Sentosa, Singapore, January 2: Paul Casey, one of the game of golf’s in-form players last year, will make the SMBC Singapore Open one of his opening events in 2019.

The Englishman, a star of the European team that claimed the Ryder Cup in September, has announced that after competing in Hawaii on the PGA Tour he will head to the SMBC Singapore Open – to be played at Sentosa Golf Club from January 17 to 20.

He will join a high-profile list of players in Singapore that includes defending champion Sergio Garcia from Spain, American great Davis Love III, the World Golf Hall of Famer, Englishman Matthew Fitzpatrick, one of the game’s rising stars, and the best players from the Asian and Japan Tours.

Casey played in Singapore’s national Open in 2012 – finishing in a tie for 10th – and is looking forward to returning to Sentosa, home of the tournament since 2005.

Casey also represented Europe for the first time in nine years after being selected as a wildcard for the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia in 2018.

“It wasn’t a difficult decision to make as I have fond memories of the Singapore Open and Sentosa Golf Club,” said Casey, who is world ranked 22.

“I played well there in 2012 and I was impressed by the golf course and the overall set up. It is an ideal event for me to start the year and it will be a very good test early on in the year.”

A prolific winner on the European Tour with 13 titles, Casey returned to the winner’s circle last year after triumphing at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour.

The 41-year-old was a Captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup and justified his selection by securing one and a half points for his team – including a brilliant half in the singles against world number one Brooks Koepka.

He was one of the world’s most consistent players in 2018, achieving 12 top-20 finishes, including five top-10s in addition to his victory at the Valspar Championship. He has also remained a regular fixture inside the world’s top-25 since 2016.

The Englishman is no stranger to winning in Asia having claimed the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea in 2011 and the Volvo China Open and TCL Classic, also in China, both in 2005.