Since its return to the golfing calendar in 2005 after a three-year hiatus due to lack of sponsorship, Singapore’s national Open has burst onto the world stage.

The last four years have seen the tournament excel with back-to-back wins by Australian Adam Scott in 2005 and 2006 followed by victories from Argentinean Angel Cabrera and then India’s Jeev Milkha Singh.

Scott’s success saw him become the first player to win the trophy in successive seasons.

The Barclays Singapore Open continues to set new standards for golf in the region, which is something that it has always done since its inauguration.

With a list of past champions that dates back to 1961, the Singapore Open has earned its place in the history books as a tournament that helped build the foundations for the development of tournament golf in Asia.

The Lion City’s national Open was part of Asia’s very first professional golf circuit, which 48 years ago was made up of a handful of tournaments in Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and Japan.

Australian Frank Philips won the inaugural Singapore Open and started the ball rolling for a succession of victories by overseas players. South African Brain Wilkes won the following year before Australians Alan Brookes, Ted Ball, Philips and Ross Newdick triumphed in the ensuing years.

It was Filipino Ben Arda who helped turn the tide in 1967 when he became the first Asian winner. He won again in 1973 and in fact it wasn’t until Terry Gale’s success in 1978 that another overseas player claimed the title.

Taiwanese and Japanese players became regular winners of the event, ensuring the trophy did not always leave Asian shores.

There have been 10 Australian winners, eight Taiwanese, six American, five Japanese, four Filipino, three Burmese, two Indian and one apiece from Argentina, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and Thailand.

Other notable winners of the event include 1998 champion Shaun Micheel from the United States, who won the US PGA Championship in 2003.

Australian Peter Fowler was victorious in 1987, Greg Turner from New Zealand won in 1986 while one of Taiwan’s most famous golfing sons, “TC” Chen, claimed top spot in 1985.

Five players have tasted victory twice in Singapore. As well as Scott and Arda the others are Philips and Taiwan’s Lu Chien-soon and Hsieh Yung-yo.

Past Winners of The Singapore Open