14 Japan Tour stars confirmed for Singapore Open

SINGAPORE — Fourteen Japan Golf Tour (JGTO) champions, including last year’s money list winner Kim Kyung-tae and Japan Open titleholder Satoshi Kodaira, have been confirmed for next week’s SMBC Singapore Open.

Leading the charge for the JGTO stars is in-form South Korean Kim, who won five tournaments last year to finish top of the Tour’s Order of Merit for only the second time of his career.

The 29-year-old, who was once ranked as a high as 18th in the world, is hoping that his return to form following a three-year title drought will continue this year after reverting to his old swing type.

“Last year I asked my (senior) coach to help me and he reminded me of the swing I had last time,” Kim explained. “Now I have a good mental image of my swing, so that is why I am doing well.”

Japan’s Kodaira, 26, recorded only his third JGTO win at the Japan Open last year, but is confident of adding to his tally in Singapore.

“I am very happy to see that the Singapore Open is going to be co-sanctioned by the JGTO and the Asian Tour,” said Kodaira.

“It is a big tournament and I am looking forward to playing in it. The highlight for me in 2015 was winning the Japan Open, where I kept my focus well that week. However, I have since been working on my putting as part of my preparations for the new season.”

The 14 JGTO players, however, will have to battle hard against an extremely competitive field in order to secure the Singapore Open title.

Headline act and reigning world No 1 Jordan Spieth is favourite to emerge triumphant, while the likes of former Major winners Darren Clarke and Y E Yang — who both confirmed their participation last month — are also expected to be among the frontrunners for the title.

The SMBC Singapore Open, back after a three-year hiatus, will feature the top 60 players from the Asian Tour, the top 60 players from the JGTO, leading Singapore professionals and amateurs, as well as players from the top 50 in the world.

The US$1 million (S$1.4 million) event is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, and will run from Jan 28-31 at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong course.