin Estre is also set to savour the unique experience. The French Porsche works driver, a Le Mans class winner in 2018 who was also successful recently piloting a Porsche 963 in the first race of the World Endurance Championship season, is a passionate golfer and has already thrilled listeners together with Paul Casey in a 9:11 Porsche Podcast. Now Estre is looking forward to a new challenge in connection with his second passion.
Laguna National Golf Resort Club: challenging venue
The Laguna National Golf Resort Club complex with two 18-hole courses is considered one of the outstanding venues for professional events. Since the official opening in 1993, the challenging Classic Course – nicknamed “The Beast” – has also been the home of several tournaments on the leading worldwide golf tours. Measuring 7,420 yards, the Par 72 course features tight and undulating fairways as well as difficult water hazards and more than 145 bunkers.
The DP World Tour returned to Singapore after a nine-year break in 2023. Besides the Porsche experiences, visitors to the Porsche Singapore Classic can enjoy a multitude of entertaining activities at a bustling Spectator Village. A multitude of food and beverage options are available throughout the day, as the action at Laguna National will continue even after play has concluded. Live music performances will take place on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday evening as well as the popular Beach Volleyball on the Green makes a return on Friday evening with national beach volleyball player, Eliza Chong, and her teammates in an exhibition game.
The first round of the Porsche Singapore Classic will start at 7:30 on Thursday 21 March. Tickets for the tournament are available via the DP World Tour Website.
Porsche in golf
Porsche has been involved in golf since 1988 through the Porsche Golf Cup. The tournament series is one of the company’s most successful customer events and has developed into an international event in which over 17,000 Porsche customers recently took part in 261 worldwide qualifying tournaments. Through its first involvement in professional golf as the title sponsor of the prestigious DP World Tour’s Porsche European Open in 2015, Porsche was instrumental in establishing a top golf event in Germany. As the new title sponsor of the Porsche Singapore Classic, the sports car manufacturer is internationalising its commitment to professional golf in the important Asian market. Car partnerships at US PGA Tour and DP World Tour tournaments, including the Omega European Masters in Crans Montana as well as in women’s golf, The Amundi Evian Championship, round off its involvement in professional golf. Launched in 2017, the Porsche Golf Circle is also highly successful. The international community for keen golf-playing Porsche customers gives members the opportunity to enjoy exclusive golfing experiences at unique locations and at professional tournaments. Paul Casey has been complementing the Porsche family since 2020 as the first Brand Ambassador from the game of golf.