Singapore Open Trends

The European Tour stays in Asia this week for the Singapore Open, an event co sanctioned with the Asian Tour. Played at the Sentosa Golf Club since 2005, there is plenty of course form to go on, although be aware that since 2010 the first two rounds are split between the Serapong and Tanjong courses. The weekend is played entirely on the Serapong.

Defending champion Adam Scott is absent as he plays in Australia in preparation for the Presidents Cup. A relief for the rest of the field as Scott has won the tournament three times in the last five years. In 2010, he hit 61 out of 72 greens in regulation proving that GIRs are crucial to be competitive.

Both are modern courses with plenty of water but the bunkers and fast greens deliver the challenge. We look at the trends of the last five winners to see what type of player can thrive in Singapore.

Top 60 on tour for GIRs
Adam Scott has dominated the event, a beautiful ball striker he has always had the ability to find greens in the least amount of shots. In the years that Ian Poulter and Jeev Milkha Singh triumphed they ranked 6th and 11th respectively on tour for GIRs.

Top 60 on tour for scoring average
Since 2005 the tournament roll of honour is covered in familiar names. The best golfers tend to thrive at Sentosa and the winner has always ranked inside the top 60 of their tour for scoring average.

Top 60 on tour for sand saves
With giant bunker complexes and plenty of them, players must accept the fact they will be playing several bunker shots. Adam Scott managed to find seven of them on the way to victory last year.

Players that fit all three trends:

Francesco Molinari 33/1 Boylesports
Padraig Harrington 40/1 Boylesports
Thomas Bjorn 45/1 Bet365
Christian Nilsson 80/1 Paddy Power
Mark Foster 80/1 Boylesports
Pablo Larrazabal 80/1 Boylesports
Stephen Gallacher 100/1 Boylesports
Jbe Kruger 125/1 Paddy Power