The Porsche Singapore Classic kicked off this Friday in its second call. The first news, as Ten Golf has learned, is that it has been reduced to 54 holes. It seems, therefore, that it will be completed without issues over three days, as the worst of the third monsoon wave has already passed. Tomorrow the second round will be played, the cut will be made, and on Sunday the third and final round will take place. Therefore, starting well is crucial, and that is precisely what Manu Elvira (-6) has done.
The Cantabrian golfer based in Madrid delivered an excellent card of 66 strokes at the Laguna National Golf Resort, a course that was in impeccable condition this morning after a tremendous effort by the staff to remove water. It is truly incredible that play was possible from early morning today, given what has fallen in that area over the last 48 hours. It’s a matter of hard work, will, and discipline. Huge credit to the DP World Tour and the Singaporean club.
“Not bad for having two and a half days without hitting a golf ball,” joked Elvira himself with Ten Golf shortly after signing his card. Let’s remember that the Pro Am was suspended on Wednesday and there was no golf on Thursday. The tournament preparation, therefore, has been atypical. It’s not going to become routine, but it certainly worked for this start in Singapore. The long idle hours on Thursday, arriving at the club at five in the morning and waiting seven hours for play to be definitively suspended, were spent playing cards, lots of ping pong, and intense FIFA matches. “They had an Xbox there and I think there were more games, but we only played that one,” he explains. Very Spanish, of course.
The reality is that Elvira’s game, debuting a sponsor with KPMG (good sense of timing), has been extremely solid. He made six birdies without a bogey, and the only difficulty he encountered during the round was resolved with a five-meter putt for par on the 6th. Two of the birdies were given, while the other four were with putts that did not exceed three or four meters. Very orderly, very comfortable, very stable. Very Scheffler.
It is Manu’s best round since the second round of last year’s KLM Open in June. It’s been a while. He needed it. In a way, it’s like lifting a weight off his shoulders. He’s done it. And now to keep looking upwards with the same strategy. He wasn’t particularly pleased with how he hit the ball with the driver, but it was enough to always be in position. From there, green and two putts, being more aggressive when it was really necessary. Lots of head and lots of control.
Elvira has provisionally placed himself in second position until the first round is completed, one stroke behind the sole leader Marcus Armitage (-7). The Spaniard is tied with Jordan Smith and Callum Shinkwin. One of ours surrounded by Englishmen. One stroke further back are Ricardo Gouveia, Keita Nakajima, and Jeong Weon Ko.
The Spaniards Jorge Campillo (+1) and Pablo Larrazábal (+4) also played in the morning. Both will need to step it up two or three gears this Saturday to make the cut, which will be around -2 and par, depending on the conditions. The bad day of Robin Williams (+10), a young South African player who has been doing very well at the start of his first year on the Tour, is also surprising. It could perfectly well be just an accident.
