The Debrief: 2024 Porsche Singapore Classic

Jesper Svensson claimed his maiden win as Kiradech Aphibarnrat continues to take the positives, and the Green Room provides plenty of insight into the emotions of a professional golfer. Here's what you need to know from the Porsche Singapore Classic.

Svensson claims maiden victory

Jesper Svensson won his first DP World Tour title with a play-off victory over Kiradech Aphibarnrat at the Porsche Singapore Classic.

The Swede matched the course record with a closing 63 at Laguna National Golf Resort Club to get to 17 under but extra holes were required as Aphibarnrat eagled the last in a 64.

Both men made a birdie on the first trip up the last and then exchanged a pair of pars before Aphibarnrat went over the back and made a bogey, leaving Svensson two putts for a par and victory on their third trip back to 18.

Svensson may have turned professional nearly five years ago, winning on the Nordic Golf League in 2020, but his big breakthrough came last year with his victory at the B-NL Challenge Trophy on the European Challenge Tour. Having earned his Tour card through his fifth place finish on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, Svensson is now the latest first-time winner on just his 14th start on the DP World Tour.

"It's been a lot of good golf so it was nice to finally come out on top," he said. "It's very hard to win so it's really nice.

"It's been a long journey. To win on my first season out here, I couldn't have dreamt of it. It's always been a dream to be a winner on the DP World Tour and to achieve it feels amazing.

First event of the Asian Swing

After an exciting first event of the Asian Swing, Jesper Svensson tops the rankings and moved into third place in the 2024 Race to Dubai.

With plenty on offer during this swing, including automatic qualification into the 'Back 9' events and a $200,000 bonus, there is a lot to play for over the next four events. So what's up next?

After Singapore, the DP World Tour will head to New Delhi for the Hero Indian Open. A one-week break then follows, before the world’s best golfers descend on Augusta National Golf Club for the first Major of the year.

The Tour then visits South Korea and Japan for the second editions of the Korea Championship and ISPS HANDA – CHAMPIONSHIP respectively, before a Swing Champion is crowned after the Volvo China Open, which is returning to the schedule for the first time since 2019. The second Major of the year, the subsequent U.S. PGA Championship, will immediately follow, but while points accrued in the Major Championships will count on the Race to Dubai Rankings, they will not count in the Swing Rankings.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat proud as he continues good run of form

Having held a share of the leaderboard after the opening round, Kiradech Aphibarnrat produced a second eight-under 64 on Sunday to set the target on the final day, capped with an eagle at the last.

Speaking of that incredible finish, Aphibarnrat explained that he had almost had the exact same shot a year ago at the Singha Open.

"Back in the beginning of last year I had the same shot in the local event and I hit it absolutely perfect, landed like 230 yards,£ he said.

"That shot kind of jump in my head, I hit that shot into like two feet and I talked to my caddie and said we are going to hit the same shot. Same club, same pin situation the same. I did absolutely perfect to leave myself 15- 20 feet to hole eagle to tie the lead."

The four-time DP World Tour has been openly candid about his struggles over the past few years, particularly surrounding his time in America, but has recently regained some confidence thanks to an impressive few weeks - finishing in a tie for 13th, 23rd and 14th in a mix of DP World Tour and Asian Tour events ahead of his runner-up in Singapore.

The 34-year-old, who earned his Tour card for a second consecutive year at DP World Tour Qualifying School in November, was incredibly positive about his feelings after the play-off, and admitted these past few weeks have reignited feelings of excitement and nerves in his game.

"I know I didn't make the job done, but I just try everything I could out there. What a fantastic finish. But Jesper is playing great golf, his drives the last three holes of (the) play-offs, it's insane.

"I'm just enjoying every second here. I'm very proud of the way I'm playing. I hang myself in there, and like I'm saying I do everything I could to put me in a good position. The result didn't go my way but I do everything I can do.

"It feels good. I never have this excited nerves for the last three or four years. It's so good to get back to where I was, and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the year. I'm going to try harder and harder until I get the win again."

The best of the Green Room

The highs and lows of life as a professional golfer were showcased with the return of the Green Room at the Porsche Singapore Open, where players opened up about their highlights, lowlights, and general emotions of the week on each day at Laguna National Golf Club Resort.

Head to the DP World Tour's Instagram to watch all the content from the Green Room in Singapore!

Shots of the week

From near-aces to chip ins, here are some of the best shots of the week!