Singapore, Feb 1 (IANS) South Korean golfer Younghan Song fended off a spirited challenge by World No.1 Jordan Spieth by scoring one-under to win the $1 million SMBC Singapore Open by one shot at the Serapong course of the Sentosa Golf Club here on Monday.
Inclement weather had caused multiple delays during the week, forcing the Singapore showpiece into a Monday finish and Song was left to ponder about his crucial par save on the 16th hole overnight as his charge towards the prestigious title was halted there when the sirens blew to signal the suspension of play on Sunday afternoon.
The South Korean bravely holed his putt when play resumed at 7.30 a.m. before going on to close his finishing two holes with pars and sign off with a 70.
Song’s winning total of 12-under 272 was also just enough to pip Spieth to the title and avoid a potential play-off with the American, who had earlier sunk a tricky birdie putt on the 18th.
“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 in an Asian Tour release.
“I read the line well on 16 and just maintained my composure on 17 and 18.
“Looking back, I think the suspension helped as the winds were starting to blow hard yesterday and that might have made a difference,” said Song.
Spieth did not disappoint the early morning crowd when he sunk his birdie putt on the 18th to pile pressure on Song, who still had two holes left to play.
However, he left it a little too late as it was not enough to get him into a sudden-death shoot-out with the South Korean, who would cling onto his slender advantage to eventually win.
“I went to the putting green to practice early in the morning as I knew I had to get that birdie to force a play-off.
“It was nerve-racking and I was happy I managed to stroke the ball well and it went in. I made some poor decisions in the middle two rounds as I was trying to do a little too much. But overall, it has been a great experience and I had a really good time here,” said Spieth.
China’s Liang Wen-chong finished in outright third place after a 69 while Philippines’ Miguel Tabeuna shared fourth place with Japan’s Shintaro Kobayashi on 275 total.