Nicholas aims for brighter year starting with Singapore Open

PETALING JAYA: Golfer Nicholas Fung’s (pic) New Year wish is to win tournaments and he wants to start by winning the SMBC Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club.

The golfer certainly ended 2018 well when he fired a career-best 10-under 62 to claim his first Asian Tour top-10 finish in 18 months at the Indonesian Masters.

The new Asian Tour season will begin with the US$1mil (RM4.1mil) Open from Jan 17-20 and the 28-year-old, who is already in Singapore for the practice rounds, wants to continue his good momentum.

“My preparation is going well but my goal for this year is to win again. However, I am not going to put undue pressure on myself,” he said.

“Lately, I have been playing some good golf, and I just want to keep that momentum for this year. I am positive at the moment.”

Having played six times in Singapore, Nicholas said the course is known for its tight and quick greens and emphasised on the need for course management during the championship.

The other Malaysians competing in the Open are Ervin Chang, Ben Leong and Shahrifuddin Ariffin.

Last year, Gavin Kyle Green was the best-placed Malaysian after finishing in a tie for eighth.

Titleholder Sergio Garcia has arrived in Singapore for the tournament as he hopes Singapore’s steamy heat will burn off the rust from his game after a seven-week break.

The 39-year-old Spaniard won by five strokes at the Sentosa Golf Club last January and said that it was special to return as the defending champion.

“It feels good,” said Garcia during a press conference with Ryder Cup teammate Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick.

“I love playing at this course. It is a wonderful golf course, and to be here as champion is always special.”

Garcia finished 2018 on a high by playing a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory over the United States in Paris and retaining his title at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.

His last outing was a tied sixth finish at the Honma Hong Kong Open in late November.

Casey, the highest world ranked player in the field at number 24, hopes to have a bit of an advantage over Garcia and fellow Englishman Fitzpatrick as he has played two times already this year.

He was tied 16th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions before missing the cut at the Sony Open with both events played in Hawaii.

“I played events in Hawaii so I am already in the thick of it – I am going to have to beat these guys (Garcia and Fitzpatrick) and the rest of the field – so hopefully I will be the least rusty of the three,” said the 41-year-old Casey.

The SMBC Singapore Open, a joint-sanctioned event between the Asian Tour and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation, tees off tomorrow.