Sentosa (Singapore):
Younghan Song of Korea beat Jordan Spieth to win the coveted USD 1 million SMBC Singapore Open at the Serapong Golf Course in Sentosa.
Song of Korea first parred a testy 10-footer for par and then parred the final two holes to keep his overnight one-shot lead intact and win the coveted title, which returned to the circuit after an absence of three years.
Song carded 70 to total 12-under 272 and Spieth despite his week’s best of 66 ended one short at 11-under 273.
China’s Liang Wen-Chong, who missed a three-footer on 18th on Sunday, was third at 10-under 274. Spieth, who delayed his Sunday night departure to Monday, made no mistake with his final putt and then waited for news from Song.
But the Korean, who has never won before in his pro career, made no errors either in his remaining two and a half holes.
Inclement weather, threat of lightning caused multiple delays during the week, forcing the Singapore showpiece to a Monday finish for the third time in 10 years at the Sentosa Golf Club.
Song, who has finished runner-up on Japan three times and another three times on Korean PGA Tour, won his first professional title and it came after a titanic tussle against the World No. 1, who stopped one short of winning his first title in Asia and only the second outside United States.
Song admitted that he spent a sleepless night as he kept tossing and turning playing that 10-foot par on 16th again and again in his mind.
“That one night felt like a week! It was crazy. I couldn’t sleep and I was constantly thinking about putting throughout the night,” said Song, who when he came to Sentosa at 7.30 am this morning, bravely holed his putt.
He went on to hold his nerve on the 17th and 18th for a card of 70 and a 12-under 272 total that left Spieth stranded at 11-under 273.
Song said:”I read the line well on 16 and just maintained my composure on 17 and 18. I knew the title was for me to lose as long as I don't make any silly mistakes.”
He added:”Looking back, I think the suspension helped as the winds were starting to blow hard yesterday and that might have made a difference.”
