England’s Richard Mansell etched his name into golf history by claiming his maiden DP World Tour title at the Porsche Singapore Classic, a victory sealed with a dramatic final-hole birdie. The weather-shortened, 54-hole event at Laguna National Golf Resort Club in Singapore had been a rollercoaster, with Thursday’s play washed out by a monsoon, but Mansell turned adversity into triumph with a performance that showcased both skill and nerve.
Entering the final round one shot off the lead at 10-under, Mansell wasted no time asserting himself. After a steady start with three pars, he ignited the front nine with an extraordinary run of five consecutive birdies from the fourth hole. His putter was on fire — holing an eight-footer at the fifth, a tap-in at the sixth, a five-footer at the seventh, and a long bomb from the fringe at the eighth. By the turn, he held a two-shot lead at 15-under, looking every bit the champion in waiting.
The back nine tested his resolve. A bogey at the 10th, courtesy of a bunker mishap, allowed Japan’s Keita Nakajima to close the gap. Nakajima, who carded a flawless 7-under 65, piled on the pressure with a birdie at the 18th to reach 15-under, setting a daunting clubhouse target. Mansell fought back, reclaiming the lead with a 15-foot birdie at the par-5 13th, but a missed five-footer at the 15th kept the outcome in doubt as he approached the final hole tied with Nakajima.
The par-5 18th became the stage for Mansell’s defining moment. With the weight of 103 prior DP World Tour starts without a win on his shoulders, the 29-year-old delivered. His second shot found the edge of the massive green, leaving a daunting 100-plus-foot eagle putt. Cool as the coastal breeze, Mansell lagged it to within six feet and drained the birdie putt, erupting into a fist-pumping roar as the crowd cheered. His closing 6-under 66 secured a 16-under total, edging Nakajima by one stroke and denying a playoff.
“What a feeling,” Mansell said post-round, tears welling as he hugged his wife, Ellie, and new caddie, David Kenny.
“It makes those near-misses worth it. I’ve had to stay patient—104th attempt, first week with a new caddie—and to hole that putt for the win is just incredible.”
Reflecting on past close calls, like a squandered lead at the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links, he added, “I got lost for a bit, but Ellie and so many others believed in me when I didn’t.”
Nakajima finished a valiant second, while Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and France’s Adrien Saddier tied for third at 14-under.
For Mansell, the victory wasn’t just a breakthrough — it was a testament to resilience, lifting him to the top of the Asian Swing Rankings and marking a career-defining moment on the DP World Tour.
