Rising English star Fitzpatrick for Singapore Open

It is not difficult to see why Matthew Fitzpatrick is touted as European golf's next big thing.

At the age of 22, the talented golfer won the 2016 DP World Tour Championship, the flagship event on the European Tour, in Dubai.

In the process, he became the youngest Englishman to claim three European Tour titles. The man he replaced in the record books? Former world No. 1 and six-time Major champion Nick Faldo.

Now 24, Fitzpatrick will showcase his talent at Sentosa Golf Club's Serapong Course at the 2019 SMBC Singapore Open from Jan 17-20.

The world No. 40 confirmed his participation in the US$1 million (S$1.37m) competition yesterday and said in a statement: "I am thrilled to confirm I will play in next year's SMBC Singapore Open... The tournament has a great reputation and is an ideal way for me to start 2019.

"It boasts an amazing list of past champions such as Sergio (Garcia) this year, so it's an exciting opportunity for me and one that I am really looking forward to."

He has won in every season since turning pro in 2015 and arrives in the Republic with five European Tour wins under his belt.

The 2013 US amateur champion's maiden win came in October 2015 at the British Masters. That saw him break into the top 100 of the world rankings at 59th.

The Sheffield native then won two more titles the following year, the Nordea Masters and the DP World Tour Championship, which earned him a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team who lost 17-11 to the United States.

Last year, he claimed his fourth European Tour win at the European Masters and he won it again this year.

Defending champion and 2017 Masters winner Garcia will make his third successive appearance in Singapore.

Tickets for the Singapore Open are on sale via Apactix.