SINGAPORE: What was meant to be a thrilling kickoff for the much-anticipated 2025 Porsche Singapore Classic at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club turned into a frustrating delay as torrential rain swept across the area on Thursday, March 20. Organizers had no choice but to postpone the opening round to Friday, pending weather conditions.

A spokesperson from the DP World Tour announced, "Due to persistent inclement weather, round one of the Porsche Singapore Classic will not commence today and will take place on Friday, Mar 21, with tee times remaining as originally published.” This was undoubtedly disappointing news for fans and players alike, particularly with a who’s who of golfing talent set to compete.

In an unfortunate turn of events, the pro-am event, scheduled for the day prior, was also canceled due to the heavy downpour. Singapore is currently enduring a three-day monsoon surge, with meteorologists confirming that the heavy rains align with forecasts issued by the Meteorological Service Singapore.

For the tournament to proceed, a minimum of 36 holes must be played, heightening the stakes and intensity for all involved. A strong international field was confirmed for this prestigious event, touted as the opening of the DP World Tour's "Asian Swing," and featuring an impressive prize pool of US$2.5 million (approximately S$3.3 million).

Headlining the tournament is world No. 14 Robert MacIntyre from Scotland, alongside notable former DP World Tour champions Jordan Smith from England and Rafa Cabrera Bello from Spain. Not to be overlooked, local young talent Brayden Lee aims to make his mark in his biggest tournament yet, having earned one of the three qualifying spots reserved for the top Singaporean amateur.

The ongoing monsoon conditions, expected to subside only by Friday, have brought heavy rain across Singapore, sparking alerts from authorities about potential flash flooding. As of Thursday evening, while no flash floods had occurred, the persistent rain raised alarms that extended beyond flooding concerns, disrupting various operations across the nation.

SATS, a ground handler and in-flight catering service provider, warned that its hub operations at Changi and Seletar Airports could face interruptions due to lightning alerts brought about by thunderstorms. "Our staff have been reminded to be extra vigilant as heavy rain may affect visibility. Lightning risks might prevent personnel from working on the tarmac, potentially delaying the servicing of aircraft and the loading/unloading of baggage and cargo," they mentioned in a LinkedIn post.

Travel safety alerts were also issued as road conditions worsened. Authorities cautioned drivers about the dangers of skidding on wet roads and warned pedestrians about slip hazards on uncontrolled surfaces.

As the rain continues to dominate the headlines, all eyes now turn to the skies as players, fans, and organizers hope for a break in the weather for golf to finally take center stage. Will the clouds clear in time for Friday’s rescheduled event? Stay tuned to find out!