Jeev Singh takes the win

India’s Jeev Milkha Singh closed with a 2-under 69 Sunday to win the $5 million Barclays Singapore Open by one stroke ahead Ernie Els and Padraig Harrington.

Singh, who was five shots off the pace after the third round was completed earlier Sunday, finished at 7-under 277. Els shot 71 and Harrington closed with a 70. Harrington pushed his five-foot birdie attempt wide before Els saw his 15-footer stop on the edge of the cup, giving Singh the title.

“The way I’m going to record it is that I played very good, but I think I was very fortunate the golfing gods were on my side,” said Singh, who is no relation to FedExCup champion Vijay Singh of Fiji. “I think those two guys (Harrington and Els) hit some good putts on the last hole and I was fortunate enough to win and I’ll take it. “I’m excited about it,” he added. “I’m happy I could win against the top players of the world and this will give me a lot of confidence and hopefully go on to bigger things in life.”

Singh and Harrington began the final round in a tie for seventh on 5 under, but both managed three birdies on the front nine to surge to the top of the leaderboard. With third-round leader Nirat struggling, the tournament developed into a duel between Els and Harrington with Singh edging ahead on the 16th after a moment of bad fortune for the Irishman.

Congratulations to Garcia and Harrington

Sergio Garcia of Spain has become the first European-born player since 1937 and first from his homeland to win the Vardon Trophy, PGA of America officials have announced.

The Vardon Trophy, first presented to English-born “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper in 1937 for season-long scoring excellence, completes the first year in which two of The PGA of America’s prestigious season-ending awards have been won by European players.

Garcia completed 72 official rounds on the PGA Tour, posting an adjusted scoring average of 69.12. Phil Mickelson was runner-up with a 69.17 adjusted averages based on 80 rounds, while Anthony Kim — one of the U.S. standouts in the Ryder Cup — was third at 69.28 based on 81 rounds.

Double major winner Padraig Harrington of Ireland earned the PGA Player of the Year Award last month. Harrington and England’s Nick Faldo (1990) are the only Europeans to earn the PGA Player of the Year Award, which was first presented by The PGA of America in 1948. Garcia also tied for fourth with Mickelson in the final PGA Player of the Year standings, determined following the Children’s Miracle Network Classic that concluded Nov. 9.

“World’s Greatest” Golf Course brought by Trump

Donald Trump vowed to create the “greatest golf course in the world” after his plans for a $2 billion resort were given the go-ahead on Monday.

Scottish finance secretary John Swinney approved the proposals, saying there was “a significant economic and social benefit” in the project. The proposals had been rejected in controversial circumstances by the Aberdeenshire Council last year, before being called in by ministers. Trump welcomed the news and said the resort, proposed for the Menie Estate, near Balmedie, Aberdeenshire, would be a “tremendous asset” for the area.

“As I have often said, because of the quality of the land we are given to work with, we will build the greatest golf course in the world,” he said. The plans include proposals for two golf courses, a 450-bedroom hotel and housing as well as holiday apartments and golf villas. Trump’s proposal received outline planning permission Monday, but a string of conditions rule that the environmentally sensitive sand dunes on the site must remain protected. The conditions also stipulate that no more than 500 houses for private sale should be built. The development will lead to the creation of an estimated 6,000 jobs, of which 1,400 will be local and permanent.

I am looking forward to seeing how this all turns out.