South Korea's Song Young-han edged out world No. 1 Jordan Spieth to capture his first career Asian Tour title in Singapore on Monday.
Song shot a 12-under 272 to claim the weather-delayed SMBC Singapore Open at the par-71 Serapong Course of the Sentosa Golf Club, beating Spieth by one stroke and taking home the $180,000 first-place purse. It was the first professional victory for Song, who turned pro in 2013 and came into the tournament ranked 204th in the world.
The final round of play was suspended Sunday due to inclement weather, with Song nursing a two-stroke lead and facing a 10-foot par putt on the par-4 16th, while Spieth left himself with a short birdie attempt at the par-5 18th.
When the play resumed Monday morning, Spieth made the birdie but Song saved his par to stay in front. Song then parred his final two holes for the nail-biting victory.
Song, who was five shots better than Spieth heading into the final round, managed a one-under 70 with just two birdies over his last 18 holes. After his second birdie at the 11th, Song made seven straight pars to fend off Spieth, who put together a five-under 66 in the final round -- tied for the lowest score in the field -- with six birdies and a bogey.
Song said afterward he had trouble sleeping before that par putt on the 16th.
"That one night felt like a week. It was crazy," he was quoted as saying on the Asian Tour website. "I couldn't sleep and I was constantly thinking about putting throughout the night. I read the line well on 16 and just maintained my composure on 17 and 18."
He said he was confident that the title was his to lose "as long as I don't make any silly mistakes."
"Looking back, I think the suspension helped as the winds were starting to blow hard yesterday and that might have made a difference," he added.
Song, 24, made his pro debut on the Korean PGA Tour in 2013 and was named the Rookie of the Year without recording a victory. Last year, he captured the Japan Golf Tour Organization's top rookie award after finishing 14th on the money list.
Spieth was coming off a victory at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Jan. 10, the first stop of the PGA Tour season in 2016. He claimed five PGA Tour tournaments last season, including the Masters and the U.S. Open, and won the money title with just over $12 million, a tour record for a single season. Spieth won the
2015 FedEx Cup to cash in a $10 million bonus and swept up major awards after the season, including the PGA Tour Player of the Year honors and the scoring title. (Yonhap)
