SINGAPORE - Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia will take to the greens at next year's SMBC Singapore Open, to be held from Jan 19-22 at the Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong Course.

The 36-year-old, who has nine titles on the PGA Tour and 11 on the European tour, last played here at the inaugural Tiger Skins at Tanah Merah Country Club in 2002.

"The SMBC Singapore Open has certainly established itself as one of the top events in Asia, regularly attracting the world's best, so it is an ideal way for me to start 2017," said Garcia.

"I have great memories of playing in Singapore so the chance to go back there and play in the SMBC Singapore Open is one that I am really looking forward to."

South Korean Song Younghan is the reigning winner of the US$1 million ($1.34 million( Singapore Open, when he edged out then world No. 1 Jordan Spieth by a single stroke. Next year's tournament will mark the 51st edition of the Singapore Open.

Ross Tan, president of the Singapore Golf Association, said: "(Garcia) is one of the few global stars not to have played in the tournament so we look forward to welcoming him and adding another feather in the cap for our Open."