Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Singapore Open

They fired sparkling seven-under-par 64s on The Serapong at Sentosa Golf Club to take the lead by two on day one of the US$2million event.

Charles Porter, Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent and Aidric Chan from the Philippines were equally impressive shooting 66s to share third place.

A big group of players came in with 67s: John Catlin from the United States, the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, Australians Will Florimo and Kevin Yuan, Japan’s Tomohiro Ishizaka and Ryosuke Kinoshita, Spaniard Luis Masaveu, plus India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar.

Competitors in what is the 57th staging of Singapore’s National Open will rarely play in hotter and more humid, sauna-like conditions than today.

Ekpharit, playing in the event for the first time, was unperturbed, making seven birdies in a bogey-free round. He started on the back nine and made the turn in five under, helped by three in a row from the 14th.

The Thai won his first title on the Asian Tour last year at the Taiwan Glass Taifong Open, in Chinese-Taipei. It was an especially significant win as his father is from there, while his wife Pam was on the bag.

She is his regular caddie and has been a big part of his success since turning professional – something his acknowledged today.

“It’s been a very rewarding partnership. She being by my side makes me more confident on the course,” said 26-year-old, who also tied for third at the Bharath Classic shortly after winning in Chinese-Taipei.

“She helps me not to get angry on the golf course. When on the course, we always hit some bad shots but it’s about not getting too emotional and she helps me a lot with that.

“When I was an amateur I used local caddies, but when I turned professional I spoke with her and she became my caddie straight away, no question.”

A professional since 2020 he is a graduate of the 2025 Asian Tour Qualifying School, having played mainly on the Asian Development Tour before that.

He is also a two-time winner on the All Thailand Golf Tour, having won back-to-back titles in 2024.

Ham mainly plays on the Korean PGA Tour and has only competed in a small number of Asian Tour events. He excelled today despite dropping a shot on his first, which was the 10th. It was his only dropped shot of the day as he went on to make eight birdies, including three on the trot from 18.

Porter, the giant American who is 6 feet 9 inches tall, finished second on the driving distance statistics last year, in what was his rookie season on the Asian Tour. He boasted an average on 323.68 yards and unleashed a couple of big ones today.

“I hit a couple of big drives — over 350 yards on both 7 and 18 — which gave me short irons into the par fives, and I was able to make birdie on both,” he said.

“I also holed a really nice putt on nine. The driving iron wasn’t great today, but if the driver’s working, you can take that.

“I don’t really remember my bogeys, to be honest — I just remember the good shots. We had a great group out there, which always helps, and I was fuelling up with chicken burgers all day.”

Both Chan and Vincent joined him in second place thanks to making eagles on the par-five 18th. Chan’s was the result of the putt of the day, a 70-footer.

Catlin is a six-time winner on the Asian Tour but surprisingly did not add to that hall last year.

When asked how important it is to win again he said: “It’s huge! I mean, that’s why I put in all the work I do. That’s why I practice all the hours and put myself in that position, because I want to have that last putt on Sunday to win.”

2024 International Series Macau. Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour

He was also bogey-free today and even made par on par-five 18th despite finding water off the tee.

“You know, I really only got in trouble once and drove it in the water on 18. I was still able to make a five,” he said.

“Just very steady Eddie. A lot of good golf shots. Yeah, was in position a lot, had a lot of birdie chances. A few times I was out of position, or I missed a green, I was in the right position and got up and down. So, it’s just, you know, a pretty steady Eddie round.”

The tournament is the fourth event of the season on the Asian Tour and the second leg of The International Series, the enhanced level of tournaments that provide a pathway to the LIV Golf League.

The event is also part of the Open Qualifying Series with the top two players not otherwise exempt eligible for this summer’s Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

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Here’s the prize money breakdown for each golfer at the 2026 Singapore Open

This year’s event marks the second stop on the 2026 International Series calendar, which offers a direct pathway to the LIV Golf League through the season-long Rankings race, while also providing two places in The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale as the tournament is part of The Open Qualifying Series.

First staged in 1961, the Singapore Open is one of the region’s longest-running national championships and remains a key platform for the country’s leading players to compete in an elite field on home soil. “For our local golfers, this is a chance for them to create an impact at home, where they get to benchmark themselves and compete against some of the world’s best professionals,” said Joshua Ho, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Golf Association.

Paul Casey – SMBC Singapore Open

 The tournament’s roll of honour includes former world No. 1 Adam Scott, a three-time winner, and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who lifted the title in 2018.

 Japanese Yosuke Asaji used momentum from his 2025 Singapore Open win to climb the Rankings and secure a full-time spot on this year’s LIV Golf League.

 Now in its second year on The International Series schedule, the tournament has established itself as a regional showpiece, attracting some of the biggest names in golf and a truly world-class field. “Being part of The International Series has further elevated the tournament’s profile and attracted a stronger international field and increasing its global relevance,” Ho said.

Creating a lasting legacy for golf locally and regionally is another priority for Ho. “Beyond the competition, the Singapore Open plays an important role in showcasing Singapore as a key golf and sporting destination in the region. It brings together international players, partners and fans, while also increasing the visibility and popularity of the sport locally. Events of this stature help position Singapore firmly on the global golfing calendar,” he said.

 Sentosa Golf Club is a fitting stage for the national Open, and this marks the tournament’s first return to the venue since 2022. Ho added: “Having the Singapore Open at Sentosa Golf Club is significant, given its reputation as one of Asia’s premier golf venues. The Serapong is a championship course that consistently challenges the best players while showcasing Singapore on a global stage.”

 Looking ahead, Ho said the goal is for the tournament’s impact to extend beyond the leaderboard. “Over time, we hope it continues to be a stage where Singaporean players can shine and create moments that spark belief among young golfers watching. Ultimately, its legacy should be one of inspiration, aspiration and sustained growth for the game of golf in Singapore,” he said.

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