DP WORLD TOUR’S SINGAPORE CLASSIC RETURNS FROM 21-24 MARCH 2024 WITH PORSCHE AS TITLE PARTNER
• The US$2 million Porsche Singapore Classic will take place at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club
• Porsche is extending its golf involvement to the Asian market.
• The new Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid will be the tempting hole-in-one prize.
The Singapore Classic will welcome Porsche as its Title Partner as the automobile giant extends its global golf involvement and continues a long-standing relationship with golf’s DP World Tour. The Porsche Singapore Classic will be played at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club from 21-24 March 2024.
With this multi-year partnership, the sports car manufacturer is internationalising its activities in professional golf and affording its worldwide customers and fans additional exclusive brand experiences. The deal complements Porsche’s current worldwide activities in customer sport, revolving around the Porsche Golf Cup and the Porsche Golf Circle.
The US$2 million Porsche Singapore Classic is expected to feature a field that includes some of golf’s best players, as well as the sport’s up and coming stars. Last year’s event, won by South Africa’s Ockie Strydom, marked the return of the DP World Tour to Singapore for the first time since 2014. Past winners on the DP World Tour in Singapore include legends of the game such as Major champions Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, as well as Colin Montgomerie, who won a record eight Order of Merit titles on the Tour. The tournament has also proved a stepping stone for leading talent across Asia – Arjun Atwal of India and Zhang Lian Wei of China, who were the first-ever winners from their respective countries on the DP World Tour, have both clinched Tour titles in Singapore before.
Notably, Singaporean Mardan Marmat delighted the home fans at Laguna National in 2006 when he won the Singapore Masters, becoming the country’s only winner on the DP World Tour to date. Patrick Bowers, Executive Championship Director of the Porsche Singapore Classic, said: “Porsche's title partnership with the DP World Tour to present the Porsche Singapore Classic goes beyond a mere global sporting event featuring the best male professional golfers in the world; it exemplifies our commitment to creating a lifestyle and a unique experience for golf and social enthusiasts. By blending the precision and performance synonymous with Porsche with the elegance of golf, we aim to elevate this championship into a celebration of sophistication and excellence, contributing to Singapore's reputation as a global destination for not only sports but also unparalleled premium experiences.”
The extension of Porsche’s involvement in golf to the important Asian market – with a focus on Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan – opens up new opportunities to increase Porsche’s international visibility amongst golf fans in the region and engage the Porsche Golf Community through unique on- site customer and fan experiences. The hole-in-one prize at The Porsche Singapore Classic will see a Porsche sports car offered as a prize for the first time on the DP World Tour in Asia, with the recently launched Porsche Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid tempting the professionals on the 17th hole.
The new partnership will also look to further develop and grow the tournament, which returned to the DP World Tour schedule in 2023 after a nine-year-break. “The passion for the game of golf unites our customers worldwide, with increasing relevance in the Asian markets. As the Title Partner of the Porsche Singapore Classic, we can also afford fans in Asia a unique brand experience combined with top sport,” said Detlev von Platen, the member of the Executive Board responsible for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “It thus extends our worldwide involvement in amateur golf with the title partnership at a professional golf event in Asia.”
Keith Pelley, Chief Executive Officer of the DP World Tour, added: “As one of the world’s most iconic automotive brands, Porsche have been a cherished partner of the Tour for several years and we’re delighted that they have chosen to extend this relationship by partnering with the new look PorscheSingapore Classic. This is a fantastic validation of the strength of the DP World Tour and the power of our global platform, which Porsche can utilise to help expand their business across Asia.”
The DP World Tour returned to Singapore last year after a nine-year hiatus with South Africa’s Ockie Strydom triumphing at Laguna National. The DP World Tour first visited Singapore in 1993, with Major Champions Sir Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam winning the first editions of the Johnnie Walker Classic in 1993 and 1996. Fellow Major Champions Vijay Singh and Adam Scott are also winners on the DP World Tour in Singapore.
The 2006 edition of the Singapore Masters, held at Laguna National, was the scene of the most memorable moment in the country’s golfing history, when home favourite Mardan Mamat lifted the trophy, finishing one stroke ahead of England’s Nick Dougherty.
“We’re looking forward expectantly to the first edition of the Porsche Singapore Classic,” said Deniz Keskin, Director Brand Management and Partnerships at Porsche AG. “The mixture of top golf with world class players, big stars from Asia and the opportunity to savour exclusive Porsche moments promises to be a memorable brand experience. This event fits perfectly to the internationalisation of our sponsoring strategy and will hopefully leave a lasting impression here in Singapore.”
Other players confirmed for the US$2,500,000 Porsche Singapore Classic include DP World Tour winners Rikuya Hoshino, Rasmus Højgaard, Tom McKibbin and Yannik Paul, and Asian Games champion Kho Taichi. Singapore will be represented by three qualifiers: Nicklaus Chiam, Joshua Yap and amateur Irvyn Tan.
Event updates can be found on the Porsche Singapore Classic website
Tickets to the Porsche Singapore Classic are available here. Children aged 16 and under receive complimentary entry when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. The Porsche Singapore Classic spectator village will feature a multitude of activities, food & beverage and entertainment options for golfers and non-golfers alike.