The Business Times named presenting partner for golf’s Singapore Open 2026
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Japanese golfer Yosuke Asaji posing with his trophy after winning the 2025 Singapore Open. The Business Times has come on board as a presenting partner for the tournament in 2026.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
- The Business Times (BT) is the presenting partner of the US$2 million Singapore Open, marking a first for a flagship news publication.
- BT's editor, Chen Huifen, highlights the "strategic partnership" and the shared focus on strategy and foresight, aligned with BT's 50th-anniversary goals.
- The Singapore Open offers two slots for the British Open, part of the Open Qualifying Series, enhancing the tournament's significance for golfers.
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SINGAPORE – The Business Times (BT) will play a pivotal role at the Singapore Open, with the publication unveiled as the presenting partner on March 24 for the 2026 edition of the golf tournament.
To be held at Sentosa Golf Club’s Serapong Course from April 23 to 26, the US$2 million (S$2.6 million) Singapore Open is part of the International Series and one of the Asian Tour’s marquee events.
This marks the first time that a flagship news publication has established a partnership of this scale with the event.
Its editor Chen Huifen said its “strategic partnership” with the Asian Tour through the Singapore Open “represents a perfect synergy between two disciplines defined by strategy and foresight”.
With BT celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, she added: “For half a century, we have served as Singapore’s leading financial daily, not just reporting on the markets, but championing excellence through our various business awards that mirror our nation’s economic priorities.
“By anchoring ourselves in this premier regional circuit, we reinforce our commitment to transcending borders – aligned with our own evolution as we bring our trusted financial insights to a wider base of audiences.”
While she declined to reveal commercial details of the partnership, Chen said the deal will be for only the 2026 edition.
She added: “We expect that BT’s role as presenting partner will serve to enhance, rather than limit, overall visibility of the tournament.”
Inaugurated in 1961, the tournament has counted Chinese liquor brand Kweichow Moutai, British bank Barclays and Japanese financial institution Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation among its major sponsors over the years.
Moutai was its title sponsor in 2025, but will not return for the upcoming tournament.
The tournament’s highest-ever prize purse was from 2010 to 2012, when Barclays was the title sponsor and the total winnings reached US$6 million.
On the newest partnership, Asian Tour commissioner and chief executive Cho Minn Thant said: “This new relationship between the Singapore Open and the Business Times, two of the country’s strongest brands, is an exciting one that promises to be a win-win.
“This is phenomenal for the Singapore Open and the Asian Tour, as it means we can reach more audiences through SPH Media’s vast network of media outlets and partners, both in Singapore and throughout the South-east Asia region.”
Singapore Golf Association chief executive Joshua Ho believes it is important for the tournament to engage “strong local partners”.
He said: “The Business Times has a strong reach and brings a credible platform to tell more meaningful stories – from the players and competition to the broader impact of golf’s ecosystem in Singapore.
“This partnership will help strengthen the tournament’s connection with the business community while broadening engagement with golf fans across the region.”
The Singapore Open was part of Asia’s very first professional golf circuit, which comprised a handful of tournaments in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan.
It became a fixture on the Australasian Tour for three seasons from 1993, before it joined the Asian Tour in 1996.
It was staged annually until 2002, when it was not held for three years due to lack of sponsorship.
The event returned to the Asian Tour calendar in 2005.
It was then co-sanctioned with the European Tour – now known as the DP World Tour – from 2009 to 2012 and later with the Japan Golf Tour from 2016 to 2022.
The tournament did not take place in 2021, 2023 and 2024, but came back in 2025.
Past champions include Australia’s former world No. 1 Adam Scott (2005, 2006, 2010) and 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia (2018) of Spain.
The 2026 edition will give the region’s best golfers the chance to secure a spot at one of the sport’s four Majors.
The R&A, which organises the British Open, announced in February that two slots will be given to the best players at the Singapore tournament who are not already eligible for the July 16-19 event.
The tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series that runs from October 2025 to July and offers players the opportunity to earn their ticket to Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
The tournament had previously offered slots to the Major when it was part of the Open Qualifying Series for five editions from 2017 to 2022.
