In-form Jamie Donaldson, Europe’s Ryder Cup hero in 2014, will bid for back-to-back wins In Asia when he tees it up at the SMBC Singapore Open later this month.
The world number 46 triumphed at the Thailand Golf Championship in December to round off his season in style and is now looking for another morale-boasting victory.
He will face an elite field, including world number one Jordan Spieth and fellow Major champions Darren Clarke and Y. E. Yang, at Sentosa Golf Club from January 28-31.
The SMBC Singapore Open, which is returning to the schedule after a three-year absence, will be jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).
Donaldson had endured a challenging 2015 before hitting top form at the Thailand Golf Championship, his winning total of 21-under-par 267 taking him past former champions Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
“I had one of my best ever victories in Thailand last December and now I am focussed on winning again at the SMBC Singapore Open,” said Donaldson, a three-time winner on the European Tour.
“There is a really strong field for the tournament, including player of the moment Jordan Spieth, and I am sure it is going to be an exciting event on a great course.”
The affable 40 year old basked in the international spotlight in 2014 when he secured the winning point for Europe in their Ryder Cup tussle with the United States at Gleneagles.
He arrowed a wedge from 146 yards to within a foot of the pin at the 15th, forcing Keegan Bradley to concede the hole and ensuring the Ryder Cup would stay in European hands.
What Donaldson described as “the best shot of my life” was later voted The European Tour Shot of the Year for 2014.
Donaldson also won the Czech Masters in 2014 to add to his victories in the 2012 Irish Open and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in 2013.
The SMBC Singapore Open will feature the top 60 from the Asian Tour, top 60 from the JGTO, leading Singapore professionals and amateurs and invites including players from the top 50 in the world.
