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Calm Poom booms in Singapore Open
Poom Saksansin (Courtesy of Asian Tour)Thailand’s Poom Saksansin may have had a reason to feel downbeat about his game in the second round of the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open on Friday, as the weather was unfriendly to play
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Poom Saksansin (Courtesy of Asian Tour)
Thailand’s Poom Saksansin may have had a reason to feel downbeat about his game in the second round of the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open on Friday, as the weather was unfriendly to play.
Together with the other 77 golfers, Poom, who teed off alongside England’s Paul Casey and the United States’ Paul Peterson, had to resume his first round early on Friday morning after Thursday’s play was suspended because of fading light at 7:10 p.m. Thursday’s play was first suspended at around 2 p.m. because of lightning but resumed at around 5:30 p.m.
The world number 138 Poom, who settled for tied 12th in last year’s edition of the tournament, admitted that the first day’s suspension had made him quite uncomfortable. He expressed hope the weather would turn so all the golfers could enjoy their games.
However, man can only hope, as Mother Nature instead delivered heavy rain to the Sentosa Golf Club.
Play was again suspended at 8:45 a.m. due to lightning on Friday. Rain bucketed down in the morning but luckily the 25-year-old Thai managed to keep his game solid to close out the first round with a six-under-par 65, bettering the first day’s leader Hung Chien-Yao of Taiwan who carded five-under-par.
Shortly after finishing his first round, Poom continued his journey in the US$1 million event by beginning his second round. Despite regaining his composure throughout the day’s play, the Thai was unable to repeat his stellar first round result.
It was a battle of might between Poom and the Englishman Casey as the Brit, who made his Singapore debut this year, delivered a master class worthy of his status as the world’s highest ranked player in the tournament.
Overall, Poom struggled with the conditions, sinking only two birdies to go with one unfortunate bogey on the 11th hole.
He finished with a one-under-par 70 to share the lead with the world number 24 Casey who recorded five birdies to compensate for the bogey he scored on the last hole. The 13-time European Tour winner carded a four-under-par 67 to share the reign atop the leaderboard with Poom with each carding seven-under-par 135 in total.
Meanwhile, Peterson finished one-over-par but still has a chance to make the cut on the weekend after carding two-under-par 170 in total.
After the day’s play, Poom, who has lifted three Asian tour trophies, said he was quite happy despite finishing only with one shot under.
“It has been a long day but I am very happy. The wind was picking up and my iron-play wasn’t that good. To come back with an under-par score, I am really happy with it,” he said.
The Thai was not overawed playing alongside top players like the Englishman Casey as he has already gained experience competing against other top ranked players.
During the 2018 BNI Indonesian Masters, Poom beat his own idol Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in the battle for the title.
Understanding that more hard work lay ahead on the weekend, Poom said he would get in some rest after the day’s play.
“I want to really get a good rest tonight. I am going to eat some good food, no more 7-Eleven! Maybe I’ll eat chicken rice,” said Poom, who revealed he we would want to be a dentist if he was not a professional golfer.
