The News Craving
The News Craving
Singapore: Korea’s Jeongwoo Ham overcame punishing heat, heavy rain and a lengthy weather delay to clinch the $2 million Singapore Open on Sunday, sealing a place at The Open Championship alongside runner-up Cameron John of Australia.
Ham, who began the final round with a four-shot lead, held his nerve through testing conditions at Sentosa Golf Club to complete a wire-to-wire victory. The final round was suspended for three-and-a-half hours due to lightning, but the Korean returned unfazed to card a three-under 68 and finish two shots clear of John.
The Australian mounted a strong challenge with a five-under round, cutting the gap to one stroke on the back nine, but Ham responded with crucial birdies, including a brilliant bunker hole-out on the 13th, to stay ahead.
“Over the last two years, my golf hasn’t been going too well, so this win gives me motivation,” said the 31-year-old, a four-time winner on the Korean PGA Tour. “I wasn’t really thinking about winning. My putting saved me today.”
The tournament was part of the Open Qualifying Series, meaning both Ham and John earned berths for this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
Ham admitted coping with Singapore’s sauna-like weather was a challenge. “I just kept thinking: play quickly, finish, get back to the hotel, shower and lie under the air-conditioning,” he said.
Among the Indians, Pukhraj Singh Gill and Gaganjeet Bhullar were the best finishers, tied for 26th at four-under overall. Gill surged up the leaderboard with a final-round 67, while Bhullar slipped after a closing 73.
