Travis Smyth will tee-off in the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times tomorrow high on confidence – currently leading the rankings on three of the world’s main Tours – but low on energy after a long-flight from LIV Golf Mexico.
The Australian is the man of the hour having won the Series opener, International Series Japan, two weeks ago to lead both the Asian Tour Order of Merit and The International Rankings.
In what possibly is a first he is also sitting atop the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and Japan Golf Tour rankings – thanks in a big way to winning the joint-sanctioned ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship last month. It was the penultimate of the 2025/26 season on the former circuit and helped him win their Order of Merit, while it was the season-opening event on the latter.
Smyth fulfilled his dream of returning to play on the LIV Golf League when he was invited to compete in their event in Mexico last week but had to make a mad dash to get there and then rush back here in time to play at Sentosa Golf Club this week.
He explained: “So, I was on a 5am flight from Mexico City, which was delayed. We landed into San Fran, everything was delayed. Got to the gate, they wouldn't let us on, even though the plane was like, right there. That flight ended up getting canceled. I ended up waiting. We also waited, I don't know what, 12 hours at the airport. I was sleeping on the floor of the lounge for about five hours, and then flew here and arrived this morning, 7am.”
Asked how he is feeling at today’s press conference, he said with a smirk: “Feel great.”
He finished in a tie for 49th last week, having little time to prepare following his win Japan.
“I played terrible,” he said. “It was a good experience, you know. I got to play the first three LIV events [in 2022], and that was incredible. And I was just so happy to be a part of it again. And although I didn't play well, it was super fun and exciting week, and I hope to be a part of it again.”
He won the Japan event in jaw dropping circumstances by making birdie on 16 and an eagle on the last, thanks to a career-defining left to right breaking 20-foot putt.
This week’s US$2million event is the second stop on The International Series this year, and it marks the first time Singapore’s National Open has been back to Sentosa Golf Club since 2022, when Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana triumphed.
Smyth has a consistent record here, finishing joint 24th in 2019, tying for 11th in 2020 and taking equal 16th in 2022.
Despite the fatigue he will start as one of the favourites, helping by living off the adrenaline of his win two weeks ago – which was his second victory on the Asian Tour and first on The International Series.
“Every time I have like, a 20 footer, I just think of that putt in Japan I rolled into win. But yeah, all the feeling is still in there, and I can't wait to be in that position again.
“I want win to win again and the Rankings too. I mean, it's still early days. It's only the second event of the season. But yeah, just trying to play some good golf, and we'll see where we're at at the end of the week.”
This week’s tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series with the leading two players not otherwise exempt qualifying for The Open at Royal Birkdale in July.
Smyth is one of those players otherwise exempt thanks to winning the Merit list Down Under.
The 31-year-old will start at 12.13pm tomorrow on the first hole with Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren, who also competed in Mexico, and Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho.
